Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1851-09-24
The IOWA lAPITAE REPORT ER

she started In her sleep, |
and fled like a deer down the long
road to the lake side. On, on! she
neared the place-and now she was
awakened by the fearful screams that
fell upon her ears, freezing her very
heart within ler, and roofing her feet
to the ground. She saw the fright
ened boys break away from each
other, and hasten to the shole-she
saw upon the spot where but mo-
ment before they had seemed tostand,
a dark circle in the ice;-an appraised
arm!-She heard cry; 'Tis Herbert!
he alone is missing! and then she saw
another form hasten from the shore.
She knew it well twas Harold 81
One plunge, and he too was gone in
the vain hope of rescuing his brother.
A prolonged shrek escaped from her
lips, echoing from the hills upon the
opposite side Of the lake, and down
she darted, through the group of boys
swiftly over the CLASSY ice, and would
have followed but too surely to the
death her brave young brother, had
it not been for the quick grasp of
Maurice Graham, who rushed after
her and held her tightly in his arms,
Striving to bear her struggling form
beyond the reach of danger. But
they are near the airhole, the ice.
crackles under his feet,-he totters'
with his burden,-and while the
group upon the shore stand in breth-
less suspense, the treacherous ice
gives way, and they sink down to-
gether in the dark, cold waters. But
Maurice Graham's was a strong arm
to struggle with death. Love, too,
added its almost superhuman power,
and grasping again and again the
ice which under his numbed fingers
repeadly gave away, he succeeded at
last in reaching the shore with the
now unconscious Helen. Wrapping
her in warm blankets from cottage
near, they bore her to her mothers
horne. And now broke from that
stricken heart the cry. My God!
My God! why hast thou forsaken mel
1t needed but that. Ten long years
had she in her heart denied the one
that now she called upon thus ear
nestly; but with that anguished cry
returened the faith which alone can
support earth's pilgrims through their
| sorrows.
She knew her boys had that night
pillowed on colder breast than they
had ever proven. She knew that the
arms of pitiless waters had lulled
them to their sleep; yet they who
stood around her heard no murlnur-
ings from her lips, as minute after
minute she bent above her daughters
lifeless form. They heard only the
one prayer that burst from her over
charged heart, "God forgive me, and
in His mercy return me this one
child The prayer was answered.
Breath came to the sculptured nos
tril, and light to the eye so nearly
glazed; and dropping on her knees,
the mother wept such tears as soft
ened heart alone can know.
! Days passed before the bodies of
Harold and Herbert were rescued
from the waters and laid beside their
father, beneath the frozen sod of the
churchyard. Oh, it was sad burial!
but SO earnestly spoke the silver hair
ed pastor, of the joys of heaven, of
the sorrows and troubles of earth, that
the weaping mother bowed her head,
and said in her heart, at is well with
my children.
For long time Helen was very
feeble; but spring came on, Mrs.
Douglass marked the glow upon her
cheeks, and heralded it with thanks
giving, as the first dawn of returning
health.
There were others who saw in that
deep hectic flush, radiance cast
from the death angels wing. But
Maurice Graham was not one of
these. Day after day, he sat by
Heien's side until his deep love woke
An answer in the fair young girls
heart.
One bright morning he sought Mrs.
Douglass in her garden to tell her of
his love for Helen, and to urge her
consent to a speedy union. She lis
tened in surprise. Maurice was
scarce twenty, Helen but seventeen,
and she had not thought of them as
other than children-o of Maurice as
brave and noble boy, who had saved
her child from death-of Helen as
frail young girl, who repaid with
sisters affection, the gratitude her de-
liverer deserved. Now, as this came
upon, her, the quick pain in her side,
which Of late she had SO often felt,
caused her to press her hands tightly
above it, while from her wan and
parted lips there came neither word
ofcOnsent nor denial.
At length grasping Maurice's hand
firmly, she drew him to the house.
Helen was sitting in the window seat,
her thoughtful eye raised to the Heay-
ems, but over them, and over her
transparent brow, and on her golden
hair fell heavily the shadow of the
one branch ofthe blasted elm.
Close by her side, the mother sat,
retaining still the hand of Maurice,
and clasping Helen's full as close;
and there she told him the one fear
tul secret of her life, which had SO
tempted her to deny an overriding
Providence-a loving and merciful
God.
A few words will suffice for me to