Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-04-25
MISCELLANEOUS.
'' 1 SHALL PRAY FOR YOU To-
NIGHT AT TWELVE"

- ID h cars were hurrying toward the city as
II conscious that business hours had be-
gun. Our party was seated comfortable, full
OF plans for doing all that We wished to do
while in town. Presently friend seeing US,
came over and took a seat with US, and happily
diverted our numbered brains by incidentally
mentioning that he had travelled to and fro
over the State of Maine time and again.
We were all interested at once for was not
that our fatherland, and did We not feel as if
our feet was on its native heath
After much chit chat and many tales of ad.
ventures, our visitor, becoming more serious,
said 81 lett one of those towns one fine Sep
tember morning in top buggy with a good
horse. Two or three miles out noticed that
the road stretched up aud over a long steep
hill. AS my horse crept up saw not far
before me person walking; she looked very
old, and scarcely appeared to move, so slow
was her gait. AS came up said, s.Why,
mother, what are you doing here !" "why,
man, said she, "I am going to the next town
sto visit my son." "But, ma'am, il is seven
teen miles, 30 we'll T shall call at some
farmer Tor the nlght, and hope to-1norrow 10
drink tea with my William"
al, said |, "you think you can trust mo,
l shall be glad to give you a seat in my car
riage, as my route lies through that town"
Now, child. this is good of you, and
praised be God" With much ado she was
finally seated and We logged on. She enter.
tanned mo with an account Of her family, why
and when she came from Scotland; said she
was soighty-five years old, aud with many pious
explosives uDwittingly taught mo lesson of
gratitude. When she slighted at "NIy
Williams door" she heaped her blessings
upon mo, thanking me over aud over, and say.
ing, 81 shall be on my knees at twelve o'clock
praying to God for you, and remember, sir,
that God has promised to hear tho prayer of
the widow and fatherless," smiled my thanks
unconcernedly, and said, Goodbye, good
bye, | must go;" but she hold my arm. saw
ing, "Rcmember, boy, shall pray for you
tonight at twelve"
Thanking ouce more, was soon seated.
and trotted of at a brsker rate than usual
for must not reach the Penobscot; and take
the Boston boat at Bangor. So on l went
and as drove into town in ample season to
secure my passage, [ moraliZed that my good
speed was because | honored that hoary.
headed woman aud believe also that my
life and the lives Of others Wcre spared that
night from death In answer 70 that midnight
prayer. That very hour was one of the very
darkest Of my life, for l was on board the
steamer Cambridge, and tho force gale Of
September 8. 1869, was upon Us; our vessel
lay in the trough of the sea helpless thing.
AS the clock in the saloon pointed to twelve
that night steam-pipe burst, ard almost in
an instant the ship was filed to suffocation
with the vapor. Every moment We expected
to SEQ the flames burst out. Tho terror Of
that hour can better be imagined than de-
scribed. There were seventy-fVe ladies and
more than twice as many gentlemen. The
othcers found all discipline impossible even
the coal beavers entered the ladies' state>
rooms and took ife-preservers from then-
AS rushed to the forward deck my heart
was full, and l could only cry, 30 that that
widows prayers might be answered, and we
yet be saved ~
''The night wore on, and still We were Ahoat,
and mother FIRE nor water had devoured u.s.
The next day there doomed up in our wake q
large white steamer, white aud fair as the
wings of mercy. Sho threw us = line, and
brought US safely to port" Here our friend
paused, but rs no one spoke. he said, "Now,
this is true and no exaggeration, and believe
that the prayers of that woman saved the
ship" There was an exclamation of ''Yes,
yes" from all, aud as the train drew in the
DARK, smoky depot, some one murmured
Tennyson's favorite lines
Pray for my soul: more things are wrought by
Than this world dreams Off
[CAyistian Era.