Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-05-19
sglonlhs' Column.
DAvY. THE SAILOR BOY.


completed her third trip. She was
strong and we'll built, and thus far
the voyage had been prosperous one.
But now the home-bound vessel had
been suddenly overtaken by terrible
storm. There seemed little hope of her
ever reaching port, she was so severe
ly injured. All hands were employ
ed at the pumps, but the water gain
ed on them slowly and surely.
The captain, brave as he was, babe
all on board to prepare for the worst,
which must inevitably come upon
them; while the mate, a wild, harum-
scarum sort of q man, now effctually
sobeIed in the near approach of ter
rible disaster and probable death, and
unable to stay at his post, was walk
ing the deck with an anxious troubled
look, while every few minutes he
stopped to take out his watch and
note the time of day.
The ship was rolling fearfully, and
Il part of the rigging had become en-
tangled at the mainmast head. 1t
was necessary for the safety of the
ship that some one should 90 up and
set it to rights which was indeed q
perilous undertaking-who would
dare to do it?
eve are lost p said the captain,
''the ship cannot possibly live out
this gale, and it's as much as ones
life is worth to mount and adjust the
sails"
Among their number was frail,
delicate boy Of only twelve summers
better fitted to thumb a spelling
book than furl sail in Il storm-whO
had but just enlisted in q sailors life,
this being his first trial before the
mast.
The captains words had hardly
passed his lips, when little Davy
steps forward and, lifting his cap,
glanced at the swinging mast, the
boiling sea, and at the watchful, de-
termined countenance Of the mate,
who was examining his watch oftenel
and more anxiously, then, hesitating
in silence only for a moment, rushed
across the deck and threw himself
down into the forecastle. The next
instant our sailor-boy reappeared, laid
his hand upon the rat-lines and crept
up, hand over hand, with will.
He was light, and remarkably &C.
tive; and though his cheek was
blanched with fear for the moment
it was evident in the very bearing Of
the boy that it was overmastered by
something higher than that.
The eyes of all on board were dim
med with tears as they followed tn,
intrepid little fellow, until the shi]
pitched so fearfully they were com
PEELED to turn away, expecting ever.
moment that he would be thrown in
to the boiling sea beneath him.
Captain Baker, often hard and q
times even brutal with his men, re
monstrated with the mate for lettin
the boy, so young and so inexperienc
ed, 60 on such a perilous erran(
"He will never come down alive.
This was his verdict, but young Day
was in the hands of One mighty
save" and he knew it too.
"Sir, l did not oppose it," I'll
mate replied, ''for l believe he wi
save us yet. We carry secret b.
tween us which you shall know
time. 1t is drawing near the hol
we have watched and waited TO
Davy and /, and if we can only ste
the gale till that, Davy says he know
we shall be saved. See how he holC
on, captain, like squirrel, only he
more careful. He'll come down SAT
I'm sure. Some one has him in h
care he says"
And sure enough in less than Fl
teen minutes Davy appeared on dec
this frail boy who looks as though
breath would have blown him ava
Amid q round of cheers, and even t
stern captains muttered words, Ii
commentator, he walked aft with
smiling face as if the very light
heaven were IN it. Like the pea
of one who though in the midst
danger is yet covered by an inysil
shield Of protection, he approach
Captain Baker, who began to gu
ton him as to his bravery, and W
he so hesitated and then after
went up so readily.
Captain, 1 went to prayr' :
you pray, my boy?" eyes, 81
"Davy, you put your old captain
shame. But where did you learn
Il have got praying mother,
and she always tells me whenever
am in trouble to ask God to help l
and He will Jesus is the friend
90 to then, she says. I've tried
and Eve never found it to fail.
l havn't told you all, sir. Now
have asked me, l knew when | W
into the rigging it was near my Nc
er's hour of prayer, too, and |
told Jack, the mate, all about it,
| asked him to tell me when it ca
/ knew she was praying for me,
the vessel can never sink while
mothers prayers are going up
heaven and when Jack made
nal to me just dropped one h
and Jesus held the other all
tighter, while l waved my hat