This incident occurred on the Coast of Cumberland during the gales of last November.
A VESSEL sailed the wintry sea,
Bound for a distant shore,
A thing of life she seemed to be,
Nor feared the billows roar.
Strong were her timbers, brave the men,
Who formed her gallant crew,
Though tell-tale tears had started when
Each bade their homes adieu.
A boy, the youngest of them all
Had stowed away with care,
Safely within his sea-chest small,
His mother's likeness fair.
Yes, passing fair-so deemed the boy,
While o'er and o'er he'd trace
With mingled thoughts of love and joy,
Each feature of that face.
And childhood's fast reseeding days
Would come before his mind,
With all his mother's tender ways,
Her words and actions kind.
They sailed away, but only gained
The stormy Cumbrian coast,
Where in high gales while darkness reigned
From wave to wave they tossed.
At length, upon a ridge of sand,
The struggling barque stuck fast,
Death threatened all, though near to land,
Each hour, might be their last.
One of the men that fearful night
The sea claimed for its own,
By one huge wave swept out of sight
While loud the winds made moan.
But soon the life-boat from the shore
Manned by a willing crew,
Who swiftly plied the supple oar,
Till near the ship they drew.
Come to the rescue-it would hold
All of those ship-wrecked men,
But each must be both prompt and bold,
No time for trifling then.
For moments seem like hours when death
Is brooding o'er the wave,
No time to fetch aught from beneath,
If they their lives would save.
So said the captain, but the lad
Flew like an arrow down,
Secured his treasure, then right glad,
Braved the wild ocean's frown.
He gained the life-boat with the rest,
And when they asked him why
He ran such risk-pulled from his breast,
With triumph in his eye.
His mother's likeness-that was all!
A smile went round, and yet
You might have seen the tear-drop fall,
From eyes but seldom wet.
God bless that boy, and may the love
Of Jesus yet inspire
His heart with ardour from above,
Stronger than flood or fire.
Such is the love all owe to Him,
Who sunk beneath death's wave,
And drank that cup filled to the brim,
Our ruined souls to save.
His love was stronger far than death,
No flood could quench its glow,
Then let us use our fleeting breath,
That all His grace may know.