Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-03-05
New Series Vol. III, No. IL.

been discussing the propriety of inviting
some friends to enjoy our Christmas eve
with US, we were now in daily expecta-
tion of Captain Fleming. and every sound
OF Carriage wheels made US rush TO the
windows.
Father is come ! cried Ellen. as the
sound of wheels, instead Of passing, ceased
at our door, and we simultaneously spranp
up and ran 10 The window. There indeed
stood the expected coach, but who was
that old lady with green bandbox held
ughliy IN her arms, now bundling out of
the coach door, sending sharp gIances up
at the windows while the coachman took
down her trunks
1T IS aunt janet said Ellen, with long
sigh OF disappointment, and she looked in
TO my face lnquirlngly.
Ii is too bad, too bad I said Nav. half
crying, for her TO come and spoil all, Jus.
as we were to have such a merry Chris
mas
Well, meet her kindly and give her
welcome | said, and by that lime the hall
door had opened, and Jane Fleming stood
IN the midst OF US, receiving our greetings
with kind of grim smile. The girls d.
vested her of all her many shawls and
cloaks and furs, and Harry drew chair
Tor her close 10 the fire.
As she warmed her feet at the CRATE, she
looked around her with singular EXPIRES.
sion Of pity, mixed with triumph.
i have kept my promise, children she
said. i told YOU if anything happened
would come 10 YOU
l started from my seat, and shudder
of terrible lorebodings passed through me
as | remembered the promise to which she
referred.
Jane! Jane Fleming, what do you meant
| cried.
She wiped the corner Of her eyes with
her handkerchief. Then she said
All 1t is as thought. You see that
|, living on the seashore as do, get news
some days in advance of you. | said 10
myself when | heard it, that it would be
printed IN your weekly paper and YOU
would not get ii before tomorrow. So
thought had better step into the stage and
ride down and prepare your minds. Poor
children Poor children p
What is it?' said Ellen, grasping her
aunt's wrist with kind of nervous fierce
ness.
This suspense vas growing intolerable.
Jane fixed her eyes steadily on Elen's
coun'enance. and answered slowly
Last week, in the great storm, the May
FLemlng was wrecked :
a low cry escaped Mays lips.
Jane = l gasped, my husband-where
is he!:'
She looked AT me composedly.
The May Fleming was wrecked and
sunk. Save the mate and one sailor, who
lloated two days on broken raft, every
soul was lost'
| could utter neither cry nor moan. |
only looked into the faces of my children,
who gathered about me, ndulging their
wild sorrow IN p,tful cries. Ellen only.
after brief time, seemed to comprehend
my bewlldering anguish. She put her
young, strong arms about me, and led me,
TO my chamber; there, watched
by her alone, lay silent and moiionless.
But my brain was busy. is it 10 this.
an untimely DEATH, | thought, that all
love are fated 10 come! My heart was
wrapt in my beautiful Henry, and he laid
down TO die in the glory of his youth
My love rose out of the grave and gather
ed itself strong as life about my husband;
and now, in so little while he is gone
also. Was it for this | gave my mind,
my heart, my soul 10 his children, ONLY
that they should look up 10 me with their
pitiful faces, and cry we are orphans -
Where was he when we his wife and
children were making Christmas garlands?
We were singing and weaving the holly
and cedar by the warm freight, while he,
now struggling, now failing and sinking,
was smothered in the horrible wavesr
Such thoughts as these filled my brain
with ceaseless horror and all day Law as
one benumbed. But suddenly as it grew
dark, and Ellen brought lamp into my
chamber, | was struck by her settled ex-
preston Of woe. | had forgotten that
was not the only sufferer. That though,
gave me strength. | rose. took her bv the
hand and went down to the other children.
They gathered about me, and we all wept
together. Then, and not till then did |
feel that could speak to them Of comfort.
The next morning our paper came, and
the long account of the wreck confirmed
the sad tidings. Days passed-slowly,
| was beginning to realize that
we, of late such joyful group, were now
: the widow and the fatherless.
1t was evening, and we all sat in the
little library. The door of the parlor be-
hind us was ajar, but there was no light in
there; only one lamp burned on the piano
forte, which had been moved into the lii
tie room.
Harry lay in my arms asleep. his soft
curls falling over his forehead, and half
yelling his fresh, fair face. Ellen and May,
one ON each side of me. sat at work on