The record-union., 1897-07-22
The GUIDING VOICE.

the following story going about. BY
some an army officer is made the chief
Parsonage; by others it is given in an
other way. 1t has therefore seemed
good to me 10 publish this true &C
count to the world, having found the
same among my grandfather's pa
pers which came into my possession
ms the eldest son of his firstborn.
Without doubt some will say it is
but a story. To them I say this, 1T
Is true" And twist il as you will by
the lights of modern knowledge, it did
in that day confirm two worthy Chris
tians in their faith
JARVIS JOHNS TREHARNE.
Twas but six months after 1 had
been appointed master and commander
in his majesty's navy that, through
the great drubbing received by the
Danes from oug brave fellows under
Nelson--his many titles and honors
cannot enumerate-I was paid off from
my brig Rover, the peace of Amiens
having been concluded, and being now
as near home as 1 should ever be while
on active service. l bethought me to
post there, for l was a native of Pen
Zance
1 was in luck to have been paid off
at Plymouth, for I had but a journey
of some seventy miles, whereas had
the Rover been ordered to Portsmouth
my distance had been more like two
hundred. Taking the Bodmin road
with an easy mind-for your highway
man would not find enough to keep him
in horseflesh so far vest reached
Truro at noon of fine May day, and
being now but some twenty miles from
home, 1 spurred onward
The day changed to thunder. I had
but got the length of Narration when
/ could see 1 was in for a wetting. and
sure enough. as I reached Market Jew
IN the good old town Of Penzance, th=
first drops saluted me- Riding on.
came 10 the sea face and here it came
down cats and dogs" so, seeing a
handy archway, 1 refined Dobbin and
sought its shelter
The thunder cracked overhead and
the green lightning flickered angrily,
While the hail and rain descended ho-
lus-bolus, as the saying goes. 1 had
not stood there a minute when in
rushes another wayfarer; he had been
caught afoot.
A smart storm, SIR he said, and we
got into a conversation.
l found that he was a Redruth man,
student and apparently Of a religious
mind.
From where we stood the bay was in
sight, and among the small craft l
saw vessel which 1 took to be a
sloop of war lying at anchor close in.
What ship may that be. pray?''
says I.
1t is his majesty's sloop Rainbow. -
he answered. 'she has been here now
three days, and is to go on to Ports
mouth. They are drunken dogs aboard.
i am sorry to say"
AT that the storm cleared. and all of
a sudden the downpour ceased. In the
silence | heard the sloop's bell strike
the hour, and, in looking at my watch,
found that it was indeed 4 O'Clock.
Pray, sir, can you tell me why ten
bells were struck" says my compan-
lon
Ten" answered I. NAY. you mis-
take; twas eight
Ten, sir; for I counted them
Then If that were so, you will hear
them struck back; for that's sea
usage"
Sure enough, as I spoke came the
chime again, and I doubt not the fellow
who made the mistake got a wiggine
And yet who shall say whether in
deed, God did not direct his hand? But
you shall hear.
The storm had passed ST. Ives way.
and 1t was Frightening over Newlyn,
so, being impatient to see my dear
ones. L spurred out, with a short
Good day" and thought no more of
the matter.
with the pleasures of family converse
the sweet early summer sped all too
last especially as every one could see
that the peace would not last. What
England, with an army of 100000 reg
ulars, besides her volunteers and mill
tia, to sit quiet with Malta in posses
sion of France. and all our colonial sta
tons given up? Even now Bonaparte' s
"consuls' We're spying in all parts of
England, while our small merchant
men We're seized and confiscated in
French ports on the smallest pretense.
No. This shameful peace could not
last, and SO every moment at home
seemed precious.
And thus it was that June passed
swiftly, and nothing happened to break
our peace until that night came which
was TO cause US admiration all our life
through.
We-that is, Esther. my wife. and L
had retired early. 1t was midnight,
when she suddenly cried out and woke.
Jarvis! did you hear it?' she whis-
pered.
Il heard nothing" answered I.
1t was as the voice of God" she
said, and its words were Send thy
husband post haste to Bodmin' ~
Nay, you We're dreaming" said I.
Turn over and go to sleep" which, I'M
willingly, she did
Then I fell off myself, and woke in
like manner as she had done. A man,
whose face I seemed to know, stood
over me and said, Jarvis Treharne,
obey me! up instantly, and post to
Bodmini'
Il heard it," cried I to my wife. and
We both sat up, wondering greatly.
Twas but thinking of your dream. -
says I, presently, and again we lay
down.
Once more the thing happened to me,
and this time my wife had also dream
ed again as before.
Jarvis" she said, with solemnity.