A ship was once returning from T. to H. with a rich cargo and many passengers, when she was overtaken by a violent storm.
The captain saw the danger the ship was in on such a rocky coast, and gave orders to put out to sea, but the wind drove the vessel towards the shore.
Among the most active on board was a young boy, James by name, acting as cabin-boy. His mother, who lived at H., was very poor, but James loved her tenderly, and he was very proud of the prospect of taking to her $2.50 which he had earned and saved on this voyage.
All at once a shock was felt; the vessel had struck on a rock.
“Lower the boats,” cried the captain. This was done, but no sooner were the boats in the water than they were carried away by the violence of the waves.
“We have but one hope of safety,” said the captain. “One of us must run the risk of swimming with a rope to the shore”; but who would undertake it, that was the question. At this moment there was a stir among the sailors.
“Captain,” said one, “this little chap, the cabin-boy, is asking if he may swim to shore.” And he pushed James into the midst of the circle.
“Does he know how to swim?” asked the captain.
“O yes,” replied one, “he can swim well.”
The captain hesitated at first, but as the lives of all were in danger, he consented to let the boy go. James ran to prepare for the terrible struggle in the water, but first he said, “Captain, as I may be lost, may I ask you to take charge of this money, and if you get safely to land give it to my mother who lives at H.
“Certainly, my boy,” said the captain, who was half sorry he had said the boy might risk his life.
One end of a ball of string was then tied round the boy’s body and the ball itself kept on the ship, to be let out slowly as he made his way through the waves. James was soon in the water, and in a little while seemed nothing but a black speck rising on the top of the waves as they rolled towards to the shore.
How anxiously they watched that ball of string, for it told them how the boy was making progress towards the shore. Sometimes the string was pulled out quickly and then it would seem quite to stop.
After watching and waiting for about an hour, all at once a violent pull was given to the cord, and then a second and third. These three strong pulls was a signal that the boy had reached the land and the sailors gave a shout of joy. They quickly tied a strong rope to the cord, which was drawn on shore as fast as they could let it out and firmly held by the people who had come to help the cabin-boy.
By means of this rope the sailors reached the shore, and not long after they saw the vessel sink.
But what about the boy James? Ah! he was ill for a long while as a result of the great fatigue and also from the bruises he received. But we must love that boy for the way he risked his life to save the others, for he might have been drowned in the attempt.
What a beautiful illustration of the way in which the Lord Jesus laid down His life for us sinners, who could not save ourselves. He died that we might never die, if we believe on Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.
ML 05/22/1938