Page 214 - The model orator, or, Young folks' speaker : containing the choicest recitations and readings from the best authors for schools, public entertainments, social gatherings, Sunday schools, etc. : including recitals in prose and verse ...

Then she beckoned me near, arid whispered, “ Go, and God's will be
done!
For every lad on that ship, John, is dome poor mother5.? son,1’

Her head was full of the boy, sir— she was thinking, maybe, some day
For lack of a hand to help him his life might be cast away,
■ Go, John, and the Lord watch 0:er you ; and Spare me to see the light,
And bring you safe,'1 she whispered, ft out of the storm to-night.”
Then I turned and kissed her softly, and tried to hide my tears.
And my mates outside, when they saw me, set up three hearty cheers;
But I rubbed my eyes wi? my knuckles, and turned to old Ben and said;
11 HI see her again, maybe, ladf when the sea gives up its dead/’

We launched the boat in the tempest, though death was the goal in
view.
And never a one but doubted if the craft could live it through ;
But our boat she stood it bravely, and weary and wet and weak
We drew in hail of the vessel we had dared so much to seek,
13uI just as we come upon her she gave a fearful roll,
And went down in the seethin7 whirlpool with every livin' soul!
We rowed for the Spot, and shouted, for all around was dark—-
But only the wild wind answered the cries from our phmgin’ bark*

I was strainin' my eyes and watchin', when I thought I heard a cry,
And T saw past our bows a somethin’ on the crest of a wave dashed by;
I st ret died out sti v hand to seize it. I dragged it aboard, and then
I stumbled, «nd struck my forrtid, and fell like a log 011 Ren.
I rein e in her a hum of voices, and then .1 k no wed no more,
Till 1 dime to my senses here, sir— here, in my home ashore.
My forrud was tightly bandaged, and I lay on my litt’c bed—-
I’d slipped, so they told mo urter, and a nil luck had struck my head.

Ihen ray mates came in and whispered ; they’d heard I was cornin'
roun d.
At first I could scarcely hear 'em, it seemed like a buzsin1 sound;