On the morning of September 6, 1838, a young woman in the Longstone Lighthhouse, between England and Scotland, was awakened by shrieks of agony rising above the roar of wind and wave. A storm was raging, and her parents couldn’t hear the cries; but a telescope showed nine people clinging to a vessel that was wrecked half a mile away. “We can do nothing,” said the lightkeeper. ” But we must go to the rescue,” pleaded his daughter, until her father sighed : “Very well, Grace, I will grudgingly let you persuade me.”
Like a feather in a whirlwind and the little boat was tossed on the tumultuous sea, but, somehow, the shrieks of those shipwrecked sailors seemed to change her weak sinews into cords of steel. Strength hitherto unsuspected came from somewhere and, and the heroic girl pulled one oar in even time with her father. At length the nine were safely on board. “God bless you,” said one poor fellow, as he looked wonderingly upon this marvelous girl, who had done a deed which added more to England’s glory than the exploits of many of her monarchs.
Determine that the thing shall be done, and then we shall find the way.
– Abraham Lincoln
