The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-22

fast; strange they didn't anchor sooner.
| Tell mother to keep plenty OF her good
coffee hot. and make the old stove snap;
plenty Of wood piled up and plenty Oh
dry, warm clothes"
| Keeper West was a hardy beachman.
who for forty years had lived WITHIN
| sound of the sea His especial fitness for
the work, his efficient management OF his
crew Of six surfmen, gave him only
| good record of brave deeds.
| From May till September the keepers
| on the Atlantic coast are In active ser
| vice, captains Of their crews having en-
| tire control OF all station property, ana
! direct all operations OF the life-saving
service. Many Of them live In the neat
| statlon-houses all the year.
Hand I'm hand Peggy and her father
tramped along the beach, the wind almost
lifting the small figure off the sand; but
| Peggy was used to sand and wind. the
patrol met and changed at sunset for the
| evening watch; exchanged checks ana
marched on and on, keeping sharp eyes
| seward.
three-masted schooner had anchored
| a mile OUT another, and another, Ike
specks In the distance. II grew DARK.
| Peggy ran inside the snug little house
where the mother was fastening the storm
shutters. lighting the big lamps, putting
one in its place in the upper window. Peggy
hung her wet jacket and cap by the fire.
while the kettle sung, just as though
there was no storm. and the coffee boil
ed. and the supper table was lald.
little notwithstanding mother. thin ana
brown. but kindly and efficient In TINS
busy home II began TO rain; then snow
and the chill wind turned them into sieet.
Wont f9ther come In Ior his cofiee'
Peggv?"
''Not vet" replied the little girl; "he
and Patrolman Dick have gone down
half a mile: they saw signals of distress;
the schooner looked like wreck!
Let NE take a look. child" and the
mother climbed the narrow stairway 10
the roof where the big glass always
lay, but II was too dark to see. Ihe
keeper and his men ran 20 the boathouse
The signal guns came family through
the storm. They made fire on the Deach'
but It burned 1tfully in the rain. The
red lights flashed scarlet through the
sleet. and one after another was rapiGiy
sent up They saw them from the near
est vessel. and fired n gun in response.
The beach apparatus was placed IN
position; the line shot too far ana ialieu
TO touch the rocking, tossing schooner.
Another, and another line but with sleet
and wind they had parted. AT last the
little piece Of iron carried It's life-saVinS
line to the vessel. The sailors drew IL
on board The "hawser" was sent next
and then the breeches buoy was put into
communication with the brave men on
the shore. The first person to land was
the captain. He sprang out and eXclaim-
ed: Thank God for these men. l came
first to see If | can bring my wife ana
baby safely over, or Will the lIe-Doat
stand this sea"
mo. Captain no, we'll land you safe
and sound. every one, with the breeches
buoy" answered Keeper West. How
many OF your crew.
Mine in all"
Faster than 1 can tell it, the line swung
across the sea and back. This time the
pale, shivering wife came in her hus-
bands arms. She was so silent and cold,
one strong surfman wrapped her In
blanket and ran with her TO the warm
house.
II seemed an endless time, but minutes
were precious and few. when back bound
ed the buoy with the mate holding close
to hi breast the little baby, tucked warm
~ In rugs and wraps lie crowed under
the blankets. as they put him in Feggys
lap.
II was now o'clock in the morning.
The sea Numbered and roared, but the
wind had lulled. Out into all these hours
had flashed and shone the light from
the station, seeming to draw the half-
frozen, wcrn-out men by its very SHINING
into safety and deliverance! The appara-
tus was housed in the boat-housc The
men had eaten breakfast and cravled into
thair warm beds for a nap. Comfort and
shelter were always awaiting the wrecked.
But the pretty, Jale wife OF the cap
tain saw nothing of the brightness, nor
of the anguish; she lay on her cot tossing
and moaning with fever and dellrluHi.
Peggy fed the baby warm milk and held
him In her small arms all night; and they
both slept. as only children can
Don't fret, sir, the fever Will be gone
soon: It's only the chill and the wet"
But vsinly the CHEEKY mother talked to
the captain. with the hooking sunlight
over the treacherous sea in the morn
ing delirium increased. A surfman
brought the Long Branch doctor, who
shook his head md came again that night.
In a low chair. close TO the stove al
most behind the woodbox, sat Pesgy,
flushed and radiant. with JAMES rat
fingers clutching Familiarity at her mar
and eyes. go
The young captain, sick at heaIA with
his head on the pillow beside his uncon-
scious wife, looked across the room at
the picture, and said low, Mary, Mary
~ YOU could see them nowi The little
brown mother and our boy-Dear LORD
save heri Oh, save her HE LOT us!
Two long, watching. anxious weeks
The doctor said, Take her away from
the sound Of the sea; so TO the noun
tsins a month, then take her home. Leave
the baby with Peggy"
Earthly blessedness had come to the
little mother! She jumped up and down
In ecstacy.
There, by the winter sea, Peggy's story
began. No dearer one will ever be told
TO the captain OF THE Pearl" and his
beautiful wife Mary, than was told them
In the little station on the beach
ooh, I've seen you, chilli In my sleep
and dreams, and I'm all my pain; I've Seen
you with my little baby in your little
arms. Come here"
Jamies mother sobbed and clasped
Peggy TO her heart The captain held his
boy without a word. and kissed Peggy
tremendously. the easy carriage from Long
Branch rolled away. amid good-byes and
blessings from the sturdy beachmen and
faithful family.
NEW YORK, April 10. 1880.
Dear Friends.-AIake ready to give up
the baby and the babys little mother. /
will be down tomorrow. My wife's father |
has taken her home TO Maine. We will |
follow them. Don't say no.
Faithfully and gratefully.
JOHN SOAIERS.
This letter was read aloud by Keeper |
West to his folks"
But, mother, how can l go? and they |
such fine folks. and I've got only one good |
nd