Three hours he struggled with the full
flooding tide.
Now the Channel Rock danger
is o’er.
One more stretch of water, some more dangerous
rocks,
Then the gleaming surf, then
the shore.
“A rope, bring a rope,” the
kind neighbors shout,
“A rope now the captain
will save.”
They coiled a stout rope and with powerful
hand,
Flung it out o’er the
turbulent wave.
Joy! Joy! he is saved! He clutches
the rope,
With cold, bruised and stiffening
hand,
A long pull, a strong’ pull, and
more dead than alive,
Through the surf they draw
him to land.
“Home, home for hot coffee,”
to the lassie she cried,
Home, home for hot coffee,
went she,
Returning, brought coffee, dry clothing,
warm food,
A fleet-footed lassie was she.
But the kid, boylike, would investigate
the boat,
And so he climbed over its
side.
“Half full of water,” he said,
“not a bluefish or clam,
Must have all floated out
on the tide.”
With boat hook and lantern, the kids travelled
home,
“Little sister, now
what do you think,
Hadn’t we said, ‘Now I lay
me,’ to the Lord every night?
Would He let Pa and our dory
sink?”
“No, no,” said the lassie,
“No, no, that ain’t so,
Naughty children very often
are we,
’Tis ’cause Ma puts a Bible
in Pa’s chest of clothes
Every time that he goes ’way
to sea.”
Gratitude profound, thanksgiving and joy
Filled the heart of the loving
wife,
But the captain, a man of few words, only
said,
“Yes, a pretty narrow
squeak for a life.”
RICHES
C.A. COTTRELL
If I can leave behind me, here and there
A friend or two to say when
I am gone
That I have helped to make their pathways
fair,
Had brought them smiles when they were
bowed with care,
The riches of this world I’ll
carry on.
If only three or four shall pause to say
When I have passed beyond
this earthly sphere,
That I brought gladness to them on a day
When bitterness was theirs, I’ll
take away
More riches than a billionaire
leaves here.
CAPE TROUT STREAMS
The chronic trout fisherman is by nature secretive. He is loath to tell where he made his big catches and shrouds the location of the streams in mystery. If pinned down closely he will sometimes indicate a general locality but it is hard to get him to be more definite. The reason for this is obvious. He is zealous of his rights as a “discoverer” and feels that he is not obliged to share his knowledge with anybody. He won’t take the risk of having the stream “fished out” by others than himself. The secrets of the location of gold strikes in the days of ’49 were no more closely kept.