Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-30
The Story of q StOwaxvay.
From Punch.

Come, my lad, and sit beside me; we have often
OF the hurricane and tempest, and the storms on
When we read OF deeds of daring done for dear old
England'S sake,
We have cited Nelson's duty and the ENTERPRISE Of
Drake;
Midst the fever.d din Of battle, roll of drum, and
scream OF life,
Heroes pass In long procession, calmly yielding up
their life.
Pomps and pageants have their glory,in cathedral
Marble elfigies; but seldom Of the mercantile ma
rine.
If your playmates love adventure, bid them gather
Whilst you tell them OF hero, Captain strachan
OF Liverpool
Spite OF storm and stress of weather, In gale that
ashd the land,
On the "Cyprian" screw steamer, there the CAPTAIN
took mis- stand
He was not fair-weather sailor. and he often made
the boast
That the ocean safer sheltered than the wild Car
naryon coast.
He'd good ship underneath him, and a crew Of
So he sailed from out the Mersey in the hurricane
and storm.
All the luck was dead against him-with the tenn
pest at its height,
Fires expired, and rudders parted, In the middle of
the night
Sails were torn and rent asunder. Then he spoke
with bated breath:
'save yourselves, my gallant fellows weare drift
Ing to our death.''
Then they looked at one another and they felt the
awful shock,
When, with louder crash than tempest, they were
an udSileu upon rock
All Was over now and hopeless; but across those
They could hear the shouts Of people and could
the lights OF home.
GAN is over" screamed the Captain. .sYou have
answered duty'S call
Save yourselves! | cannot help you! God have
mercy on us ALL"
So they rushed about like madmen, sezing belt, and
For the sailor knows where life ,thase's the faint
The est ray OF hope,
dawn OF day,
From the hold OF that doomed vessel crept
Wretched Stcwaway!
Who shall tel the saddened story Of this miserable
Was It wild adventure stirred him, was he going to
the bad?
Was he thief, OF bully's victim, or runaway from
When he stole that fatal passage from the port of
Liverpool?
No one looked at him, or kicked him, midst the
All alone he felt the danger land he saw the distant
shore.
Over went the gallant fellows, when the ship was
And the Captain with his nfebelt-he prepared to
follow last;
But he a boy neglected with a face OF asbv
gray.
'Who are your" roared out the Captain. "I,m the
boy What stow'd away"
There was scarce another second left to think what
he could do,
For the fatal ship was sinking-Death was ready
for the two.
So the Captain called the outcast-as he faced the
tempest wild
From his Own waist took the lifebelt-and he
bound it round the child!
II can SWIM, my little fellow! Take the belt, and
make Orland.
Up, and save yOurSelf!" The Outcast humbly knelt
TO kiss his hand.
With the lfebelt round his body then the urchin
cleared the ship;
Over went the gallant Captain, with blessing on
his lip.
But the hurricane howled louder than it ever
hOwled before.
AS the Captain and the StOwaway were. making
for the shore!
When you tell this gallant story to your playfel-
lows at school,
They win ask you OF the hero, Captain Strachan
OF Liverpool
You must answer: They discovered, on the beach
at break OF day,
Safe-the battered, breathing body of the little
StOwaway;
And they watched the waves of wreckage and they
searched the cruel shore
But the man who tried to save the little outcast-
was no more.
When they speak of English heroes, tell this story
where you can,
To the everlasting credit OF the bravery Of man,
Tell it out in tones OF triumph or with tears and
quickened breath,
ssManhoOd's stronger far than storms, and Love Is
mtghtier than Death!o