Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-03-30

back. If l only knew which way to turn
back says lie, and began hallooing and
calling Ned. But there was no answer.
"I can't remember what did or said !;
when think Of that time the same dread
full feeling comes over me that l had then,
when my boy was drlliug out alone in that
little boat to sea. l thought lie must have
got beyond hearing before we missed him,
and there was no chance that he could row
against the tide, tired as he was. Then Jim
began to row again, but in an uncertain
sort of way, stopping every now and then
to shout. Once W. thought there was an
answer, but after that we couldn't hear a
sound.
AT last he gave up calling, and felt
then there was no hope Of ever finding Ned
or getting ashore. jim said that he was
going TO try and get me safe home first, and
then start out again with my husband aud
other men to help him. had to own that
was the best plan, but it made me shudder
to think what might happen TO Ned in the
meantime. | don't know how long ii was
after we lost the boat-it seemed like hours
but at last we touched shore.
"Oh how glad was Jim landed and
walked a little way; then he came back
and said he thought we were near the end
OF Sandy Point! r.
"How near is that to your homer
asked.
"why," continued Mrs. Wilson, "its on
this side the river, mile or two below
here. was thankful 10 be even that near
home, and told Jim we'd better leave the
boat and walk along the shore to our land
ing, aud so TO the house. 1t was long, wet
walk, but was willing to try it. SO jim
pulled the boat up, and we started, as We
supposed, toward the shore, keeping close
to tie waters edge to guide us. But pret-
ty soon the ground began to get very soft
aud Sandy Point is all pebbly aud hard.
Jim got down on his hands and knees and
presently he said: Were at the end Uf the
darued point; the shores in the other di-
reclion, so we must he still ON the same
side Of The river. lts that there point
down by the flats, couiound ilr
"Oh! never felt so done out in all my
life did when he said that. We were
within a mile Of the sea, farther than ever
from home, aud my boy gone. 1 just
cou dn't help it; 1 burst out crying, aud
Jim stood by me, not knowing, l suppose,
what to do next.
"But pretty soon he gave a shout, and
that was answered by another quite near.
| stopped crying aud listened; sure enough,
there was the sound Of oars and the CLEAN
Of light through the fog. Then 1 heard
My husbands voice; l called and he an
sweied, aud soon he'd come up beside Us.
esquire Green was with him, and they
said they'd been cut since seven o'clock
looking for us. But where's Ned?' was
the first thing almost the Captain said. Sc
told him all about it, and begged them to
| go and find my boy. l suppose / talked
in a Wild kind Of a way, for heard Squire
| Green say they must get me home first as
| quick as possible, for was cold and nerv-
Gus. They would take me to our landing
they said, and then start out to look foi
Ned, and Jim was to find his way back tc
Captain Moores.
"Well, they put me in their boat and
started, the two men pulling steadily to-
gether, and only stopping sometimes tC
call 'NCdr 'Nedr But they got no an.
swer. Il never felt the current 50 strong
heIe,' heard Squire Green say 'oue mar
/ should think could hardly row against it.
| My husband didn't answer. l guess he
| like me, was thinking of our little boy ou
alone in tho current.
"S1 we went on for some time. / wa'
too worn out TO think / was only con
/ 81. 4 IL
| numb with cold. There seemed 10 be wa
ter in the boat, and the two men spoke anx
| iously together in low tones. Pull harder
Wilson, she'll last If we hurry l hearC
Squire Green say, aud they rowed taste
ard faster. Suddenly the boat bumped
against something in the dark. My hus
band beld up The lantern and exclaimed
Thank God, he's safev l reused myself
opened my eyes, and saw beside us on
boat, and in the bottom of it my Ned, fas
asleep"
"But should think ii would have beer
farther down by that time if it was adril.'
ayes, but" said Mrs. Wilson, "it wa
stopped, and by what, do you think? Why
good many years before that there'd beel
| u llllle NtsScl MlGCh0u III L
tell you it was that very wreck the Captail
was telling you about the other night, th
time of that great storm Of lS5-. Well,
all broke up, bnt part of the hull was wash
ed in past the flats and when the wato
went down it stuck in the mud out In th
middle of the river. 1t was covered at hig
water, but at low tide couple of beam
ant of oil
great bother TO the boats, for it was right il
the main channel the folks around her
often talked OF getting ii away somehow
but they never did and IT'S always seemo
to me since that it was just put there b.
Providence to save our child. For, woul
you believe, the boat had drifted down o
to il and lodged between the two beams
not fast, but just kept there till we cam
up against it, and it was the Lords guild
ing that brought us to 1t, for they had bee
trying to keep away from where the
thought the wreck was.
"'Now,' says the Captain, AS soon as b
found our boat was all sound, I'VE must 81
right into our boat. Quick, Mary he say
to me, there's not moment to lose. Thi
ones leaking fast; in minute she'll 6
DOWN. / didn't realize ill alterward th
new danger we'd just escaped; but the
hurried TO bring the boats alongside, and i
the dark almost lined me from one to III
other. Then Ned woke up, wonderin
what it was all about, and had my boy i
my arms and my husband rowing towar
home.
1--WE left the old boat there in the rive
and soon through the fog we saw fireligh
Squire Green shouted 'All right = and ther
came from the shore real hearty cheer
answer. In another minute we'd lande
beside great bonfire, and The neighboi
were all around us. When we got honl
IL was u O'Clock, and if ever was glad
| ho IL, ihiu old kiichan IL Mas then.