Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-06-14

q "f'f'N " WV "f'lfF''' ''N''' '"'N' y '''''''
with u face white and ghaslly, bringing
9 the appalling tldlngs that the water was
pouring in rapidly through the strained
, seams, and that the pumps would not
8 work,
Que instant the gallant sailor stood
IN silent horror then he gave his orders
quietly aud calmly, and while some OF
the crew made what haste they could
{ to collect provisions, aud store them In
the boats, others summoned lhe panic
stricken passengers on the deck,
II was q iorlorn hope, that Of finding
safety In those irall little shells Of
wood, albeit they were IN reality good
: aud stout, rs all boats might well be,
only they seemed 50 small 10 brave that
tossing sea but II was the only visible
hope, no, rs tho order was given to en-
tor the boats before lowering them,
there was mad, frantic rush, each
one determined to bc among the first to
, quit the sinking ship,
1t was in vain that the officers and
men expostulated tho first boat was
overloaded, aud even as she was being
cautiously lowered to the surface OF tho
angry sea, several OF the more fear
maddcncd passengers lcapcd into her,
and among them was john Chester,
craven rs well as base, giving no
thought to the wife against whom he
had sinned.
Slowly, slowly the boat crcpt down
towards the ioaming waters, few
moments of brcathless suspense, and
then MS huge wave came rolling along
and lifted her on its crest, quick, deit
fingers cas-, loose the lines, and so the
little craft swept safely away from the
ill-fatcd ship.
Safely, did we say? Alas and alas
Even as the second bout was about
to be lowered, there rose fearful cry
from out the sea, rs n great wave
lcaped up, and poising for IN instant
on the little boat, came down heavily
upon it, and then, as if satisfied with
its work, the green glittcring monster
rolled on, leaving in its track II few
broken blanks and few struggling fig
ures that was all, and in few mo-
mcnts more these too had vanished in
the foaming cauldron.
An awful stiffness fell upon those left
on the deck, and then the captain
spoke, slowly and solcmnly.
My friends, it is with you to choose
whether you will die as those other
poor creatures have done, or wait quiet.
ly here, and 90 down with the ship.
| think we can best prepare to meet
our God by staying here; it will give
us more time, for the ship is settling
more slowly now; still it shall be as
you decide
And so it came about that except for
those in that boat, every one remained
on that poor wreck, waiting in agony
for the final moment to come when she
should plunge down into the depth OF
the ocean with her human freight.
An hour passed on, another. and an
other, and still the vessel floated, and
still the waves ran too high for the
boats to live in their midst.
Another hour and yet another, and
then the brave captain rose up, his
cheeks flashing, his eyes sparkling, his
voice falteripg.
MY friends!' he cried, go down on
your knees and thank God for his mer-
cy; He has granted our prayers for de-
liverance, and with His further help we
shall be saved. The ship has not set
tied an inch more these two hours; she
is water-logged, and will float until the
sea is smooth enough for the boats.
Thank God, say!'
'Thank God, thank God, indeed!
whispered Robert Wallace, as he knelt
in reverent gratitude, his strong right
arm holding his beloved one close to
his side.
And afterward, when the poor
wrecked steamer had been left alone
upon the waters, and the well-provis-
ioned boats, sailing over a sunny sea
for many days, were at last picked up
by a homeward bound vessel, Robert
Wallace felt that God was indeed Il
God of love and justice, whose ways
are not as our ways.
A year later, those two who had
seemed to be put irrevocably asunder,
stood together as husband and wife,
and a strange look of awe crept over
the brides sweet face as her thoughts
went back to that other one who lay
under the waves.
Vengeance is mine. I will repay
saith the Lord