Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-29
The Shipwreck
Dear Juniors,

Dear Juniors,
This is one Of my original suho4
compositions, called "The Shipwreck.s
One wild night in March, many years
ago. a girl sat awaiting the return %
her father, who was out in his fisher.
mans boat.
1t was near mid night, but she stin
Kept his supper warm and kept IRE
blazing In the CRATE. She knew that
there must have been shipwreck and
that her father had been called to ne
rescue.
Nancy, as she was known to her
friends, was listening to every so,,ssl,
hoping that 1t would be the return %
her father. At about o'clock she heard
voices coming nearer. Finally she heard
footsteps on the path md her fathers
voice crying to her Nancy, open the
door,"
She rushed to the door and threw 4
open. On the threshold she beheld hSV
father. bearing girl of about her own
age and several more men carrying &
stretcher, on which was young man.
When they had entered the room he
the bedroom to prepare beds fer the
strangers. She then called to the res.
cuers to bring them into the bedroom.
Everything that could be done for the
strangers was done with good VIII.
They sent for tho nearest doctor, but
they knew that it would take Ions
time for him to arrive. The flsherman
and his daughter went back to the
kitchen for the former had not had hfs
supper.
Father" said Nancy, Itch me absut
these stFansers"
We'll daughter. you know that this
morning the day looked as II it would
be fair, 30 we set out In our boats.
About noon the wind commenced to
raise, and we were afraid that we
work
Though 1t was hard to keep our
boats from turning over, we stayed on
the water till dusk. AS we stepped from
the boats we could hear cry In the
distance. AS we watched we saw
ship being dashed against large rock
by the wind. We could see the life boats
on the water, the passengers struggling
to keep their boats righted. But one by
one the life boats turned over and the
passengers were drowned
Finally our attention was attracted
to a raft. A man and girl were on it,
crying to us to rescue them. But no one
dared to go out on the water when the
wind was so high. We could see that
the raft was about to fall to pieces, and
decided to try and rescue them
Il got in the boat and started out.
The wind was In my favor, but against
those who were trying to reach land.
reached the two victims and put them
safely in the boat, just as the strength
Of the man who had been holding the
unconscious girl. gave out
1T was hard work getting back to
shore and took long time I decided to
bring the strangers here, because
thought that you would take good care
Of them
At that minute the doctor arrived and
the conversation was ended When he
had taken care Of his patients, he said
to the fisherman 1T will be some time
before they will be able to leave for
their home. and I hope that you will
give them all the care necessary until
then"
AS the strangers improved in health
they told their history to Nancy and
her father. They said that they wers
sister and brother, and that their
names were Betty and Harry Hoffman.
They also said that they were return
ing to their home, from visit. t
Towards the fall of the year Betty
and Harry prepared to leave the cot,
tage The four people had become very
good friends and they dreaded the
parting. Harrys father was promin-
ent business man in the city and Harry
told the fisherman Of position open in
his fathers Office. which would afford
him good salary.
When the day came for Betty and
her brother to return. Nancy and her
father went with them. Ill after years
Nancy and her father had comfort
able home, close to that of Betty and
her folks, bss
Catherine Stevens. age Il,
1875 S. Fellows Ave-. Ottumwa, la. =