Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-03-13

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 night
were passed in walking the room or kneeling in
prayer. go my Saviour! would she cry,
thou hast the same Almighty power, and the
same compassionate heart that thou hadst while
on earth, and by the sovereign word thou didst
then still the raging tempest. o! listen listen
to the importunate cry Of an agonzed wife, and
save, in mercy save the beloved Of her soul!
Or else say "peace be STILL" to the tempest
within my bosom, and let me rest with all the
confidence of redeemed child on thy faithful
ness and love!" Sweetly smoothing to her
heart were these moments of prayer calmly and
quietly couldsh stay on God and praise him even
with tears of gratitude that her precious hus-
band was a Christian, and that the sea as well
as the earth would yield its dead, and she
again beheld him clad in the vestments of inn
mortality, and adorned with his Saviour's like
ness-But 0 there were moments when every
prayer afforded little relief. and she in the an
guish of her spirit refused to be comforted.
The sun which had so long glzed on the fair
est scenes OF earth, never looked forth on a
lovelier morning than that which succeeded this
night of storm and tempest. The calmness of
the soft air, the serenity of the blue sky, and
the beauty of the bright water, were never ex-
ceeded. Butwhen the glad rays of that glori-
Gus morning penetrated the sad chamber of En-
ma, she covered her face and groaned in the
bitterness of her heart for where was he in
whose arms at this very hour she hoped to have
been enfolded' The mothers deep agonizing
groan broke the slumber Of her boy who start
ing on his feet, exclaimed, has father came!
" 0 no my child, answered Emma, bursting
for the first time into q fit of weeping, nor
will he fear ever come again "
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 perished during the storm, the
faint hopes that were entertained for his safety
entirely vanished, and Emma felt that she was
indeed widow.
On much such an evening as that which
closed with the fatal storm, she was sitting at
the window which overlooked the water, sad
very sad, but quiet and resigned, stricken to the
dust as to her earthly hopes, but sweetly resting
on him who is the widows God and judge
Her elder boy was pensively leaning his hand on
his mother arm while his baby brother was
using it for plaything, and twining his tiny
y fingers in the siken culrls which adorned it, the
' only joyous one of the group, for William was
still sorrowful when his thought turned as now
to his 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 aspy glass to his face. EN-
ma shuddered, turned hastily away, and sick
faint feeling came over her, but she almost i'm
| COupCilCu W lUUh dSdll,
ashamed of the selfshness which would not per.
!, init to rejoice in the safety and happiness Of
others, while herself was bereayed and desoate
Some beatieg hearts, thought she, are waiting
with tremulous joy the approach of the deal
objects of their love. Shall not rejoice with
them Run, William, and see what vesse
) has arrived, for those men are watching, an
: sure, the approach of one." William obeyed
though reluctantly, for his heart was grievet
v whenever his eyes rested on the water. Hi
y mother watched his tardy footsteps as he ap
~ preached the group who at this moment spyin,
r him, one of them went forward to meet him.
- Scarcely had they ca-ne near enough to speak
:, when, as though words of magical inhuenc
'e he'd been pronounced, William, who befor
y scarcely moved, now tossed his arms high in tn
'n air and turning his face towards his mother
~ dwelling, seemed borne along by the wings
the wind the man as swiftly followed, and a
e. most breathless they both entred at the san
IT. time the abode of Emma.
er 80 mother, mother! dear mother =" e
aS claimed William: "stop my boy" said h
}" companion, g let me speak to your moth
no first" and turning to Emma, he added, ="
u- calm, madam, for we have glorious news, wo
eu derful news for you-the ship Anne is close
IL hand "
i'o Emma spoke not, but her heaving bosom q
'a' wildly rolling eye frightened her boy, who ru
ming to her and throwing himself on her nee
OF exclaimed,
0ig "Why, thought you would be so 81
ale mother that father, after ALL is alive and co
o'- ing to US; but you dom look so at all what
MS the matter, why do you look SO strangely ~
LOT Emma buried her face in the bosom of
r. child and relieved her bursting heart by we
TO- ing aloud. Locked in each others arms I'll
IAN mingled their tears and their touching than
ere givings to God for his unspcakable mercy, wi
IAN the man who stood by, though quite unused
ou' the melting mood, himself wept like an infa
oiy "But how is it," exclaimed Emma,
'or- recolections returning as her agitation par
isc' subsidized, " has the ocean given up its dead
less "No doubt" replied the man, they "
rose driven out to sea and have been detained
noS' some port to repair damages
rene Soon to the waiting eager eyes of the v
not and child appeared that stately ship, her W
cart sails filed by gentle breeze, and bearing
'od' majestically along over the soft ripple of
eas- sparkling waves. Soon was she safely mo,
in the quiet harbor, and familiar, belt
nma form seen to step from her decks and apprc
aoy, the house. Soon were they folded to that h
ath- which but an hour or two before they
YEA thought no longer beat for them, and dear |
'side Charley praised and an hundred times kisse
ra.. | l..,n x.zhiaL L.I