The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1869-11-24
SELECTED STORIES.
Z The Cantain's Retnrn.

A long, low catch Of land, shelving dowI
gradually to the waters edge, covered with
shining shell, and glittering, when the sur
shone on il, with white sand left there by
the receeding sea waves, as they crept softly
and insidiously upward, or sung in the sum
mer sun their motonous chant, tossing theil
white crisp waves joyously in the morning
suRshine, or dashing with reslstless fury
when hunted by the sweeping hurricane, up
up til they dashed themselves into snowy
foam on the rocky projection Of Eagle Orag,
which stood, when the water was at low
tide mile and half from shore. so
Upon the top of this point, known TO the
villages By the name of Eagle Crag stood
q cottage, q veritable little nest, in fairy
like proportions, around which a garden
bIoomed and blossomed like paradise in a
desert.
@Where shall build little cage to hold
you till come back n asked brown and
fesolute John Danfortli, the sailor, as he
looked on the bright face of the newly-made
Mrs. Danforth, with all loves fondnt IS
shining in his honest face and fearless eyes,
transforming the hard lines of his wealth
er-bronzed face into positive Tenderness.
"At the Eagle Crag," answered Robina
Danforth, usoally known amcag her &C
quaintances by the pet name CT .Robin-
SIN that bleak place said sohn, in his
astonishment. 'sWhy, birdie, you would
die of home sickness in week. assa
10 5ohn. risase.r conxed the ,sttie woman
who, practically and housewifefy to the las
degree, hid beneath 1t all reir of romance
none the less strong for being Hidden "Ir
my lonely life before you foundine, John, 8
silly little thing as amr-here the lustrous
eyes grew brighter-"befo yotl, with your
experience, and wisdom, and noble manli-
ness took me to be your foolisa- wife, and
actually stopped to fall in lore with me, a
mere school gin, FUSED to long sofor home
dear. Next to longing for father and
mother and sister to love and care for me,
this one longing for home was the strong
est; aud after i saw you, John"-here q
bright flush stained the clear brow of her
sunburnt cheekl"I used to think if the
longing should ever grow to oe reality,
and fhe little home whose picture grew
ever lime unused upon it, should ever be
mine-ours, I meann-(with another little
blush -"how happy, how very happy
should be. 1 saw the place whore it should
stand, this little home of ours, on high
point overlooking the ocean, whsre we could
watch the white ships sail along the GLOSSY
water OF ride fearlessly upon the bounding
waves. / saw the roses and jasmine twins
tenderiy their wealth Of bloom around the
little porch, and have heard a thousand
times fhe hum of the bees and the song Of
birds, that darted in an out among the vines
and blossoms 1el.s'
wines and blossoms u burst forth honesi
John, in his amazement 'littls woman arr
you crazy2 / should like to see the vine OIL
blossom that would flourish within half &
league Of Eagle Crag, the most arid, bareI
waste conceivable i Z. 49, II
40 John is this true y was all she said
but the smothefed sigh attested the deptf
other disappointment
John made no reply; but. stimulated b,
the sound of that half-smothered sigh, and
the glimpse of glistening tears twinklins
hastily from the curling, brown lashes, fel
to studying ways and means; and the re
suit was the pretty cottage, set on the top
most point Of Eagle crag, while vines and
flowers fourished and grew IN the artifcia
soil spread over the.small Enclosure which
defined the boundary ef his psrchase. sl
Perched up there, like morntain-bird'
nest, one could see from the porch, which
was on the north side, the village, with th.
fisherman's cottages the long, winding
steep road, whose tortuous descent of tive
miles must be traversed ere one could gair
the village; while from the west and south
one locked upon the sea from q height which
almost made the gazer giddy. ea
Roses and plants adornad the trel
80