Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-03-30

At last the voyage is almost ended, the
sailors talk only OF home now. They talk of
those they are to meet, of the wives and chill
dren, TO whom their thoughts have so often
wandered during three years absence. They
wonder if the young sailor, Alfred, who lies
sick, will ever see his home again; and with
their rough tones, almost subdued to gentle
ness, they speak Of his anxiety to see his mo-
Their.
lie is so hopelessly Ill that his heart is now
where the worn spirit ever turns in its hour
of bitterest pain, sorrow, or its approach to
the unseen land-to God and his mother.
Family as his heart beats. it still throbs with
earnest desire for life. Dim as his keen eye
has became, he fancies it would brighten once
more at the sight of his mother, and his fail
ing mind be cleared could he lean on her
breast.
With folded hands the young sailor prays;
his words are confused and indistinct to those
who listen, but all clear, all earnest and plain
are they to the Great Listener. And when
the stately ship has reached her destined
port, and mingling voices are all around the
sick sailor his comrades bear him carefully
to a home-a miserable home-but better to
him than the rocking vessel In the midst of
the sou nding sea.
s'Now if | could see MOTHER he murmur-
ed to the strangers around him.
She is sitting by the vine covered window,
patiently reading the shipping journal, and
thinking meanwhile of her absent boy; think
ing it is time for him to return, and hoping
that he will never go to sea again.
How quick the words catch her eye.
st.4rriUed Ship Banner, LOUeH.''
Sand it was a week ago; he could have
been at home by this time he will come to-
night" she said joyfully, as she went to COM
municate the good news TO her husband.
They watched in vain for him that night,
and then Mrs. Heath suggested what no mo-
Their ever failed to suggest when the prolong-
ed absence of child was unaccounted for
she must be sick - and when night after
night passed, and they neither saw nor heard
any thing of Alfred her anxiety would let her
rest no longer. 1--WE will go to him, or at
least GO where we may hear of him, and Mr..
Heath, now as anxious as herself, readily as
scented. Their simple preparations for the
Journey Were soon made, and with heavy
hearts they proceeded in search of their son,
with little hope of gaining anything more sat-
isfactory than definite intelligence of his
death.
1t was a dark and rainy evening when they
entered the city, and after an hour spent in
fruitless inquiries, they found the place to
which Alfred had been carried. Little care
had he received in the crowded boarding house
There was none of the neatness and order
that shows better In sick room than any
where else Rough hands had roughly tend
ed him, and pale and death-like as he looked.
/ it seemed as if it mattered little what care he
had now. In the agony with which the pa
/ rents bent over the unconscious sleeper. and
marked the sunken cheeks and wasted form,
! there was but one ray of comforts they could
watch over him-they should not hear of
/ his death with the sad thought that none but
! stranger 5 hands had smoothed his dying pill
I low.
The sufferer awoke from a troubled dream,
to find his aching head supported by his faith
err and see his mothers eyes resting upon
| him with look of unutterable tenderness-
/ So faint was the smile of recognition with
which he greeted them, that only parents
eve could have caught the fitting expression.
/ .sCan't live. can't live said the doctor,
with professional carelessness, as he entered
the house the next morning.
..But his mother has come," said the land
lady.
ssThat alters the case, he may get up again,
answered the doctor, than whom. none knew
better how much mother could do.
But how frail seemed the thread. that held
thar Young and promising life. For days ii
ouivered and trembled with the slightest
breath, and the mother tearfully prayed thai
it might not be broken. A gentle care ana
kindly watching as ever blessed a sick bee
had Young Alfred Heath, and not In vain
gradually he grew better, and was able tt
Il zfy 81, h,,xx