The state capital., 1892-01-09
The instant # flew hack. afPording him

The instant it flew back, affording him
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 jerk that
made everything reel
A crack like the report of 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, clutcbng two ratlines BY
these he hung, falling, with the spar,
into the sea- AS yet uninjured, with
the exception of a 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 a
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 few
around him, almost binding and chok.
ing him. But he held to the spar until
he felt his strength leaving him, when
he dashed himself to the timber with
some of the trailing ropes near him.
Hours passed Night came, with the
tempest sill raging. Through all the
darkness and the storm, the boy, now
nearly senseless was carried on, fast
to the spar.
Pxrl ho r1n nf ha 10 hud
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. God! 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 signal. The craft drew
nearer when he perceived it was not
the Dolphin. Soon he was seen. The
ship stood toward him, a boat was
lowered, he was picked up and taken
aboard. The hardships he had under.
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, insensible. When he opened
his eyes, he found himself in snug
berth, with an old man sitting near,
by his side a lovely girl of thirteen.
"He has come to! Oh, papa, l am sc
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 beer
4 lost not long after the boy fell over
: board.
r The crew, who were in her when sht
, was wrecked, were never heard of
< All had rerished after she went tt
i, pieces. Had Tom been aboard of hel
: then, he, too, would have found I
watery grave. His courage in obeyine
4 orders-in mounting that perilou
Y mast, to do his duty-had been his sal
S vation To use the homely words o
i his sailor adviser, he had ''come out al
Y right and shipshape in the end"
Not only had his life thus been saved
!, but piece CT rare, good fortune fol
g lowed. The old man and little girl
: who sat near him when he recovere'
e his senses, were wealthy oil merchan
:. and his daughter When the vesse
arrived home, the child coaxed he
d father to take the lad into his employ
t In due time, by constant attention t
his duties, he became head clerk, save
n money and was finally made partne
: in the firm of his benefactor 500
after he married the merchants daugf
l. ter, who, on the night before their wee
n ding, blushingly confessed to him tina
t. she had loved hi1n ever since that men
e orable day when, picked up from tn
a drifting spar, he was brought senseles
it aboard the ship Trumpet.-Rufus Hal
1T in n. Y. Ledger.