Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-06-01

that the lighthouse-keeper at the Cape
might see Us. ! did not realize the full
danger We were in. knew it was
rough off the Cape, aud I knew, too,
the ice might break; but / had such
strong faith that we should be rescued
that it didn't affect me much.
When we got opposite the light we
could see the keeper trimming the lamp.
He heard us and shouted back. We
were not dozen rods apart. / called
out our names and begged him to help
Us. He tried to launch his boat, but
the ice was piled in heaps by the land
ing, and all his endeavors were in gain.
Then be shcased that he would raise an
alarm and send boats; but 1 knew that
he had four miles to go on foot before
that could be done, and by that time
We might be out of sight. They could
never find us IN the darkness, and the
waves would wash us off the moment
We got into the open bay. / did not
dare to give way before the little boys,
but l felt sure that we should never
see home again.
The water began to grow rougher,
and it was not long before We had to
cling to the pole TO keep on the ice
We could not see each other plainly,
it was SO dark, and the water broke
over us every moment. The sornd of
the fog bell off the Cape grew fainter,
and at last ceased altogether. Then
knew we were lost. Your father was
brave little fcllow-braver than l.
After he had been still long while he
began saving tie Lords PRAYER aloud.
He told me afterwards he wasn't afraid
after that He knew that God would
save us. But poor little Benny Wit
son Every sob went to my heart like
knife knew his mother would be
nigh distracted when she found out
that he was gone He sat on his sled
with one hand tight hold of mine, and
the other clinging to the pole. He was
only six years oil, and weakly little
chap at that. | have wondered many
times since then how he lived through
I that night.
After a while it stopped raining, and
NGhtened up :" that we could see lit
tie, hut II was worse than the darkness.
did not dare to look at the water-it it
was enough to feel it. SO | cluug to
little Benny, who had cried himself to
sleep. and shut nv eyes. Your father
sat still srasling the pole with both
hards, but never speaking. The stran-
rest thing was that We were not washed
off. Every wave that came | felt sure
that we were gone; but the ice seemed
to lift up with it, and though We were
constantly drenchcd, We managed to
keep our place. II seemed as if that
night would never 90. tried to make
believe that was dreaming, and that
was home abcd in my little room; and
for a minute it would seem true. Then
II wave would come, or little Benny
would cry out, and the dreadful reality '
would come back to me-
Morning came at last, and our courage
rose with the sun. stood up and took
a survey, but there was thick fog, and
| could see neither land nor vessel
| knew they would send out boats from
Yarmouth, and I had been PRAYING
that they might find u.s. Once l fan
cicd | heard People calling, and
shouted and listened till was complete
" exhausted. Then | gave up, and
shrunk down again. What with the
cold and fright. and hunger. little Benny
had fallen into n sort Of sturor. / had
tied one end of my WOODEN comforter
around his waist, and the other to the
pole, to keep him from rolling off, for
the water was growing rougher. and |
was afraid | might let 90 Of him. The
fog thickcned very fast. and at last we
could hardly more than See the end of
our raft.
All at once YOUR father started up.
and almost shouted
There's Il vessel coming Hark
Ny heart beat So loud that at first
could hear nothing else Then. a mo-
ment after, ine creaking of blocks and
the sound of voices came through the
fog. seemingly within few yards.
never thought | could shout as loud Is
did the next second An answer came
back so near that 1t almost startled me.
They thought, we found afterwards, that
they were running into another ves-
sell
We're lost " l cried out. 'We are
on cake OF ice-three bows"
Great heavens" we heard the captain
say. Theu came the order, Down with
the boats"
They struck the water in nearly the
same minute the order was given, and
then Ne heard the stroke Of oars.
Where away:' came the voice again.
Here we both shouted.
\ minute after We saw the dark side
Of the boat, as she broke through the
fog and sind alongside the ice. shall
never forget the astonishmeut of the
men when they got sight of us. nor
their ordinations OF wonder and SYM
pathy rs they lifted us into the boa,
and pushed for the vessel. which was
not a dozen lengths away. The captain
was rough looking sort of man. and
was little afraid of him: but whep be
heard onr story the tears ran down his
checks like rain.
Go down into the cabin and get some
thing to eat. and dry your clothes he
s1!U; auu turning 10 the mate VINO had
gone aft, he cried, Put her away for y ar.
mouth
The owner was on board, and was
standing hy.
That won't do said he. The bows
are safe and YOU can send them back
from Boston, for it seems the vessel was
bound TO tha, por.-
The Captains eyes flashed as he an.
Svarpd