The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-05-19

mother would her child. The German
cursed and complained alternately. Frank
| endured all with patience, giving what
relief he could; of himself he never gave
a care. The morning dawned bright and
smiling, the sun threw its light over the
sea, which sparkled underneath. The
ocean was as smooth as glass; the raft
floated over it with hardly a movement.
Frank was very tired. Young and strong
as he was. he felt exhausted with the eff
fort he had made, and the long hours of
labor in which his muscles had been
strained. Yet be was patient in his suf-
ferings and complained not.
A Jug of water and a few pieces of
bread which they had secured were care
fully divided between them; Frank CIV
ing his to the boy.
"Why do you give it to him. cried
the German, "Don't you see that have
not had enough! that brat'll die anyhow;
throw him overheard. Why..do you take
from the living to give it to one two
thirds dead already"
"No," replied Frank. cit is mine,
and he shall have it"
He seized Franks hand, and skin mish
ensued, the bread was dropped and soon
was seen on the waves, being nibbled by
the fish; through the intervention of
James Wilson, the small tin was saved.
With tears in his great blue eyes, the
child with his slender hands seized the
tiny draught, thanking Frank in whis-
per, as he in agony bent over him. All
day Frank had stood between him and
the sun, endeavoring to shield him from
the light endeavoring to make him as
comfortable as possible. The boy lay
with his great eyes fixed on him, for to-
wards death the eyes seem to increase in
size and brilliancy. Calm and motion
less, Frank saw that his life was ebbing
away. The truth forced itself on him,
and tears gushed from his eyes like rain,
and he cried out in his agony, go God,
hast Thou forgotten u.s." The sun now
was going toward the West, but was still
high in the heavens, whose cloudless
space looked gray i'll comparison to the
sparkling azure of the sea. As the sun
gradually lost itself amid the waves in
the West, the boys spirit weuded its
way home to God.
Frank carefully covered the body with
the blanket, and the face with a hand
kerchief. determined to keep the corpse
until they encountered a ship, were such
luck possible, otherwise he said, sit
shonld remain on the raft with theirs.
Throw it overheard: hate the sight
of it, said the German.
"You brute, it shall remain where it
is, = replied Frank.
The next morning found the little crew
faint and exhausted; they were now with
out water or bread; death appeared inevi-
table. Frank, who had taken nothing
since he left the ship but Il little water,
could scarcely keep his footing, yet he
did not complain, but tried to encourage
his suffering companions. There was
still no sign of any ship; he began to lose
hope; a vague expectancy, too faint al
most to be hope, came to him now and
then. vanishing almost as soon as it
came.
At last something appeared floating
like speck or sea bird in the distance.
They strained their eyes eagerly, all
three staggering to their feet. They had
been deceived SO often that they were al
most afraid to hope. However, this time
they were not to be disappointed. 1t was
a ship.
They tried to stand upright, tottering
against each other and swaying back
ward and forward in their weakness.
a ship ship" they shouted stimuli
taneously. "Hallo. for God S sake come
TO us. Here we are; can't You see us!
hallo"'
The sound went echoing over the sea
like the sobbing of a child; they waved
their handkerchiefs as signals OF distress.
Onward, onward it sailed, like white
swan over the waves, its sails fluttering
upon the breeze. 1t needed them not
but pursued its course.
"My God! we are lost cried the
agonized three.
"Hallo, hallo!' again cried the eager
band. Onward, still onward sailed the
merciless ship.
Hope appeared over. They still watched
it, and waved their signals of distress.
Frank and his friend in speech.
less agony gazed into each others pale
and awestrcken faces, while the German
howled aloud in his distress. Again and
again they had fancied that they had
seen deliverance coming to them in the
form of ship, but it had turned out tc
be myth; this time one was really there
but it needed them not. Presently she
almost stopped, she turned, she sgnaled
to them; they were saved!
The German laid down and turned his
face towards it, his cheeks We're wet witt
tears, while Frank and James thanked
God for their deliverance.
Frank, who had been buoyed up witt
excitement, now felt the reaction. With
great care the faithful James Wilson anG
the troublesome German recovered, but
poor Frank did not rally. Fever, which
set ill., increased rapidly, and. in spite o.
the tenderest care, it was impossible tt
save him. He was delirious and raveC
necessarily about his home and the loved
ones, calling piteously for Phoebe, ten
derby pronouncing her name. Shortly
before his death he recovered conscious
ness. Turning to James Wilson, who
sat beside his berth, and who bent ovel
him with plying glances, to hear hi:
dying words, he said:
- am going on very long journey
my friend. l should like to have beel
spared for little while longer, for he
sake and mine But God knows best. ,
Tell her," continued the dying youth
her love has made me idescribably happy
commencing with my childhood, endin!
only with my death. Take her this loci
of my hair, my blessing and my dyin:
farewell" His voice, which had become
weaker, died ont with the whispering
sound of the name Phoebe"
They buried him at sea, and many
stranger who saw the handsome form il
its winding sheet, and lowered into thu
waves, shed tears over the oble-hearte,
dead.