The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-03-31
Steering by Mothers Light.

I
Hul-lol Hul-lo-o-ol''
There was no answer save that of the
heavy swash of the sea at his feet. Meth
ter was there anything to be seen, only a
thick curtain OF gray. mist falling every
where over the sea.
He made another speaking trumpet
with his hands and shouted again, but
there was no response. Neither did the
fog break before his piercing cry. Sui
len. and gray it hung down over the sea.
4 don see, said Pierre, where the
fishing boats are And, of course, it
don't do any good to call, but then, when
one don know what to do, why-why
he will try anything.-Guess l Will GO
into the house and see mother
He walked up to the hard sandy
beach, cIimed hummocks in the rear, and
then dropped down into coy valley
that several aged willows overshadowed.
Under one OF these trees was Pierre's
home
Amy word from the boats? asked a
musical voice.
THAT is mother, thought Pierre.
She was stopping over the fire of drift
wood that she had begun to make on the
broad aud blackened hearth.
Any news from the boats p she
asked again. 1t is time for the fisher
men to be at home.
Nothing" he said.
Three boats went out, Pierre-I saw
them go-your fathers, your uncle
Louis, and your uncle Pierres."
Yes three boats had gone to the fish
ing grounds Just off rough rocky point
three boats rocking on the restless,
surging sea.
" Four OF your neighbors went with
your uncle Louis
" I know 1t, mother. All men in that
boat"
And Cosette wet in your fathe Is. "
Yes, and she is as good as a man in
a boat" =
Coco . man Cosette, Pierre
big sister, could manage a boat better
than some men.
besides Cosette, two others of the
family were in the boat-Clen and Vic
tor, Pierres big brother, strongand mus
eular.
q saw the boats of the point, mother,
two hours ago, and i could see Cosette
standing in the stern of fathers boat
Uncle Pierre was farther out, its sail
set, and the boat was skipping away
" God keep them murmured the
mother. " don't like to have them late
when the sea is rough. God keep theml'
will go out and see how things
look now"
He soon came back, and reported that
the fog seemed to be scattering and the
wind rising.
" Could you hear the waves of the Big
Rock p
Yes, could hear them"
The mother sighed again and again.
The waves of the Big Rock" meant the
surf around lofty shore ledge at high
tide and when storm was approach.
ing the agitation of the sea about this
ledge was very violent and noisy. She
went to the door, listened, and slowly
climbed the worn stairway leading to her
little chamber under the roof
" 1 think 1 will go up stairs, she
murmured
1t won't do any good mother, cried
Pierre, who knew what she purposed to
do.
II wish you only thought it would
Pierre
She lighted a lamp, set it in the mar
row window, and then bowed her head
in prayer 1t was her habit on stormy
nights and Pierre had carelessly joked
about it, and yet it was only talk on the
surface. The terrible wrath of the sea
awed him; and if his pride had not pre-.
vented, he would have declared his pur-
pose to look to that God who holds wind
and wave in his grasp.
While a mother at home was praying
by the lighted lamp, souls at sea were
watching it The three boats had been
bewildered in the fog. Two of them had
stumbled on little island, in one Of
whose coves they sought shelter for the
night. The boat belonging to Pierre
father had not been so fortunate. When
the wind rose and ihe log scattered Go.
settle keen eyes were turned In every
direction, searching for some ray from
guiding hight
" Oh there See he said pointing
toward a DIM flash OF gold off ON The
water edge.
" Make Tor that. replied her father
The bow OF the boat was pointed to-
ward that golden spark. Slowly but
steadily they advanced through the
rough waters and the boat was preached
in little sheltered nook not far from
the home under the wilIowa
Here we are shouted Victor at the