American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Sunday schools -- United States -- Periodicals
I'm not going to tell you about Asbury Park; at least not much. Some
other time I may say a good deal about this pretty city by the sea, but
just now I'm anxious to tell of what happened at night. The day had
been pleasant enough; not summer, but late spring, bright and sunshiny;
we rejoiced over the thought of getting sight of the beautiful beach;
reminding each other how lovely the sea looked by moonlight.
Alas, there was no moon for us that night! At least she did not once
show her silver face; instead, the sky was black with clouds, and
the sea took on its sullen look, and roared as it lashed the shore
constantly with great angry waves. We shivered and tugged at our wraps
as the wind tried to whirl them away, and said, as we turned to go
home, how glad we were that we had no friends at sea. "The ocean looks
cruel," said Grace; "I don't like him to-night."
Then we went home to our bright room; drew the curtains, closed the
shutters, stirred the fire to a cheery blaze, and chatted and laughed
and were happy, quite shutting out the roar of the angry sea.
But he did not calm; the waves ran high, and the sullen roar kept
increasing, until, by midnight, we knew it was what seamen call a gale.
Occasionally we heard the fog bell toll out, and once more we were glad
that we had no dear ones at sea.
Somebody had, though; and while we slept quietly, knowing nothing of
it, brave men were awake and at work. A danger signal was seen just off
shore; what excitement there was! How did the men of the life-saving
crew know that they were needed? They had been disbanded for the
summer, the dangerous season being supposed to be over; and here was
blowing one of the worst storms of the winter! I don't know how they
heard the news. Their hearts waked and watched, perhaps; anyway, they
came, great stalwart men, and in a twinkling opened their boathouse,
and got out their apparatus which had been carefully put away, and
before the third signal went up through the stormy water, were ready
for action.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account