Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-12-20
MisGella anenus.
T. u BIT DE.

sweeping gale Of wind bowling through the
hollow caverns among the rocks, and a great
ship going to pieces on the reef outside an
old man STOPPING over some object which the
sea had thrown pitilessly among the stones,
and holding his lantern forward as if to see
what thing it was he had stumbled over.
"a little brandy, my good fellow !" he
shouted, trying to throw his voice above the
loud roars Of the breakers. "It will do YOU
good. have it, There :"
lie lifted up the thing which he had found.
and set it on a rock which the sea in its fury
assaulted less mcrcilcssly than the others. By
the lanterns light it seemed to be young
man. not strikingy handsome, but with we'll.
formed, regular features, and with a mass of
brown hair which lay across his face like
drift of matted soaweed. He opened his eyes
a moment in the glare of the lantern. and
then dropped backward again in swoon.
No use, muttered the old man. "IIe's
most dead already The old woman will have
to tend TO him.
Like one who was used to such burdens he
lifted the inscnsible waif lightly in his arms
and climbed with him by the steep path to
the top Of the cliff above. 4 little cottage
built far back from the edge Of the rocks
sent one cheering ray Of light ceavng through
the clustering, inky night far out to sea ;
and towards this the old fisherman made his
way.
"llerc, mother he said, bursting open the
door with his foot, aud depositng his bundle
for it was little else now--upon couch
within ; "take care Of this one. He's the first
The vessels breaking up; there may be more
Hot brandy and plenty Of blan kets will do it,
| guess"
Mercy upon us ~ cried the old woman,
. what a good-ooking man Lay him down
there. That's it. Now leave him to me-
Silns Grant, and go back aud help the others.
I've resurrected more than one young chap
and old ones too, that was higher gone than
this"
| know it," said Silas. Where's
Flora ?"
| sent her off to bed. [ was afraid some
of EN- might be brought in here that even
couldn't resurrect, and there's no use in see.
ing such things"
"Quite right" he replied, buttoning up
his coat for another rally into the Storm
90 Don't let her see him either before morn.
ing"
Wrapped snugly in Dame Grants warm
blankets, and with hot water bottles at his
hands and feet, the rescued man gided, almost
without a waking pause, from the unconsc.
BUSINESS Of death to the insensibiity of sleep.
To him the bowling gale and beating storm
without were as the wind and rain of another
world. lie heard them not He knew moth.
ing of the drifting spars and timbers and pieces
of wreck that came floating to the shore
all night; some with clinging cargoes of
breathing, yet half.drowned, life some with
only freight Of ghastly death some with
not even that poor load, but knotted with
ends Of rope and pieces Of torn hankerchiefs
from which the owners had lost their hold,
and sunk for ever in the boiling, foaming sea-
He heard nothing of the crashing breakers on
the shore below saw nothing of the beacon
fires lighted along the cliffs for the guidance
of any boat that might be struggling from
the vessel towards the shore. 1t was not till
long afterwards that he knew the story of
that dreadful night and of his own rescue.
Then they told him of the dead mother whom
the sea had hurled pitiously ashore with her
lifeess infant clasped close to her cold bosom,
and her long hair sweeping its baby face
and Of that other silent story Of woman's
love, where one, when in the heaviest of the
surf and almost within reach of help, on
looking round in the glare of the beacons,
and seeing that her husband had lost his hold
upon the slender spar that had thus far borne
them both, let 60 her own grasp also, aud
followed him to death without a cry. Through
all these things he slept in peaceful uncon.
sciousness.
When he awoke 1t was to light and life
The first object that met his opening eyes wa:
one so unreal and beautiful that he doubted
whether it belonged to heaven or earth. AT
the window near his bed sat young and
slender figure, with faithful frank blue eyes
bending over some pretty work in worsted
Lovely as was the rosy beauty of her cheeks,
yet was it surpassed by the glory of her long
aud wondrous hair, which dropped downward
upon her shoulders in the morning sunlight
for the storm had broken with the day-in q
ripping fall Of glowing gold. lIe gazed al
her in silence for several moments before he
could collect his confused thoughts.
" How long have you been here?" he asked
at length.
She left her seat and came to his side softly
" For an hour almost. Are you better2'
Yes. | think so except my arm.
cant lift that 1t must be broken | think
How came | here ?"
/" Father brought you here last night. Dom
you remember ? You we're thrown on shor,
from the wreck
All, yes know. Were there man,
saved ?"
" Not many. Only two or three aliye
they say"
"Who are you %
Flora Grant. And you ?"
Nobody |"
" Haven't you name 2" she asked, open.
ing her blue eyes.
=" All My name Yes. Arthur Rol.
lesion. Now | think | will 20 to sleep
Please sit where | can see you when | wake'
She returned to her window again quietly,
and resumed her work, while the patient fas.
tened his eyes upon her with a gaze so rapt
that one would think her the asst thing he
was to look upon this side the grave