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Article THE FISHERMAN. Page 1 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Fisherman.
THE FISHERMAN .
IT was as calm an evening as ever came from heaven ; the sky and the earth were as tranquil as if no storm from the one had ever disturbed the repose of the other ; and even the ocean , that great highway of the world , lay as gentle as if its bosom had never betrayed , as if no traveller had ever sunk to death in its embrace . The sunhad gone down , and the pensive twilight would have reigned over nature but for the moon , which rose in full-orbed beautythe of an illimitable worldto
, queen , smile upon the goodly things of earth , and to give a radiance and glory to all she shone upon . It was an hour and a scene that led the soul to contemplation of Him who never ceases to watch over the works he has made , and whose protecting care displays itself alike upon the solid land and the trackless wastes of the sea . On the western coast of the county of Devon , upon such an evening , a group had assembled round one of the fishermen ' s cottages . The
habitation was built in the true style of the olden time , when comfort was the principal object of the proprietor . On either side of the door were scattered the lines and nets of the owner , who was taking farewell for the night of his happy loving family , who were bidding him " God speed on his voyage . " " Good luck ! good luck ! " exclaimed an old man , " good luck and safe home again ; ye want no more , John—but God ' s blessing , " he added ,
recollecting himself , " and that ye may have for the asking ; but ye may as well take mine too . " The blessing was heartily echoed by the old man ' s daughter , who had long been the wife of the honest fisherman , and her children . Throwing his boat-cloak on his shoulders , the object
of their care , whistling his dog Neptune before , and followed by his eldest boy , trudged to the beach . With the earliest dawn of morning the fisherman ' s family were astir ; the elder girl was busily arranging their little parlour , while the younger prepared the breakfast table , and their mother spread before the fire dry clothes for her husband and son . An hour passed , and she grew somewhat uneasy that they remained away beyond the usual period of their return . Another hour had elapsed when she said to her father— " Fathergo
, out to the hillock , and try if you can see his sail upon the waters ; he seldom stays" out so long when the sea is calm and the weather fair . " The old man went forth , followed by one of his grandchildren , and shortly returned with the intelligence , that a neighbour had spoken to her husband in the night , and that he might soon be expected . The noon was rapidly passing , and the sun had already given token of the glory of his departurewhen the fisherman ' s wifehaving lulled
, , her infant to sleep , went herself to the hill that commanded an extensive view of the wide-spread ocean . All the little household assembled on the spot , but no boat was seen upon the waters , nothing that could give hope , except the aspect of the waves , which looked too placid to be dangerous . The deep anxiety of the party was no longer to be concealed : the old man paced to and fro , looking earnestly at brief intervals over the lonely waters ; the mother and daughters were sobbing audibly .
" Fearless let him be whose trust is in God 1 " exclaimed the father . The sentence was uttered involuntarily ; but it had its effect . " Aye , " said the mothev , " he always trusted in God , and God will not forsake him now . —Pray , my children , " she added to her two VOL . ix . o o
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Fisherman.
THE FISHERMAN .
IT was as calm an evening as ever came from heaven ; the sky and the earth were as tranquil as if no storm from the one had ever disturbed the repose of the other ; and even the ocean , that great highway of the world , lay as gentle as if its bosom had never betrayed , as if no traveller had ever sunk to death in its embrace . The sunhad gone down , and the pensive twilight would have reigned over nature but for the moon , which rose in full-orbed beautythe of an illimitable worldto
, queen , smile upon the goodly things of earth , and to give a radiance and glory to all she shone upon . It was an hour and a scene that led the soul to contemplation of Him who never ceases to watch over the works he has made , and whose protecting care displays itself alike upon the solid land and the trackless wastes of the sea . On the western coast of the county of Devon , upon such an evening , a group had assembled round one of the fishermen ' s cottages . The
habitation was built in the true style of the olden time , when comfort was the principal object of the proprietor . On either side of the door were scattered the lines and nets of the owner , who was taking farewell for the night of his happy loving family , who were bidding him " God speed on his voyage . " " Good luck ! good luck ! " exclaimed an old man , " good luck and safe home again ; ye want no more , John—but God ' s blessing , " he added ,
recollecting himself , " and that ye may have for the asking ; but ye may as well take mine too . " The blessing was heartily echoed by the old man ' s daughter , who had long been the wife of the honest fisherman , and her children . Throwing his boat-cloak on his shoulders , the object
of their care , whistling his dog Neptune before , and followed by his eldest boy , trudged to the beach . With the earliest dawn of morning the fisherman ' s family were astir ; the elder girl was busily arranging their little parlour , while the younger prepared the breakfast table , and their mother spread before the fire dry clothes for her husband and son . An hour passed , and she grew somewhat uneasy that they remained away beyond the usual period of their return . Another hour had elapsed when she said to her father— " Fathergo
, out to the hillock , and try if you can see his sail upon the waters ; he seldom stays" out so long when the sea is calm and the weather fair . " The old man went forth , followed by one of his grandchildren , and shortly returned with the intelligence , that a neighbour had spoken to her husband in the night , and that he might soon be expected . The noon was rapidly passing , and the sun had already given token of the glory of his departurewhen the fisherman ' s wifehaving lulled
, , her infant to sleep , went herself to the hill that commanded an extensive view of the wide-spread ocean . All the little household assembled on the spot , but no boat was seen upon the waters , nothing that could give hope , except the aspect of the waves , which looked too placid to be dangerous . The deep anxiety of the party was no longer to be concealed : the old man paced to and fro , looking earnestly at brief intervals over the lonely waters ; the mother and daughters were sobbing audibly .
" Fearless let him be whose trust is in God 1 " exclaimed the father . The sentence was uttered involuntarily ; but it had its effect . " Aye , " said the mothev , " he always trusted in God , and God will not forsake him now . —Pray , my children , " she added to her two VOL . ix . o o