The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-05-16
A BRAVE GIRL.

At which period this tale opens was in the
month Of March, 1o40.
Upon a plateau OF solid rocf that ever.
looked the sea, on the western coast OF Ire
land, there stood a very pretty cottage, the
envy Of half the country round. 1t COM
manded magnificent view Of the sea, and
was partially sheltered on the west side from
the fierce blasts Of the Atlantic ocean, by a
very high cham of mountains, that stretch.
ed far away until they became blended with
the horizon.
The wind, which had been blowing freshly
OF the land all the forenoon, suddenly chang
ed to the southwest during = evening,
driving the sea furiously along the beach,
and scattering the foam high and broad
across the lowland. The clouds, too, as
sumed more laden hue, and large drops Of
rain were occasionally borne in the blasts
Indeed, the evening bore every indication Of
eliminating in what mariners term "dirty
night"
1t still wanted an hour of midnight, and
the storm ragged wildly without. Inside the
dwelling, upon low couch, lay sick man,
who ever and anon turned re tlessly from
side to side, as if seeking relief in change Of
posture; whilst seated before small table
in the centre of the room, was q young girl
some fourteen years old, with long goldea
ringlets, which s.rayed over her shoulders.
She was engaged in reading.
"Open the window shutters and let me
again look out upon the night" said the in
valid.
"There is no starlight, father. All is dari
without"
"How long for the light Of day. Art
there no tidings from the pier p
"None. The steamer has not yet ar
rived"
at is a fearful night to be st sea on thii
coast"
cit is.n
"Can you see the 'Tuscar'Iight %
al cannot. Once within the passing houi
thought obs ~-vcd the white light"
''Rnt not the red ~
sENot the reL.n
"Then it must have been o deiusion, fol
the 'Tuscar' revolves, and the red and whit
lights alternate"
~ know, father"
SIT was a meteor, perhaps Dissemination
its expiring eEfulgence."
Perhaps So"
'sThe sea runs too high tonight to see th'
| light Trim the lamp and cast more coal
upon the fire; the air is chilly"
"Do you know, Ninna,' said the sufsses
after a moments pause, 'sthat this nigh
forcibly reminds me Of that terrible disas
ter which happened on this cos ten year
agoi"
*Do you allude to the loss Of the East In
diaman 7"
| "Yes. cannot tell why il is that mi
miad has been continually recurring to th,
subject all the afternoon. i wish that Er
nest was safe at home"
"He soon viii be, father"
''May heaven grant it,"
"What was the name OF that man o.
/ intimately connected with that disaster 70 IN
q1ired Niana, anxious to call her fathers at
tention from her brother.
"Sherrick. lie was wild, reckless fel
low, Of good education, who had rul
through liberal patrimony left him by hi
father, and then be became the associate o
diereputable characters. Indeed it had beei
whispered many times that he was impli
Gated in smuggling transactions aleng thi
coast"
81 have now almost forgot the particular
Of that vreck--I was so young at the time
but remember It was something very dread
| ful.''
"Dreadful is no name for it. The min
which conceived such hell-born project W.
only ft to inhabit the Internal regions. No
! even Satan himself, il he had taxed hi
wicked ingenuity to the utmost, could hsv
procured anything more diabolical. Hn
manity shudders at the enormity Of the oi
fence. 1t was a wild, stormy night, lik
the present, not q star was visible in th
heavens, when Sherrick lighted q falls
beAson on the headland, half mile from
this, and decoyed frst-class East India
man amongst the rocks. Every soul o.
board persisted, and the ship was litersil,
broken into fragments. The coast 70
miles was strewn with her timbers and por
tons Of her rich merchandise, from whicl
many dishonest wrecksr enriched him
self"
81 had no idea that human nature was .
vile.n
i aVilel God grant that you may neve
know one hundrcth part Of your fathers ez
4 perie~ce In that respsct.~
Both ceased talking, a. IL by mutual con
sent, and the invalid eonsd or To sieeE