ALEC YEATON'S SON

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2131, 22 May 1889, Page 3

ALEC YEATON'S SON

[Gloucester (D. «.A ), August, J720.] The wind It wailed, ha wind it moaned, And the white ca^>- flecked the sea ; "An' I would to God," the skipper groaned, " i had not my boy with me 1" Snug m the stern-sheets, little John Laughed as tbe scud (.wept by ; But tbeakippei'ssunburntchebke grew wan As he waiched the wicked sky. " Would he were at his mother's side !" And the skipper's eyes were dim, " Good Lord io Heaven, it ill betide, What would beoome of him ? 'For me— my musoles are as steel, For me let hap what may ; ] I might make shift upon tbe keel Until tbe break of day. " But he, he is so weak and email, to young, soarce learned to stand — 0, pitying -father of us all, 1 trust him m thy hand I " For Thou, who markest from on high A sparrow's fall— each one I— Surely, O Lord, Thou'lt have aa eye On Alec Yeaton's son 1" Then helm hard port, right straight he sailed Towardßihe headland light ; Ihe wind it moaned, the wind it walled, And black, black fell the night. Then burst a storm to make one quail, Though housed from winds and waves ; They who oould tell about that gale Must rise from watery graves 1 Sudden it came, aa sudden went ; Ere half the night had sped, The winds were hushed, the waves were ' spent, l And the stars shone overhead. Now as the morning mist grew thin, The folk on Gloucester shot* Saw a little figure floating In Seiure, on a broken oar* Up rose a ory : "A vreek i a wreck 1 Pall, mates, and waste no breath I" They kneir It: though 'twas but a spaok Upon the edge of death. Long did they marvel In tha town At God, flu strange decree, That let tbe stalwart skipper drown And the little child go free 1 -Thomas Bailbt Aldrioh, m the 'Atlantic'