Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-01-08
A NAMELESS ZERO.
A story Of Fact.

terrible song ottbe Storm Woro me gr0aning
crack Of . good ships timbers aud the Wild
oulonss Of her crew. When these bad fallen
into awful silence, smother sound arose, still
sAdder IN thai dresry wAste-the vailing Of
. vsrJ little child. Round point Of rock on
the path above the ehfs came three small
hatIorins fingers How they had escaped the
wreck or made their way 70 that place. they
could nos have told. Two we're mere ba-
biss. II was the elder Of these who made
that shrill eryi the youngest lay numbed
and huddsd up 10 the arms OF his sister,
herself Tar 800 weak for the burden. She
had that power Of endurance in . sudden
strait which God gives to some by no means
the strongest Of hrs creatures. Her childish
eyes snEionslT psersd out into the obscuriiy,
10 search Of . friendly face.
The sound Of feet olambering up the |
cliff, sending down showers Of pebbles aud |
sometimes slipping back, brought the chill
dren 10 stAnd. Was il . friend or foe?
Perhaps there we're strange fierce animals
aboard in ihis freezing place where all Was
strange, or those namless horrors OF night
which children dread.
The figure of . lad stepped 70 the path
The little girl advanced; "Oh, sir I" she
could not say . word more, bot broke down
in sobs. When the stranger drew near, the
boys terror, TOO, broke out afresh he
screamed aloud for his mother, and hid his
face in his sisters gown.
Mother will come soou,n said the lad.
The girl looked up eagerly.
"W al she, sir7 And flasher, too7"
"Hss, We shall hnd them; never fear
Why, my man, whss is ~ Look up, and
never cryW
He knsll down before the child, and ..
last mounted him on his own shoulders.
I'll osn carry baby, TOO" be said.
"0h, air, he il so heavy"
Lighter for me than you, my dear
Now, What shall We do neHI2'
The boy began to whine again. $50
cold, go cold want to go TO bed"
"And We are hungry too SIR" added the
Little girl, in . piIifIlly patient voice.
Nv ell then We will hod . bed at once.
And think have supper 10 my pocket"
Little piekapsok gave tokens Of desire
to have his supper forthwith.
"No; not ill you are in bed. We will
find nioe warm place. Come liItle woman,
hold my jacket. The, will help you"
The children labored on with the CHEEKY
guide, who vas bat poor weakly lad, and
81 last felt his strength failing under the
pressure Of the wind and the ohildren's
weight, and yet there was no sign Of human
help. Suddenly, the fsful moonlight show
cd . rent IN the rocky wall beside sheir path.
Within At the further end. he found . small
dry place, with pile Of withersd moss heap
cd against its sids.-The lad thanked God
foFit, and framed and smoothsd it into pal
Teton which be carefully laid the three little
ones.
"Will you not lie down too sir?n asked
the courteous, courageous little girl.
81 want my supper" walled the boy, and
the tinniest began to raise feeble cry.
The lad took from bis pocket some hard
biscuit soaked with ssA- uAter-nauseous
enough, but the children we're TOO hungry to
be nice. There was not much, and he divi
ded ~ ell among them.
evil you not have some Of it sir"
81 oh no, my dear had my supper
long ago"
SO the biscuit was ell eaten and the little
fellow stopped crying. ~,
"NOw you must say your prayers said
their protso,or.
The poor little lass began dunfuly tumb-
ling out Of her moss-bsd.
you can lie still, dear; will pray, and
you shall say Amen.
"Will God listen when we are lyiny
DOWN.
"Yss, lo-n,gh, He will"
Then knselinR beside the brave child, he
uttered a reverent petition; 1--WE thank Thee
dear Lord, for having saved us from great
danger, aud pray Thee TO make our lives
worthy OF being saved" This was the sim
pie burden Of their prayer, ending with the
omnipoIent "Our Father"
Then he sat down 70 wait until the chill
dren should fall asleep. De would then, ne
thought, slip away TO tad their parents and
the other survivors, should there be any, and
perhaps to get the rest and refresh ment he
80 sorsly needed Bot the unconscious
childish selfshness was not yet satisfied.
so cold, vailed the boy, and . piteOu'
little CRY. BABY cold, joined 10 chorus
IL was in vain 10 pile the moss arodnc
them.
Il want my blanket, was the clear de
mAnd. A. last, the kind lad, stripping OF
his jacket, spread It over them and tucked
10 in, and then they we're satisfied. SILVER
ing ~ with Ague, he orept down beside hi
trusty little friend, rs he somewhat felt th'
brave girl to be, trying TO get warm.
would not DO long, he thought before th'
children would fall asleep, and then h
would warm himself with exercise, aud hnC
help at last. Once, when all Was still, h'
vsntured to move; but this time IL Was hi
patient little friend who pleaded in . verl
wAksful voice; Please, sir, don't go away
j cannot get to sleep, and an 90 trighsen
ed So he stayed.
1t Was like q dream to him, that weird
dark hole ia the hillside, looking forth on {
patch OF cloud-swept sky. Ii seemed tina
he must suddenly wake and find himself IL
his own berth in the good ship, soon to sal
fairly into hArbor. Yet withAl there was
clear Consciousness Of the children's STEADY
breathing, Of the fact that cold and hunger
and weakness, like murderous reptiles, wer,
sucking away his very life Then came I
vision Of his passage in that ship.
A soene on deck; fragile woman with ,
gentle, holy face, and he, her son, support
ing her. Before them, . very glorious sun
set with that strangely, sweetlT, clear ant
mellow light banding the horison which
makes us fancy ths. heaven opens there
The two are talking with the vivid sound o
dreams.
1t grows cold, mother; yOu mus, 60 be
low
Stay . moment, love. shall soon b
where suns never set. feel 80 peaoefu
tonight know that all is well. Wher
you meet your father, tell him to wait pA
tisntly till God shall call him to join me il
that happy place. And you, my boy, viii
keep the same hope in your heart, will yo'
noR But pray that before you die, BE vii
grant you to have lived so that some poo
souls may bless you.
The vision changed "A shot.ed hammocl
dropped into the sea, and boy flung prom,
upon the deck, crying, Mother, mother, hov
can live oil alone
He did not shed one tear now. Their,
was rather smile on his face as be mur
INJURED, Thank God she went before Thu
night" he prayed again the prsyer Oh,
had snjoined upon him, and added this tina
his father might be oomforted.
One Of the children awoke, aud began :
cry, Mother I He reused himself again
though bling fros,s seemed soaking 4