Wreaths of Friendship | Page 6

imminent
peril, and requires them to make many sacrifices; and they encounter
not this peril and sacrifice for their own good, but for the good of
others. Their lives do not pass so evenly as do the lives of men who
spend their days in the peaceful pursuits of business, art, or literature;
and we could hardly wonder if they lost some of the gentler attributes
of the human heart. In some cases, this is so; but in very many cases the
reverse is true. We find the man who goes fearlessly into battle, and
there, in defence of his country, deals death and destruction unsparingly
upon her enemies, acting, when occasion offers, from the most humane
sentiments, and jeopardizing his life to save the life of a single
individual. Let me relate to you a true story in illustration of what I say.
"When the unhappy war that has been waged by our troops in Mexico
broke out, a lieutenant in the navy, who had a quiet berth at
Washington, felt it to be his duty to go to the scene of strife, and
therefore asked to be ordered to the Gulf of Mexico. His request was
complied with, and he received orders to go on board the steamer
Mississippi, Commodore Perry, then about to sail from Norfolk to Vera
Cruz.
"Soon after the Mississippi arrived out, and before the city and castle
were taken, a terrible 'norther' sprung up, and destroyed much shipping
in the harbor. One vessel, on which were a number of passengers, was
thrown high upon a reef, and when morning broke, the heavy sea was
making a clear breach through her. She lay about a mile from the
Mississippi, and it soon became known on board the steamer, that a
mother and her infant were in the wreck, and that unless succor came
speedily, they would perish. The lieutenant of whom I speak,
immediately ordered out a boat's crew, and although the sea was rolling
tremendously, and the 'norther' still blowing a hurricane, started to the

rescue. Right in the teeth of the wind were the men compelled to pull
their boat, and so slowly did they progress, that it took over two hours
to gain the wreck.
"At one time, they actually gave out, and the oars lay inactive in their
hands. At this crisis, the brave but humane officer, pointing with one
hand to the fortress of San Juan de Ulloa, upon which a fire had already
commenced, and with the other to the wreck, exclaimed, with noble
enthusiasm,
"'Pull away, men! I would rather save the life of that woman and her
child, than have the honor of taking the castle!'
"Struck by the noble, unselfish, and truly humane feelings of their
officer, the crew bent with new vigor to their oars. In a little while the
wreck was gained, and the brave lieutenant had the pleasure of
receiving into his arms the almost inanimate form of the woman, who
had been lashed to the deck, and over whom the waves had been
beating, at intervals, all night.
"In writing home to his friends, after the excitement of the adventure
was over, the officer spoke of the moment when he rescued that mother
and child from the wreck as the proudest of his life.
"Afterward he took part in the bombardment of Vera Cruz, and had
command, in turn, of the naval battery, where he faithfully and
energetically performed his duty as an officer in the service of his
country. He was among the first of those who entered the captured city;
but pain, not pleasure, filled his mind, as he looked around, and saw
death and destruction on every hand. Victory had perched upon our
banners; the arms of our country had been successful; the officer had
bravely contributed his part in the work; but he frankly owns that he
experienced far more delight in saving the woman he had borne from
the wreck, than he could have felt had he been the commander of the
army that reduced the city.
"Wherever duty calls, my lads," concluded the captain, "you will find
that brave officer. He will never shrink from the post of danger, if his

country have need of him; nor will he ever be deaf to the appeal of
humanity; but so long as he is a true man, just so long will he delight
more in saving than in destroying."

THE WORD OF GOD.
Henry, what book is that you have in your hand?"
"It is the Bible, mother,"
"Oh, no, it cannot be, surely!"
"Why, yes it is--see!"
"And my little boy to treat so roughly the book containing God's holy
word!"
Henry's face grew serious.
"Oh, I forgot!" he said, and went and laid the good