Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-06-09

hand, and let us pray Tor your dear iath-
er's safety in this dreadful hour" The
mother and child sank on their knees to-
gether, and with the eloquence of wo-
man, whose fears for the beloved of her
heart were all awake, and with the devo-
ton of christian whose trust was in the
living God, she poured out her soul before
Him. Such a sweet and holy calm was
diffused over her spirit, and SO absorbed
we're all her feelings in this divine exer-
else, that the continued rawlings of the re-
lentless storm were scarcely heard, and
when she arose from her knees and look
ed abroad, she almost expected to see the
sky and the water as serene as her trust
ing heart. But its fury abated not, and so
weak and faithless is the. human heart
even when it leans the most confidingly
on God, that her agitating forebodings in
great measure returned.
1t was now nearly bed time, but poor
Emma thought not Of retiring. Her un-
conscious baby laid to rest in its little
cradle. was softly breathing and sweetly
sleeping, and William wearied with watch
ing and weeping, sank beside him on the
floor, and for while forgot his sorrows
in the the profound slumbers of childhood.
But not to the wife and mother came this
soothing balm. Her aching head pressed
not that night the pillow of repose. How
could she bear to recline on that bed
where she had so often rested on the dear
bosom Of him who was now perhaps
stretched on the rocky bed of the ocean,
with the cold and stormy waves for his
covering.
The long, long hours of that dreadful
might we're PASSED in walking the room
or kneeling in prayer. 90 my Saviour p
would she cry, thou hast the same AL
mighty power, and the same compassionate
heart that thou hadst while on earth, and
by the sovereign word thou didst then still
the raging tempest 0 listen to the i'm
Fortunate cry of an agonized wife, and
save, in mercy save, the beloved of her
soul (! Or else say peace be still, TO the
tempest within my own bosom, and let me
rest with all confidence of redeemed
child on thy faithtulness andlove Sweet
ly soothing to her heart were some of
these moments of prayer calmly and
quietly could she stay herself on God, and
praise him even with tears of gratitude
that her precious husband was christian,
and that the sea as well as the earth
would yield its dead. and she again behold
him clad in the vestments of Immortality,
and adorned with the Saviour's likeness.
But y there were moments when even
prayer afforded little relief, and she in the
anguish of her spirit refused to be COM
forted.
The sun which has SO long gazed on
1.-THE fairest scenes of earth, never looked
| forth on lovelier morning than that
which succeeded this night of storm and
tempest. The balminess of the soft air,
the serenity of the blue sky, and the
beauty of the bright water, were never ex-
ceeded. But when the glad rays of that
glorious morning penetrated the sad
chamber of Emma. she covered her face
and groaned in the bitterness her heart
for where was he in whose arms at this
very hour she hoped to have been enfod-
ed The mothers deep, agonizing groan
broke the slumbers of her boy, who start
ing on his feet exclaimed, " has father
come % cob no my child" answer
ed Emma, bursting for the first time into
a passionate fit of weeping, "nor will he
| fear ever come again p
Several weeks passed, and as nothing
was heard of the ship which contained
the husband of Emma, and as more than
one vessel was known to have persisted
during the storm, the faint hopes that were
entertained of her safety entirely vanish
ed, and Emma felt that she was indeed a
widow.
On much such an evening as that which
closed with the fatal storm, she was sitting
at the window which overlooked the wa
ter, sad, very sad, but quiet and resigned
stricken TO the dust as to her earthly
hopes, but sweety resting on Him who is
the widows God and Judge. Her ED
est boy was pensively leaning his head
on his mothers arm while his baby broth
er was using it for play-thing, and twin
ing his tiny fingers in the siken curls
which adorned it, the only joyous one of
the group, for William was still sorrowful
when his thoughts turned as now to his
lost father.
The mothers eye, as it was sadly bent
on the water, rested on group of men
who were standing on its very edge. and
at this moment one of them raised spy
glass to his face. Emma, shuddering,
turned hastily away, and sick faint feel
ing came over her, but she almost imme-
diately compelled herself TO look again,
ashamed of the selishness which would
not permit her to rejoice in the safety and
happiness of others, while herself was
bereaved and desolate. Some beating
hearts, thought she. are waiting with trem-
ulons joy the approach of the dear objects
of their love. Shall | not rejoice with