Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-02-03

: \
And you SO low for wisdom
q In after We rs may stoop; lfs
You will see the moon lake q barren globe, S,s
But never silver sloop.
9--Harpers Young People. r
The Punt That Was Upset.
sOh, dear!n thought Ted Merrill,
looking out Of the window IL the old
kitchen in the Merrill farmhouse, II
wish father wouldn't read su,h a long
chapter in the Bible this morning. Sam
and want to be off on our trip to the
shore. !"
Farmer Merrill, an honest, worthy
soul, finally closed his Bible, laid il
deliberately on it's little stand, took of
and deliberately wiped his spectacles,
laid them away in their old-fashioned
tin case, and then laid the case on a
shelf under the kitchen clock.
@Oh, dear!" inwardly g1oaned Ted,
ut does take father SO longto get those
spectacles in their case.v
The family now bowed Tor prayer,
and Farmer Merrill's voice vas heard,
voice that was husky and hesitating
at first, but it grew clearer and steadier,
and then rose without break, like
wings that, struggling for D moment,
mount without faltering. The wings
Of Ted's thoughts beat the other way,
down toward the floor, which he dis
contentedly eyed.
Such q long prayer" thought Ted.
1t was not such long prayer nor such
q long chapter in the Bible, but Ted
was impatient to be away. His mother
did not feel so. She was thinking how
these moments of prayer were like q
breaking of the clouds of anxiety and
care gathering in every household, and
through this rift streamed down the
light from the shining of Heavenly
Fathers countenance. The PRAYER
went on.
BE pleased, oh Lord, TO keepsns this
day from harm and danger prayed
Farmer Merrill.
Il don't see," thought Ted, swhat
harm and danger we people here will
run into. Nothing ever happens in our
house. However, day after day, that
petition had been woven into the family
prayer.
All ready, now, hope, Sam, was
Ted's exclamation of relief after the
family worship. Sam was an elder
brother. he now nodded his head.
1t was bright, beautiful morning.
The marshes were level floor Of green,
with stripes Of crystal where the water
from the sea ran. at the swelling Of the
tide, two miles into the country. Ted was
eager for the sport Of the day. and
hopeful also. Sam walked soberly
along the narrow footpath that threaded
the marshes. ss:
" Anybody going down to the fish
house, Sam?' asked Ted.
@Juct We two, Ted.
9Then whatever fishing there is, we
two can have it, Sam"
! think SO, if the fish will only come
to our lines.
3 Il just want to get off soon asI can. .
I'VE won't be long in getting of,
Ted. !.
4Oh, while you are getting bait
ready and SO on, just let me take the
old punt and go off to our lobster
nets. mean my nets, the little ones
that I can handle"
"The old punt? She is ticklish
thing" n
can manage it.
Be extra careful, Ted, then. The
old thing turns before you think.
Charlie Blake was off in her the other
day, and she almost capsized. Ran
against rock, you know" rs
SOh, don't you worry, Sam. can
manage her. and Charlie can't. That
makes al the difference in the world,
you know"
Yes, / am aware of that.
They reached the fsh-house. It
stood on the borders Of the marsl, and
not far from it ran q river. o, so blue!
and o, SO treacherous, might we'll be
added! When the tide was running
either way in its strength, there was
sometimes turbulence to the current
around hidden rocks and over sunken
Lodges that made the river terror TO
navigators. Ted was a young nayii-
gator, and on this account had the less
terror. Itwas the very reason why he
might have had deep-seated and
wholesome fear of this strong. obsti-
nate, unreliable river.
Ted took the old punt while Sam
was busily preparing in the fish-house
for the more laborious work of the day.
"Ah, this is something like business II
proudly thought Ted,& gripping his
paddle when seated in the punt, and
boldly reaching ont for the lobster
grounds. Splendid, splen-whew!
strong currents :
The energy Of the current was sur
prise to him. Menacing green whirls.
streaked with foam, seized the punt.
and without mercy would have flung :it
about, but Ted's paddle restrained
these threats Of violence. Still. his
face was c.ouded with 8 rather anxious
look when he remembered that 4 sariee
Of such twisting, whirlinp ef1diea rn;0hk