Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-11-09
DEAD IN THE Goat,

Ihere were uOIch iiVaN"''
boats tied to the long whal 10 me
inlet. The tide lifted or lowered
them as it ebbed or flowed, aod
now and then = pulsatlon OF the
sea-One of those mysterious
throbblngs like the heart beat OF
some great animal-swept In and
roc ked them for moment as II Il
drowning man had clntched at
their keels. There was no thought
of danger there.
AS we hunted the beach for
shells and the score of strange
thugs cast up by the ever-laborlog
tide, a boy of seven or eight was
seen by some as he made his way
to the wharf. The sight of him
had long been forgotten and hours
had passed before the cry OF "m'ss'
ing !" echoed along the beach, and
men with pale faces and women
with tears in their eyes came to
tell us tina BOY had stolen away
by himself at mid.alternoon and
returned not. Then we remember
ed but it was too late. One OF the
boats had disappeared. In the
dusk of evening keen eyes made
out a speck on the ocean. In his
play the child had united the
painter, the ebbing tide had seized
the boat in it's clatch, and dumb
with terror or fearing no danger.
he had uttered no cry. Down the
narrow channel-around the point
out into the bay-throush the
mouth of the inlet the boat had
drifted, and no one had given heed.
When we elbow our way through
crowded streets we do not reflect
that some one Of the crowd may be
lost-as fearful and bewildered as
if he we're lost IN the forest, but
such may be the fact.
A dozen men were ready to
clam Der into the yatch which
started in puruit. The tide vas
still running out, and The night
breeze favored. 1t was a strong
breeze, and 1t had voices in it
Sometimes it came with something
like a laugh of derision; then it
W allied like child longing for It's
mothers arms aud sleep. The
pulsations from the great ocean
came ottener, because il was grow
ing vexed, and the swish OF the
foam as it broke from tile cresl OF
the rollers cleaned balefully in rhe
darkness as we strained our eyes
seward.
"God help the bOyv whispered
the old pilot as we asked if be had
any chance.
Through the bay-throNgh the
inlet-with its waters beating the
rocks in sullen fury, aud the water
in the channel running like a mill
race, and now we are out to sea-
The wind IS freshening, and there
is scream with each gust. Tue
rollers run higher and higher, and
the tops break down with a swish
which reminds you of the growl of
some fierce animal at bay 10 make
his last fight. A man with a night
glass sweeps the yeasty waste for
sight of a drifting boat.
sport n he says, aud hope springs
TO our hearts. "StarbOard" NE
saws, and we know that 1T was the
sight of q ck.topped wave which
deceived him. We tack to tue left
to the rigbt-we hold straight out
upon the great ocean whose further
waters kiss the shores of Europe.
BY and by comes the whisper
"Steady as you gO-I see tie
boat and we swing our hats and
cheer.
The echo of the cheer comes
back in a mOcking way, and there
is hiss Of defiance in the waters
which sweep astern. Now we are
close on the bOat-now all see it
now we have it.
"Where is the boy"
Someone flashes the light OF a
lantern over the recovered boat,
and crouched, down in its stern,
eyes open, hands clasped in prayer,
lips parted to speak, and face so
white that it shames the foam, we
see him. We speak kiGdly-we
call out to him. He does not heed.
A man drops into the boat and
creeps astern and touches him,
tells him he Is saved--but ne still
prays. He is lifted up, ADD the
brawny fisherman who holds Dim
| 10 bis arms and thinks Of bis own
little ones at home, gasps for
breath az be whispers TO US:
"Take him tenderly-he is dead"
And so il was-dead Of Toe Wild
quotations of the sea-Oi tho
sinister tide-of The waiilug breeze
of the swish aud the roar o. Ube
foam-of terror.-DetrOt Free
PreSg.
Some Good Advice 10 Young Women.
Al. vnnno lady. are Xon now