The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1884-10-16

tue which earned him the uarnssi admir-.
alton Of all the game keepers On the ~.
ta,es Efforts were made 10 get the big
man 10 pray at the ordinary lcve feasts
that were held in connection with the
chapel, but no always said. NO; nv
Father and me has al our conversations
to ourselves. and whom God says anything
particular l always spoak TO Mr.. Mus.
grave, and he tells me that hs prays fer
me and tells God what said. II IL not
as il God didn't know; but don't think
q blackeuard like me should be 90 rude
As TO address him face to face after the life
i have led"
The years went by, and Tsmmys shag-
gy beard showed signs Of griszling. His
huge limbs were more delicate in their
movement, and his low forehead had some
how or ether acquired certain spiritual
aspect that no words Of mine can describe.
He wrought at his trade. saved money,
and spent good deal in elabsratsly dec-
Grating his msther's grave
A bad winter came, and tho thuudsring
seas broke so continually over the rocks
that IL was impossible for the men TO get
bait on their own rocks. All day long the
loungers walked the cliff edge and watched
the columns OF spray Kissing up from the
rocks. Day after day the clouds seemed
to mix themselves with the see as they
laid their gray shoulders on the floor Of
the quivering water. Money became
scarce in the village, and the men who had
savings had to help these who were poor.
er. When things got almost too bad for
bearing. Billy Armstrong said to one Of
his friends,
look here, you and ma and Hsb's
Tommy will run round TO the Tyne and
get some mussels, or else the whole place
will be starved when the fine weather
comes"
A big coble was got out, aud ran down
to the Tyne with northerly wind through
the shrewd and vicious sea. The men got
the cargo Of mussels, and at in the af
ternoon prepared to beat their way north.
ward. 1t was then blowing half gale,
but the wind had shifted round
so that very little tacking was required
As the shades fell lower and lower, the
wind rose higher and niger. The hswling
blasts galloped down through the hollows
and struck the brown sail Of the cobls like
the SQUAD OF musketry. The boat lay
hard over the water leaped in spurts over
her lee gunwale. They reached the point
where the Cobble's Stone stood. Tommy
was in strange state Of exaltation. He
pointed to the misty shore, then to the
black stone round which the water was
seething. He said quietly, "Youder, lads,
is where i found salvation"
They rounded the point and put the
boats head nearer to windward. A harsh
ripping sound was heard under the bot
tom. She lay hard over until blast came
and tore her away. Billy armstrong said
"You have taken her in bit too near,
my son. The bilge chocks is both pulled
off; look you, they're gone away astern. I"
And sure enough two long planks drifted
away behind the boat. They had been
torn of by the force with which she rushed
upon the outlying rock. Tommy said,
''Le.'s have another reef in, Mates" But
before the sail could be half lowered q
storming gust swept out Of ths bay and
struck the boat with savage rear. The
long rudder smashed; q green sea doubled
up behind her, and she turned over exact
ly as the coble had done when Tommy
FIRST prayed.
In the wild waves it was hard for the
men to get hold The bilge checks were
gone, and thus oil chance OF hand grip
was lost. Half way down the square stern
of the boat hole had been bored through
which rope had been passed and knotted
at both ends. This rope served the mes
in hauling the boat down to the sea. On,
ly only one could hold On to this short
strap, and Tommy who was the first to
think Of it. seized it and held ON with eli
strength of his despair. The boat lunged
and struck the faces of the two men who
we're holding on her sides. Billy Arm.
strong was bleeding from the mouth, and
his front teeth we're gone--dashed out by
one terrible stroke which had met him as
he tried to climb and catch holdl Of the
deep iron keel in the fore part Of the cob
lie. The other man said suddenly, 1--we
got broken arm, Tommy" A few aw.
full minutes went by, during which the
men dared not speak-only Tommy was
perfectly safe. The others were slipping
and writbing in their efforts to hang on TO
the smooth planks. The man with the
broken arm had the nail OF his sound
hand torn and the blood streamed down
as he clutched madly again and again At
the slippery seams. At last be said,
II cannot Dc it any longer Tell Mary
the msAey is under the bed at the right
hand side next the wall, and ask my grand.
father to take little Adam and keep him
for me-"
One wild thought came int Hobs Tenn
my's mind. He cried out with bis tire.
mendous voice,
'Don't let yourself 80 down. Edge
round here to the stern, aEd you shall
have this rope"
The maimsd man came slowly round
and took the rope s Tommy let go. For
q single minute the bruised giant rested
his hands on the lunging stern Of tho lii.
tie vessel He did not look up, and bis
face had no devotional sspect. bnt the two