The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-05-05


five barred gate this time, but against
the poop of a vessel with the raging Bay
of Biscay all surrounding us, that i had
a great deal of sentiment III me after AL ;
anI indeed there is nothing like "A great
storm to bring out the true woman IN q
man, which is there sure enough If 1t
can only he reused: Just ~ my poor
Little Wasp proved there VAS plenty OF
the man or manly courage III a fraIl,
sweetly nature painted little woman.
She was with her husband below now,
cheering and cOnsolinS him. was sure;
for she who had on coming on board
shuddered only less black beetles might
be liz the cabin. was now strong and firm
and even cheerful since the captain had
told us he feared we could never weather
the gale.
There were many passengers on board.
/ don't Know the number, for l could
never read the newspaper accounts.
But Ellen Percival. in her blue serge,
was hither and thither, consoling
mothers, comforting children, and even
taking off little trinkets for them to play
with. And how those children played
on the verge of eternity! They were
not terrified, the majority of them; and
if they were, Little Wasp with her
gentle voice, which had no sting now
for any one, coaxed them into happiness,
and hid away in her own great tender
heart all she must have been feeling
then.
"Hnve you no fear!" i said to her, rs
q lifeboat Was launched and was seen
to 60 TO pieces instantly in that terrible
sea.
She was standing with her husbands
arm about her as spoke.
Jack is here" was all her reply.
The battered crew of the lifebOat, res
cued all but one, persisted that they
would make no further attempt. They
resisted the captains command to launch
the iron pinnace, which would hold fifty
souls. No, they would go down with the
old craft, they said doggedly.
And now, to make matters worse, half
the crew, who were Malays, refused to
do anything, and went to their berths,
and it became necessary for the passen-
gers to take their places. Jack and /
were strong, and we went to the pumps.
The storm continued with redoubled
fury. The water was rising rapidly in
the cabin, and there the stewardess
helped the parents to place their children
higher than the water. thus putting off
by SO little the inevitable,
1t was now resolved that the pinnace
should be lowered by means of the
davits. But only three of the passed.
gers were willing to enter it when
launched. They had been terrified by
the fate Of the lifeboat. L was one of the
passengers, and / almost feel guilty III
writing it, seeing they were not the other
two.
Few will believe how great a sacrifice
! made for the old mother at home de
pending on me- To have died with her
as he did would have seemed bliss to
me. But my life belonged to nay old
mother at home.
There is little chance for you in the
boat" said the captain to the first mate;
"here there is none. You have done
your duty, God speed you. Do what
you can for the little craft, and the two
shook hands rs for eternity.
The pumps had been abandoned, and
Jack with his arm around his wife stood
near and heard. You will go, Tom"
said Jack, lyon have your mother.
We" he said, glancing with kind of
rapture at the wistful little face leaning
against his a-jacket-"we will not be
separated"
still hoped, as l said "Goodby,"
that they would join us; but the crew,
! finding the passengers held back, had
come ON to the boat and taken their
places, at which the captain smiled
grimly. He smiled even more. as one
! of the passengers went over the side of
the vessel with black bag carefully
held. to think he should care for his
possessions at q moment like this. There
was no time to lose. for the good ship
was settling fast. We had some biscuits
and compass, but no water.
There is room for one more. Fetch
a lady, said the mate as we were about
to cut ourselves free of the ship.
| Immediately regained the ship to
look for Ellen and her husband. "Therc
is room for one lady," / said hurriedly.
''GO both of you and care for my mother
for me-
They shook their heads, both of them.
and Jack said, al could never face your
mother with such a tale; but, he added
with sudden heroism, 'it is the mo.
ment to tell the truth. Tom loves you,
Ellen, have seen it all along. Take
| her." he said to me, 'marry her and
make her happy. 1t is so dreadful fo1
such sweet young life to be broken
off"
" RVHK n