The Columbus journal., 1882-07-12

mir. Blake, hsre send this quick.
Richard Swing and hts mother are going
TO drown. and it 8 to save them!'
The operator took the old envelope.
and read:
"Csptain True, steam-tug Good Heart,
Cromwell Harbor: Steam out ut one e in earch
Of small bOat-woman and boy in it-Of Dell
Haven three miles; going against the wind !;
can't last long. JOHN ROSE"
"All right" said the operator. click
ing away at his machine for q minute
or two. and then exclaiming: 1T done.
Wait minute, Sis, and I'll tell you
whether or not he gets it; wire runs right
down to the wharf,"
The minutes went by. Ten had passed
when the answer came back:
"TIMOTHY TRU8."
The operator did not stay to write it.
Run quick and tell your father Cap
tain True is gone already" he said.
Dolly ran, saying to every one she
met: They'll be saved! They'll be
saved" The child got up the belfry
stair, and couldn't utter a word. She
could only smile and bow her head snd
try to get out the message, which she
did at last.
Captain Roses eye was on the speck.
He dare not take it of lest never to find
it again. Meanwhile, the news got
abroad that Captain Rose had tele-
graphed to Cornwall for a tug, and the
burden of fear grew lighter.
In the little boat again and again had
Richard tried to turn its head toward
the land, but with each trial it took in
so much water that he was forced to
give up the attempt Nothing could be
done but keep of and face the boiling
sea. Very few words were spoken.
Mrs. Swing kept bailing as fast as posi-
BILE. with only the shell of horseshoe
crab to work with.
At length came . wave like q small
nil, up which the boat rode gallantly,
and then suddenly Richard shouted:
"They're coming for us, mother. I
see boat Just outside the harbor"
Then the tears sprang to Mrs. Swings
eyes. She stopped bailing for moment
to look toward the shore. All she could
see was wall of water shutting out the
land.
Courage, mother" Dick said.
Every rise and fall of the oar was a
prayer; every dip of the poor old crab
shell was a petition for life.
Out from Cromwell Harbor, seven
miles to the eastward. and hidden from
sight by Bright Head. steamed the
tug Good Heart. Never had its Cap
tain stood watching the sea with more
earnest gaze. Never was steam applied
with more generous hand. Twas the
woman and the boy in the boat out at
sea that lived in the gaze, in the steam
and in the fuel, and Good Heart bore
away with cordial speed till Bright
Head was won and weathered.
II see ar' shouted the Captain,
though how In thunder it's lived to
get there's more'n l know" and he
gave directions to steam outside.
Richards attention was SO divided
between the pillows and the land and
the friendly boat. and Mrs. Swing was
SO intent on bailing, that neither of
them saw the tug until it was upon
them. and a hailing voice shouted:
"Hold on till we pick you up"
1t seemed as voice from Heaven had
spoken. Even bluff old Captain Rose,
up in the bclfry of the church, ejacu-
lated: ''Thank Godr' - hs saw tho TUG
come to.
The shock of the call. the sight of the
black. throbbing tug, friendly as they
seemed. yet came near swamping the
boat, for Richard let it turn, and the
last strength he had was put forth in
holding it up to the wind until line
was cast off, and even then he had no
power to make it fast. 1t was Mrs.
Swing who endeavored to obey the
commands that came, but could not.
Finally the tugs boat was lowered.
1t was no easy task to get to leeward
and board the Good Heart, which held
its breath, bracing itself against the
waves almost as thing of life, to do its
kindly office. Richard and his mother
had been saved.
"Give 'em a signal! Give 'em threer'
and the steam-whistle blew three shrieks
that went over the bay and up the har-
Dor and over against the meeting house
steeple, until old Captain Rose fell
down on his knees to utter the first
prayer of thankfulness his little Dolly
had ever heard her father offer.-Sarah
r. Prichdrd. in Our Continent.