A Child's Prayer

• Watchlist

A sturdy fisherman of the New England coast, wresting a living from the ocean, content with his daily toil and happy in the possession of a loving wife and child, returns with his catch to find a letter awaiting him from a large fish contractor offering him a contract in place of another fisherman who has failed to live up to his agreement. He accepts the contract and hastens home with the joyful news. Next morning, bidding wife and child good-bye, with renewed energy, and hopeful of increased business and added comforts for wife and child, he sails to sea. The discredited fisherman, nursing vengeance, further inflames his passion by drinking heavily. He watches his opportunity, makes his way to the beach, comes upon his rival, fells him and sends the unconscious man adrift in a leaking boat. Insane from drink and jealousy he seeks his rival's home to wreak further vengeance. He comes upon the fisherman's child kneeling in prayer, and listens to the childish pleading for her father's safe return, and asking God to bless all fishermen. Her appeal touches his better nature and overcome with remorse he rushes away hoping to be in time to undo his murderous work, but the boat is far from land a mere speck in the distance. After heroic efforts he succeeds in reaching the sinking boat, rescues his rival just as the boat goes down. The fisherman is welcomed by his alarmed and anxious wife. The little one overwhelms him with caresses and assures him that it was her prayers that brought him home safe. From without his late enemy gazes through the cottage window at the happy reunion and departs thankful in having mercifully escaped a felon's act.