Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-12-23

NNDAy ~StOoF Al On . Iii fpOOPlC OCEdf
to say to each other, sit looks very
ugly to night" In the trim quadrangle
the College windows began to glow will
the cheerful fire the buckets descended
for the last time to the we'll the las
stroke Of the cleaver was heard in the
woodhouse the great gate was shut and
barred at dusk and three or four of the
old brethren stood in the porch, discuss
ing the night.
Its my opinion" said old John Law.
son-the Oldest man in the College
!" that this is going to be the worst night
that has been since that famous one in
the August of 40, the day the standard
was blown down."
Why, a you remember that, Master
Lawson ?" asked Thomas W~interbottom,
the Warden.
Marry, very we'll, Master Warden
and | was not such a boy, neither. Sixty
and one years ago-sixty and one years
ago. And | think this will be the worst
of the two. Good night, mates And
he walked across the courts to his rooms.
II never knew him wrong, yet" said
another old man.
lie may very well be right now" said
the Warden, for it looks bad enough.
| just will but look in and see how old
Lawrence is going on, and then turn in.
Good night"
Poor old John Lawrence-a worn-out
soldier of Prince Maurice-lay on his
death bed. Propped up on pillows, with
O naIo hloodlooo fooo or1 L
that might be heard through the gusts Of
wind and the rafting of panes, he plainly
was not much longer for this world. 1t
was a strange night to die in a sad,
lonely feeling, for the soul to go out into
that conflicting a of clouds and wind,
OF rains and storms i; having, as it were,
to pass through all the war and turmoil
of the elements, before it could come to
the land of peace. Not that it really
matters and if only good angels have
charge to take US into -their~arevone
may as well die in the widest storm that
ever ragged, as On the %stillest of summer
evenings, when the hushed woods and
the deep sky and the calm sunset are all
peace.
How is he ?" said the Warden to the
sister who was in attendance.
Going very fast, sir" she answered.
lie was took worse just before the storm
came on. He wants to see his son.. sir /:
that's John Lawrence, down by Lux.
ford's but | don't know who would 90
such an evening"
IN find somebody" said the Warden,
a very good natured man ; I'll find some
body, if it were ten times worse. I'll
send for your son, Master Lawrence"
ut must be soon, sir, then" the dying
man gasped out.
1t shall be at once" said the other.
He a be here in an hour I'll 90 and
send some one? 2" And he went out.
But it was not in East Grinsted alone
that the gathering storm struck terror
1t was dashing on the waters of the great
Atlantic, against the Cape Cornwall and
the Lands End the burghers of St. Ives
thought that the dcluge was come again (;
the men of Semen left the village, and
herded in a hill side hollow, 80 fearful
was the roar of the ocean. Queen Anne,
in her sheltered palace at Hampton, shud-
dered as she felt how little is an earthly
monarch in His sight who has the wind
and the storm to do His bidding. Sir
Cloudesley Shovel's helmsman shook his
head fearfully, as he gazed into the dark
southwest Bishop Kidder, at Wells,
gave orders that the palace should be
barred with double care: Winstanely,
gone to see his new Eddystone light
house, wished-so confident was he in its
strength-that there might that night be
the greatest storm ever known in Eng
land and God took him at his word
But as yet its fury was not near at the
full.
Towards seven o'clock John Lawrence
was sitting over his fire, and listening to
the wind as it roared and rioted along
through Luxford woods. Mary was at
work by his side ; and SO dismal even
then was the storm, that neither had
spoken a word for nearly an hour. On
a sudden, a strong hand shook the door,
n a voice was heard crying Let me
in, Lawrence /"
Why, who, in the name of wonder,
can that be 2" he cried, as he rose to .un.
staple the door. The wind rushed in
like a giant, extinguished the candle,
dashed every lighter article on the floor,
and famed the fire into a fierce glow !;
and it required the strength Of both men
to shut the door again.
Why, Brown, what is it r. said John
Lawrence.
What is It'll" cried the other. why,
your fathers dying and wants to sea you /;
that's what it is and nothing less should
have brought me out. | have got here
somehow ; but how we shall get back is
more than | know"
Il will 60" said John ; and l an the
more obliged to you, Brown. But back
again to night | must come for | can
not leave my masters property in this
lone place by ITSELF"
swell, get there" said his friend, "and
then talk about coming back