Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-06-04

l of calm, bright weather, then storm
> began to gather: we went on deck tc
watch it, we admired the sky and sea-
and rejoiced in the excitement of the
tempest. We were at supper when ii
was at its worst that night. Later,
every man save Ben and the sailors
was in his berth.
I slept soundly. l was awakened
by some one shaking me by the
shoulder.
Who's that 2 I cried.
4, Ben. The Hetty is sinking,
Paul! Can you swim 2
yes
SO can every one on board. There's
a chance for us. God grant no harm
may come to you! 1t would seem my
fault. I induced you to come.
The merry fellow was serious as a
deacon now. l grasped his hand and
went on deck; strange startled faces
that hardly recognized looked pale
in the Pickering lantern light One, a
young fellow of twenty, stood close
to me.
4 don't fear death, hope, ne said
turning to me. I'm no more coward
than most men; but there's girl at
New Haven who'll take it hard, I'm
afraid if this is the last Of me-and no
boat can live in such sea. I'd like
to see her once again. and his voice
choked into a husky whisper and he
turned away.
1t gave me no comfort to know that
Mira would not grieve for me.
We took to the boat in a blindin G,
howling tempest. Half an hour after
the yatch went down. remember
nothing else.
'He's a comm to-.
Lord be praised. I thought he
was gone!'
Be ye better, Mister?'
l opened my eyes. was lying up
on the sea sand in the light of dawn
ing day. Some roughly clad, weather
beaten people were beside me. One
held flask Of liquor to my mouth.
remembered all in an instant, and
gasped, where are the rest?'
your mates I? asked man.
'Yes-my friends
Don't tell him. whispered a wo
man, and I knew the worst. An hour
later saw the three who had been
tossed on shore with me, lying decent
ly cared for in fiisherman's shanty.
Ben, with his black eyes closed for
ever. The youth who had spoken of
his sweetheart, and young Virginian
who had seemed the meriest of ALL
l am not ashamed to say wept as l
bent over them. Those about me, used
as they were to the sea, seemed to
feel grieved and horror stricken.
They're all so young, you see,
sobbed an old woman-'mothers boys
no doubt every one of them!'
And now as l grew stronger, l felt
it my duty to hasten back to Oakdell,
bearing the sad news. A train passed
through the village at noon, and
availed myself of it. The moon was
rising when it stopped at the familiar
station, and l started on foot for my
uncles home, wondering if some sur
vivors had not already brought the
news, how / could break it to Ben's
old mother
The house was unusually dark as
l approached; no light in the parlor,
none in the library. The gloom
which wrapped it told me that the
news had come. AS l opened the
gate softly, heard Cato's voice.
'Yes, Dinah, it's true nuf. De
gemplemen knows de oder boat went
down. We sha'nt nebber see massa
Paul until we goes to glory
Then black Dinah sobbed.
:Missus takes it berry hard, don't
she Z? asked Cato.
Gone to bed-won't eat nor muffin,
said Dinah. She lobed Massa Paul
like her own son. Oh, dis is dreful
world, Cato!
Cant hab no idols, Dinah, said
Cato, piously.
'Oh get out wild preachin'' said
Dinah. 'Pears you can't hab muffin.
1 wonder folks was born jes for
trouble
T stola nast the kitchen window