Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-04-02
VOYAGE would be his last, he should

voyage would DC ms last, ne shou'u
expect, when he returned, TO find
every thing ready for their marriage.
This was a pleasant expectation,
and Bertha eagerly prepared to full
I'll it.
BY the time that Bertha was begin
ming to believe that William was Oh
his voyage home, her neighbors would
often help her to count the days winch
would probably elapse before the ship
could arrive: but when they were no
in her presence, some of the experien-
ced amongst the men used to express
a hope, the result of fear, that William
would return time enough ioavo'd GER
Min scinds, which made one part o! the
navigation on that coast particularly
dangerous.
Bertha hcrsclfh no doubt ,herfear'
rs well as her hopes but there are
s2ne fears which the lip of affection
darcs not utter, and this was one OF
them.
Bertha dreaded to have her inqui.
ries respecting that dangerous passage
answered by :" Yes. we know that it is
a difficult navisation," she also dread
ed to be told by some kind but i'll
Judging friends, to "trnst in Provl'
dcncc - as, by such advice, the rca!I
ty would be still more powerfully con-
irncd to her. This recommendation
would to her have been needless. ~
we'll rs alarming; for she had, doubt
less, always relied OH Him who IS
alone able to save. and she knew that
the same " Almighty arm was under
meath" her lover still! which had h;th-
crto preserved him in the tim" ofnecd.
WCil-timc went on, and we Will
imagine the little garden before the
door Of the house which Bertha had
hired, new graveIled, fresh flowers
sown and planted there; the curtains
ready TO be pat up the shelves bright
with polished utensils ; table linen,
white as the driven snow, enclosed III
a newly purchased set of draws; and
the neat well chosen wedding clothes
ready for the approaching occasion
we will also picture to ourselves, the
trembling JOY of BE :tha, when her ca
ger and sympathizing ncighbors rush
ed into hcrcottage. disturbing her ear
ly breakfast, with the glad tidngs, that
Williams ship had been seen APP
preaching the dangerous passage with
a fair wind, and that there was no
doubt but that he would get over il
safe and in daylight! How sweet is
it to be the messenger and the bearer
of good news, but it is still swceter to
know that one has friends who have
pleasure in communicating pleasure
TO US.
But Bertha's joy was still mingled
with anxiety, and she probably pass
ed that day in resllcssness and prayer.
Towards night the wind rose high,
blowing from a quarter uniavorah'"
10 the safely Of the ship, and it still
continued TO blow in this direction
when night and darkness had closed
on all around.
Darkness at that moment seemed
to close, alas. upon the prospects OF
Bertha! for she knew that there was
no beacon, no landmark to warn the
vessel Of its danger, and inform thr
pilot what coast they were approach
ing. and what perIls they were to
AVOID; and it is probable. that the al
most de>pairins girl was with her
anxious friends, that live. long night a
restless wandcrer on the nearest
shore.
With the return Of morning came
the awful confirmation OF their worst
fears.
There was no remaining sesti!c o
Williams vessel, save the top OF tn.
mast, which Showed where It nai sun,
beneath the waves, and proved tha
lhc hearts which in the morhins ha.
thro5bcd high with tender hopes an,
joyful expectations were then cole
and still "bcneath the mighty watcrsn
How different now was the scene il
Bcr!ha's cottage, to that which wa
exhibited during the preceding morn
ing.
That changed dwelling was not in
deed deserted, for sympainlln
ucighbors came to it as before; bu
though many may be admitted will