The weekly Butte record., 1863-04-18

gold aud these Jewels viii be much more uSeiul
than to me. Retain them"
: The mother took the hand Of her preserver-
: Young and beautiful even in the humble vest
ments which the fishers wife had substituted
for her rich but drabbled clothing, her air was
! full of majesty.
Thank you :" she cried, thank you. Yon
are right. The service you have rendered can
not be repaid with gold, and God, l trust, will
pat it in my power to testify my gratitude in
manner worthy of you
! Your safety will be our recOmpeuse, and
We desire no other said the fisher. and the
honest face of his wife, lighted with placid joy,
bore evidence that she joined in the sentiment.
Tell me, NY friends the lady asked, after
pause, on vha, coast has this misfortune
thrown rs ?"
"0n that Of Denmark.
The mother wruug her hands in despair =
" Denmark - she cried. " then are my children
still lost, though they have survived the perils
of the ocean,
"Nhile Finn and his wife live said the
fisher in an effort TO console their unfortunate
guest, you have nothing to fear madame for
yourself or for your children"
But you know not, my friend that price
is upon my head aud on those of my children.
We were flying from the soil of Denmark, when
the storm forced US back upon it. | am"
Keep your secret-do not tell ii to me -
cried the fisherman, abruptly checking the reve-
lation she was about TO make. "All that l
have need to know is that YOU came here in
distress, and that you are in worse distress
while you remain. The storm will soon abate
the coast of the Low Countries is not far
distant-to-morrow perhaps this very evening,
l will conduct you in safety from this kingdom,
to place where the persecution of your enc
mics, whoever they are, shall not reach you.
Snatch some repose, meanwhile, aud confde in
my hospitality"
! The good and humble couple FASTENED to pre-
pare near the hearth, a pallet of straw, upon
which the beautiful unknown did not hesitate
an instant to place herself with her children.
With an arm around each, she was in a mo.
ment wrapped in Sleep The good man Finn
stood breathlessly attentive, while his guest
clasped her children convulsively a moment
and struggled almost from the bed to the floor.
Then " a change came o'er the spirit of her
dream"-an eloquent expression OF JOY passed
over her pale features-her lips moved in ear
nest thanksgiving. and her co1ntenance settled
into placid and smiling repose, betokening the
consciousness of safety. The fisher and his
wife conversed with quick aud intelligent
glances over their sleeping guest. They both
knew that she had again passed through her
peris in that vision they both felt happy for
her calm slumber which spoke so well the sense
Of safety.
In this calm rest she passed many hours
At length her slumber was disturbed by
coarse voices outside the hut-they were rough
ly interogating the fisher. The questions she
needed not TO hear distinctly to understand
the answer of Finn she did catch, for it was
spoken for her ears as we'll as for the soldiers
who had visited the cabin
"a hundred pieces of gold !" cried the fisher,
truly, captain, a sum like that would be worth
striving for. Be assured will take good care
of the runaways if they fall into my hands.
A hundred pieces of gold Not a soul shall
escape shipwreck, from this day forth for a
twelvemonth, that will not bring to your quar-
tiers. A hundred pieces of gold But, Cap
tain" added Finn, with the Characteristic COOL
ness of Danish peasant, L" But Captain, will
you not enter my humble cottage moment for
repose and refreshment ?"
The mother shuddered, lest the Invitation
given in bravado might be accepted in earnest,
and tben-she was a mother and the lives of
her children were at stake-for an instant she
trembed at the possibility that her host might
intend to betray her. The voice of the captain,
and he declined the profered civility and re-
newed his promises to the Fisherman, re-as-
sured her. as its tones died away in the distance.
In moment more, Finn entered the cabin
" Lose not q moment madam he said.
" The storm has abated-the waves are more
worthy of trust than man, and we must embark
on the instant !" All the strength of the mo-
ther returned at this new exigence, and hush
ing her children into silence by q sign, she
followed Finn as be took circuitous path
among the rocks, known only to himself; and
10 few moments, without the exchange of
word, they were embarked in the Fishermans
skiff-the fasts were cast of-the honest peas
ant worked at his oars with will, and, in ten
hours the dawning light showed him the coasts
Of the Low Countries Through the night be
had been guided By his familiar pilots, the
stars aud labor was so much his habitual Gus
tom in his hardy calling, he had so often en-
dured ii as a matter Of course and of habit,