Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-09-15

ner element. and had been familiar win inc
voice Of the tempest from their young uays.-
There was sad lamenliHg and murmurihB 'neh
among the womenfok, especially them ,ha.
were kith or kin TO the lads on the sea; anu cn.y
went 10 one another's houses i'll the midss o. Inc
storm and the rain, and put in their pare races
through the darkness Us il searching Tor nope
and comfort, and drawing nearer to one ano-
,ner like Hock Of frightened sheep, IN rtheir
fellowship Of grief and fear. But there was
one WIN stirred not from her home, and VINO
lel, no terror the shrieking ofihe night storm
aid sought no comfort in the countenanre OF
man-and that was the wife Of MIR. Douglas.
/ She sometimes, indeed listened 10 the howl.
ing of the sea, lha, came by ils on her ear like
the voice Of the water kepie, and startling,
would lay down her work for a moment; but
then she remembered the prayer she had pray
ed 10 Him who holds the reins of the tempest
in his hands, and who says to the roaring wa
,ers "Be STILL" and they are s,ill; and the glo.
rious balm she had felt 10 sink into her heart at
the momen, Of high and holy communion, even
! like the dew of heaven on a 2arched land. 80
her soul was comforted, and she said TO herself
Good is no, a man that he can lie;' and she
rested on his assurance as on rock, and laugh
en- to scorn the trembling Of her woman's bo-
som-for why?-The anchor Of her hope was
in heaven, and what earthly storm was SO nigh.
" as to remove it? Then she go: up and put
he room in order, and placed her husbands
shoes 10 air a, the Preside, and stirred up the
fuel, and drew in tne armchair Tor her weary
j and storm beaten mariner. Then would she
listen a, The door, and look out in the night for
his coming, bu, could hear no sound save the
voice Of the waters and the foolslep Of the TEN
pest as he rushed along the deep. She then
went in again, and walked to and fro in the
room with restless step, but an unblanched
cheek AT last her neighbours came 10 her
house, knowing that her husband was one OF
them lha, had gone out that day, and told her
that they were going 10 walk down 10 the
Ciough, even in The mirk hour, 10 try il they
could not hear some news Of the boats. SO she
went with them and We walked all together
along the road, it might be some twenty or thir-
t, Of US; but twas remarked that though she
anne not burriedly nor in fear yet she bad
NOT even thrown her cloak on her shout
ders to defend her from the nigh: air, but came
forth with head uncovered, and in her usual raj
ment Of white like bride Of The altar.
AS we passed along, it must have been a
strange sight TO see so many pale faces by the
red glare of the torches they carried and to
hear so many human waiings filling up the
pauses of the storm; but at the head Of our
melancholy procession there was calm heart
, and firm step, and they were Jeannie's.
| Sometimes, indeed she would look back as
some cry Of womanish forboding from behind
would smite on her ear, and strange thoughts
would crowd into her mind; and once she was
heard to mutter, if her prayer had but. saved
her husband, to bind some other innocent vic
tim on the mysterious altar Of wrath. and she
, stopped for moment, as If in anguish at the
Ma Where Bit he n4T ghh Ss arfs IS Ss
sounds were heard on the shore, and we waved
the torches in the air and gave a great shout,
which was answered by the kent voices; for
/ they were some Of our people, and our Journey
; was at an end number Of US then went on
before, and CROPPED our way among the rocks
as well as we could for the darkness, but woe
full tale met our ear; for one of the boats had
been dashed to pieces while endeavouring to
land there, and when they arrived they were
just dragging The body of comradc stiff and
stark from the sea-
When the women behind heard it, there was
terrible cry Of dismay; TO- no one knew but it
might have been her own brother or son; and
some who held torches dropped them for fear,
trembling to have the terrors Of their hearts
confirmed. There was one however who stood
calm, and unmovcd by the side of the dead bo-
dy. She spoke some words Of holy COM
fort to the women, and they were silent at her
voice She then stepped lightly forward, and
took torch from the trembling hand that held
it, and bent down with it, beside the corpse
AS the light fell one moment on her own fair
face 1t showed no sign of womanish feeling at
the sight and touch Of mortality; bright and
lovely bloom gIowed on her cheek, and hea-
venly lustre burned in her eye; and as she kneIt
there, her locg hair floating far on the storm,
there was that in her look which drew the gaze
even OF that terrified group from the object of
their doubt and dread. The next moment the
light streamed on the face of the dead-the
torch dropped from her hand-and she fell on
the body OF her husband.
"Her prayer ,oas granted She held her hus-
band in her arms that night, and although no
struggles Of parting life were heard OF seen, she
died on his breast:
From the 81. Louis Republican,
THE HAUNTED HOUSE.