Year: 1875

Wnen we may preserve IL, ana We new
er know whether we can save it till
we cry. Gives drink of that water"


He held the glass to my lips, and /
took a big draught and went on, he
seeming all the time to be stopping to
humor me. y my madness.


That's better, DOCTOR" / says.
SHOW look here, sir, speaking as one
has sailed the seas, it's a terrible
stormy time with me; there's a lee
shore close at hand, the fires are
drowned out, and unless we can get up
a bit of sail there's no-chance for me.
Now, then, doctor, can you get up bit
of saiii"


"I'll go and send something that
will quiet you," he said, rising.


"Thankey, docssr," says, smiling
TO myself. "And now look here, Tn
not going to give up till the last; and
when that last comes, and the ships
going down, why / shall have try if
I can't swim to safety. If that fails,
and can really feel that it is to be,
why, l hope I shall 60 down into the
great deep calmly, like hopeful man;
praying that Something above will
forgive me all I've done amiss, and
stretch out His fatherly hand to my
little ones" ts "


He went away and I dropped asleep,
worn out with my exertion.


When 1 woke, Polly was standing
by the bedside watching me, with a
bottle and glass on the little table.


AS soon as she saw my eyes open,
she shook up the stuff, and poured it
into wine glass.


els that what the doctor sent?" /
says.


"Yes, dear, you were to take it d.
rectly."


"Then I shan't take it," I says.
"He's give me up, and that stuff's on
ly to keep me quiet. Polly, you go
and make me some beef tea, and make
it strong"


She was Mortified, poor old girl, and
was about to beg of me to take hold
of the rotten life-belt he'd sent me,
when held out my shaking hand for
il, took the glass, and let it tilt over
there was only about couple of tea
spconfuls in it, and the stuf fell on
the carpet.


saw the tears come in her eyes,
but she said nothing--only put down
the glass, and ran out to make the
beef tea.


The doctor didn't come till late next
day, and l was lying very still and
drowsy, half asleep like, but awake
enough to hear him whisper to Polly,
"Sinking FAST" and I heard her give
such a beart-broken sob that as the
next great wave came on the sea
where L was floating, I struck out
with all my might, rose over it. and
fioated gently down the other side.


For the next four days-putting il
as a drowning man striving for his life
like a true-hearted fellow-it was like
great foaming waves coming to wash
over me, but the shore, still in sight
and me trying hard to reach it.


And it was a grim, hard fight; q
dozen times I could have given up
folded my arms, and said goodbye te
the dear old watching face safe on
shore; but look at that Away,
cbeered me, and I fought on agair
and again, till at last the sea seemed
to 90 down, and, in utter weariness,
turned on my back to float restfully
with the tide bearing me shoreward
till / touched the sands, crept up them
and fell down worn out, to sleep il
the warm sun-safe


That's curious way of putting it
YOU may say, but it seems natural tt
me to mix it up with the things of sea
going life, and the manner in which
I've seen so many fight hard for theil
lives. It is just like striving in tn,
midst of storm to me, and when .
last 1 did fall into deep sleep, / fel
surprised-like to find myself lying il
nv own bed, with Polly watching me
and when stretched out my hand
and took hers, she let loose that whicl
she had kept hidden from me before
and, falling on her knees by my bee
side. she sObbed for very joy.


"As much beef.tea and brandy a
YOU can get him to take" the docto
saws, that afternoon and it WASH
long before / got from slops to solids
and then was sent. as ! told you. int
the country to get strong, while th
doctor got no end of praise for th
cure he had made.


I never said a word though, even h
Polly, for he did his best but dom
think any medicine would have cure
me then.


I was saying little while back tha
1 pulled my wife regularly cut of th
hands of death, and of course tha
was when we were both quite young
though for the matter of that dom