Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-01-04

The boys feet again flew from under I him. He was flung from the shrouds but he just saved himself from falling | He threw himself back into the yard, and '1aying'' (going) out on the one hand and with the other seizing the l sheath-knife in his beltl he endeavored to cut the sail clear. Wilder and more violently slated tue canvas every moment Several times it struck him with tremendous force, when he only saved himself by cling ing under it, with both arms, to the yard. The instant it flew back, affording him a chance to work with his knife, he was busy cutting at the strands. He almost cleared the sail from the spar when the ship plunged again, coming up the next moment with a jerk that made everything reel
 A crack like the report of a musket was heard and away went the top and top-gallant mast by the board, as the stays parted. Tom, when he felt the mast going, had thrown himself in- board, clutching two ratlines By OhCSO AlO AuhSS 4GhAL1hSS "AOA L1S SDdES into the sea- As yet uninjured. with the exception of few slight bruises, the boy threw both arms around the spar, clinging firmly to it.
 The ship, dashing on, was soon lost to his view in the dark rack. the mist and the spray of the storm. No boat could be lowered for him in such gale. There he was, all alone, adrift on the stormy ocean.
 The mad wind howled and shrieked in his ears, the sea and the spray flew around him, almost blinding and cholz- he felt his strength leaving him, when he lashed himself to the timber with some of the trailing ropes near him.
 Hours passed. Night came, with the tempest still raging. Through all the darkness and the storm, the boy, now nearly senseless, was carried on, fast to the spar.
 By dawn the violence of the gale had abated. The sky was clear, the tints of the rising sun were on the eastern wave.
 Feebly Tom raised himself on the floating mast Thank Godl there was sail, like a slender, white column, in the distance.
 Was it his own vessel? He hoped SO Up went his kerchief, waved about his head as a signal The craft drew nearer, when h. perceived it was not | the Dolphin. Soon Iic vas seen. The ship stood toward hlm, a boat was lowered, he was picked up and taken aboard. The hardships he had under l gone had proven too much for him He had kept up until the boat was near him; then he had fallen prone upon the mast, insensiblc. When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a snug berth, with an old man sitting near, by his side lovely girl of thirteen
 ''He has come to! Oh, papa, l am SO glad!' cried the girl, clapping her hands
 Toms story was soon told. He then learned that he was aboard the ship Trumpet, bound home from Calcutta to New York.
 That same day the after part of the Dolphin's hull was discovered bearing her name, proving that she had been lost not long after the boy fell over board.
 The crew, who were in her when she was wrecked, were never heard of. All had perished after she went to pieces. Had Tom been aboard of her then, he, too, would have cfound a watery grave His courage in obcying orders-in mounting that perilous mast, to do his Guty-had been his sal vation. To use the homely words of his sailor adviser he had ''come out all right and shipshape in the end"
 Not only had his life thus been saved, but piece of rare, good fortune fol- lowed. The old man and little girl, who sat near him when he recovered his senses, were a wealthy oil merchant and his daughter. When the vessel arrived home, the child coaXcd her father to take the lad into his employ
 In due time, by constant attention to his duties, he became head clerk, saved money and was finally made partner in the firm of his bencfactor Soon after he married the merchants daugh- ter, who. on the night before their wed, ding, blushingly confessed to him that she had loved him ever since that mem orablc day when, picked up from the drifting spar, he was brought senseless aboard the ship Trumpet. t.-Rufus Hall, in N. Y. Ledger.