Elsie's Journey on Inland Waters

of affairs that presently sent the whole party into the cabin, and a little later they had all retired to their staterooms but the capta

storm, papa?" Grace asked a little anxio

e storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebuketh the sea and maketh it dry.' Remember, to

ned with a sigh of relief, and laying her cheek affectionately against his as he pu

said; "no real evil can befa

stresses sometimes," she returned, with an enqui

e as a father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him;' and He will sustain them und

will just put my dear ones and myself in His care,

knoweth them that trust in Him,' nor the promise that He will never leave or forsake them. Put yourself into His car

aughter?" he asked, turning to Lucil

r hand he smoothed her hair caressingly, "and I do believe that God will take care of us all through the instrumentality of my own dear father, who knows so well how to manage a

cult and dangerous; but I have passed over it a number of times and do not feel any great amount of anxiety in regard to our safety-if I attend properly to my duty as commander of the Dolphin," he concluded, wit

leased her. "I-I want to say that I am afraid that I was-almost,

forgiven; so go to your bed in peace. I must hurry

l of filial love, then as he disappeared she made her way as quickly as the rolling

sweet blue eyes as she lifte

ie darling?" Lulu a

ce with a sob, pulling out her handkerchief to wipe her eyes. "Oh, I almost wish I were a big, strong sailor, an

ing but the happiest man in the world if--" but she paused suddenly, while a vivid blush suffused her face. "I have no right to talk s

ward our dear father, seeming to take great delight in doing everything you can to please him and add to his comfort; I really do not think he has a child who loves him better

am shamefully quick-tempered and wilful and sometimes look vexed at a re

s all over and you are just as sweet and pleasant as anyone could wish. Oh, you are just the dearest, dearest girl! Ah, you needn't sha

ugh I well know I have given him more pain and trouble than any other of his children, if not than all put together. Gracie, let us kneel down together and ask Go

, and they spent some minut

against the sides of the vessel, her father's voice occasionally giving an order through the speaking trumpet, and the hurried and heavy tread of the sailors as they hastened to obey. It seemed a worse storm than any she had ever been in upo

e rush of the waters, and feel the rolling and pitching of the vessel. But it was daylight, and slipping from her berth with care not to rouse her still sleeping sister, she knelt

s welfare, stole from the room, and holding on by the furniture, crossed the saloon,

her. There was a momentary lull in the wind, and taking advantage of it she started on a run toward him. But just

held her fast with one arm while he grasped the railing with the other hand, and held on till the gale again moderated for a moment. Then he carried her back t

e said at last, speaking scarcely above a whisper, pressing h

id in quivering tones, her arms about his

arrow escape; and what would I have done had I lost my dear eldest daughter? You

"But oh, haven't you been up all n

her hair caressingly as he spoke. "You must remember I am an old sailor and used to

pa, dear?" she asked entreatingly, her eyes gazing lovingly into his. "Surely

ve you now and go back to my duties; and do you go to your stateroom

she following him with looks of yearning affection till he disap

they had escaped shipwreck, and even as she gave thanks it seemed to her that there w

nd perceived that her sister's eyes were open, "I do

and stepping out upon the floor. "Oh, how glad I am! How good God

en for him I would be at the bottom of the lake now,"

nishment, "you surely did not vent

, but papa caught me, held me fast for a m

d indeed, all the rest, if we lost you in that way. What could I ever do without my dear, big sis

t you love me so, Graci

but papa did not scold me at all; just held me fast, petting

t he forbid you to try going on dec

eep off his fatigue. He must be very tired after his long night's vigil. But it is nearly breakfast

was his wont, though somewhat weary and worn. He reported the storm nearly over, no serious damage done the vessel, nor much time lost

d sleep when you have finished your breakfast, my dear?"

he added, pushing away his plate and rising to his feet as he spoke. "I must return to my duties at

," remarked little Elsie in regretf

, the tears shining in her eyes. "Don't you think we ough

about what happened at the River Raisin. You know our soldiers, in that fight with the British and Indians that he told us about yesterday, called out over and over again,

d tell you the story?" asked Grandma Elsie, in cheerful t

but you could do it as well as papa

l have to make it short," sighed Mrs. Travilla; "the de

sh and Indians, grandma?

scalped, tomahawked, slain in various ways with the utmost cruelty; many of them burned alive in the houses where they lay wounded, una

very bad man, grandpa?"

mother, in which he says, 'Never, dear mother, should I live a thousand years can I forget the frightful sight of this morning, when hideously painted Indians came into the f

ter went on to say that he heard two British officers talking of that scene together; that one of them, whose name, he had been told, was Lieutenant-Colonel

le Elsie in distress, "I don't wa

th it," returned Mrs. Travilla. "I will try to find some pleasanter one for you and Neddie boy to h

in the saloon for morning worship, which, in the

to his stateroom for much needed rest and sleep, and the others could sit comfortably in the saloon, the ladies w

of the weather and their surroundings. When they returned it was with the cheering report that the storm had evidently

eck, can't we, grandpa?" cr

his grandpa, sitting down and draw

queried Neddie, in a sl

gh I am so much older than you, papa forbad

tone of surprise; "and haven't you

would have been blown into the lake if he ha

thers who had not heard the story expressed their surp

owing, but I had scarcely set foot on the deck when it took my skirts and sent me across toward the spot where papa stood holding on to the railing with one hand, his speaking trumpet in the other. He dropped that in an instant and threw his arm round me." As she spoke she shuddered at the

kly to Lucilla's side, and bending down ov

in trembling tones and with tears in her eyes. "Dear Lu, it would

k and returning her caresses with interest, "for you are so very good, kind, and loving that I have grown very fo

loves us all very dearly, as we do him," said Violet