The Irish standard., 1891-08-29

it seemed like he couldn't stand, and
the boats plunged as if they would
swamp, but he held 'em together, an
when they lunged forred he fell into the
boat with me. In a minute he got onto
his knees an cried out wild like: oh!
father, | can't save vel can't save vel
the oars are in the other boatr an
away it d1ifted an we was helpless.
after awhile he said. sort of slow
like: Father, I've done my best
couldn' use the oars if | had 'e1n, my
hands are so bad. Mebby we ken steer
onto some island an get saved Then
I see his poor hands was swelled to the
shoulders from rowin, an worn raw
| an bleedin', an kissed 'em an cried
over 'em. an we talked an forgive one
another.
'sThen he tried to steer the boat, but
he couldn't set up, an for a long time
we laid at the bottom Of the boat like
dead men. But about night he strug-
gled up an said: Father, there's is
| land ahead, an guess I'll steer onto it,
caise the sea has been gettin' worse for
three days, an we can't keep aaoat
much longer So he managed to steer
! for the island, an when we got nigh,
he said again: I am 'feard, father,
the currents goin' to carry us by And
he set the helm to port an tied it. Then
he got me 2orred into the Prov, an
when we was about to strike he held
me up with his knees an teeth, an
what he could with his poor hands, an
when we struck he lifted an throwed
me ahead, an ] fell onto the shore. But
it was solid rock where we hit, an the
boat sprung back an glanced off. an he
fell in the Prov an laid still He'd
tainted, Lucy, his last drop Of strength
was gone. | got upon my knees an
honered with all my might to rouse
him, but he had no strength, Lucy;
he'd give it all to mer and tears ran
| down the big mans cheeks, while the
mother sobbed with her face pressed
+, against tiae pillow.
$'1hen the boat lurched," the man
went on, huskily, FAN it followed the
current past the island, and see him
struggle up an heard him CALM: oh,
father! I done my best! tried to
bring We back! Mebby some ship'l
save ye, an if We ever reach home an
never come, tell mother | died inner
cent died innercent!' Then couldn't
| hear him no more, an ] watched the
boat go further an further, an l see
another island way off to the west, but
| Jest afore he reached il the boat struck
something's bar, ! guess-an' sunk,
an ! fell forred an didn't know no
! r,f RI, f11sy M,
ment Of sights and faces, till Eric laid
me down there on the sand an your
calm reused me to life again"
! His voice failed. and they sat long
time weeping together in silence; and
all that might ever have been said Of
praise or blame, Of sorrow and love, OF
regret and new resolve, was spoken in
that sound Of falling tears.
The next day was a Sabbath and all
was quiet in Redwood town The
saws rested from their snarling hum,
the millinen, clad in fresh clothing, sat
Oh the doorsills of the cottages smok-
ing their pipes and looking idly out at
the blue fields Of the sea, or down
among the fragrant stacks of lumber
sat whiting and talking. Some, when
the little cracked bell in the steeple Of
the church upon the shady hillside
called them, had gone with the chill
! dren to hear what love could do in
saving men--even the love Of a wronged
and crippled boy. Surely all their hearts
were better for having heard from the
minister's lips the story Of Paul Ar
n1or's victory, though they knew it we'll
| before.
Over on the head the day broke beau~
| tiful]y, yet with little cheer, for sorrow
and heavy poverty We're there The
| children felt it. and the mother went
sadly to and fro, longing for her lame,
! lost boy. Near noon she stood in the
| doorway looking out to sea. A big
| yacht. with all it's white sails spread,
! blew into the little harbor, but she did
not see it, for her eyes were wet. She
! was thinking of that island, somewhere
| to the west of the blue horizon line,
! upon whose cruel bar her boy went
down. She thought of him as he used
| TO lie upon her breast when 81 child, and
! again she seemed to see him, as she had
| SO many times, coming UP the path to
! the door where she STOOD his straw hat
in his hand, his light curls blown about
| his frank blue eyes. And yet when she
turned from these fancies there was
something sweet at the bottom OF her
heart. She could not tell whence it
! came. Was it because the sky was so
beautiful with it's hocks Of snowy
clouds, the sea so blue, the air SO crys-
tai clear, the sunshine so pretty on the
tree~tops? She saw, too, that the chill
dren seemed happier than for many
days, and when she went into the sick
mans room he met her with a smile.
Presently footsteps came to the door,
and Eric and his comrade, with their
sweethearts, entered Behind them
were others bearing bags and baskets.
and the children leaped with Joy
Arnor arose and came out. His step
was slow but steady and his face was
clear. The children, with Gale among
them, shouted and danced with glee to
see him grown SO strong. and the big
mans eyes were filled with blessed
tears as he looked around upon the
faces of his friends.
Tho cl7ado7v scanned lined: even the