The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-12-30

The WIND r0se higher ana blew
in sudden gusts. Ia . Of these
the boat was almost cspsized; and it
was only saved by Harry taking out
bis knife and cutting the rope which
held the sail. As it was, the boat
was nearly half filed with water and
they were obliged to take their caps
and bail it out. They all saw now
that their only chance Of life was to
furl the'sail aud take to the oars. Yet
they must wait ill the storm passed
away before they could use them to
any purpose.
Poor fellows they were d%renened,
cold and hungry and in great fear
Many a time they thought that there
was no hope for them.
The storm lasted fully an hour and
a half. and when it subsidized a dense
mist rested on every side, so that
thew could not tellin which direction
20 steer. At length, to theirinex-
nressible relief, they caught a glimpse
IofIaud. 1t viii be readily believed
that thew rowed towards it with all
their might; but it was the utmost
thew could do TO reach the shore, and
when they did so they were quite
exhausted. Fortunately, as they
drew near to the land they were de-
serted by some fishermen, who kindly
went out to them and drew up their
boat The fishermen took them to
Their cottages and gave them shelter
and r~efreshmcnt, for which they were
thankful.
II was now nearly ten O'Clock at
night. and they found that they were
three miles and a half from home.
Harry and Gill we're quite unable to
walk even a single mile; but the two
thought they were strong enough to
perform the journey and they set of.
promising to inform the friends OF the
lads left behind of what had taken
place and to assure them Of their
safety. They did not reach home TIL
midnight.
The parents Of all the boys were
in great alarm. They bad heard
that they had gone out to sea, and
though they had not given up hope,
they were prepared for the worst, es-
~peciallv as some boatmen whom they
had sent out in quest Of the missing
boat had returned, saying they could
discern no trace oft The newsthat
the bows were safe was like life from
the dead
TWAS too late for Harry's father
to 20 and fetch him home that night
but he went in a cab early the follow
ing morning, and took Harry and Gill
back 10 RylmUuth.
Not a word ofreproof was spoken
to Harry. by either Mr.. or Mrs May
nard. Their hearts were too full o.
gratitude to allow them TO indulge in
ANYTHING like severity, and besides.
they saw that it was quite needless
as poor Harry was evidently over
whelmed with sorrow because he haC
caused them such grief and distress
They rightly judged, too, that il
would be wise to postpone, for the
present, the incubation Of any lesson
they might be able to base or What
fad happened and leave Harry for q
time 10 his own reflections. They
were confirmed in their persuasion
that this was the right thing to do
bv the fact, which became apparent
in a day or two, that Harry's ex-
posure to wet and cold and his ex-
IRENE exhaustion, had brought on a
low fever, which lasted several weeks.
ana which rendered it necessary that
be should be kept as calm and quie'
as possible.
During the whole Of his illness
Harry received from his father anC
mother the most loving attention
He felt it especially kind that not
single word was said by either abou.
what bad taken place.
Yet some Young readers may pos
siblv ask. "Well. but where was th.
harm of a few boys taking a boat on
to sea? There was surely nothing
very wrong in that p No, we reply
in the thing itself, certainly not. Boy.
F take boats out to rivers and lakes anC
seas every day, aud nobody has am
right to find fault with them for do
/, ing so. We can readily believe tina
Harry Maynard's three companion
might be entirely free from blame il
what thew did. They might have NJ
reason whatever to believe that thei
parents would disapprove; on th'
contrary, they might have the ex
press permission to go. But in Har
nv Mavuards, case it was entirely
different. His father had expressly
forbidden bis going out TO sea with
out bis knowledge. lie knew tht
risk and did not think bis boy strong
enough or skilful enough to encoun
ter it. There, then, was Harry
fault and sin-tbat be disoheyed BIZ
fathers commands. In this Instance
what took place afterwards prove.
that the prohibition which Mr.. May
nard imposed was right and wise.
But although Mr.. Maynard thu
kept silence in respect to what har
taken place, Harry felt that be coult
not suffer the thing to pass without
frank confession of his fault, ant
without seeking from his mother an,
father the kind assurance of their for
giveness, and Mr.. Maynard was quit,
sure that be would himself introduc
the subject.
One day after Harry had gatheret
strength enough to leave his bedroom
as he and his father were sitting "a
getber by themselves, be summonel
courage to speak. 1t was on a Sun
day evening, when Mrs. Maynarl
and the rest Of the family had gon.
to church.
Papa" said Harry, Il have bee
thinking 4 great deal about what
did. I am very sorry | disobeye.
l hope you and mamma nj
forgive me, and | win try never {
displeasc you in any such way again.
Say no more about it, Harry re
piled his father; "it is quite enoug
for me 20 know that you feel you di
wrong, and that you are sorry for i
Your mamma and / are thankful tbs
f you are spared to us; and. from wba
you have told me. your escape wa
one Of the narrowest / ever heard o
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