The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-01-05
Miscellaneous.
THE CAPTAINS RETURN.

A long, low, catch of land, shelving
down gradually TO The waters edge,
covered with shining shells, and glitter
ing, when the sun shone on it, with
white sand left there by the receding
sea- waves, as they crept softly and in
sldiously upward, or sung in the sum-
mer sun their monotonous chant, toss
ing their white, crisp waves joyously in
the morning sunshine, or dashing with
resistless fury, when hunted by the
sweeping hurricane, up, up, till tn, y
lashed themselves into snowy foam On
the rocky protection of Eapla riroo.
which stood, when the water was at
low tide, a mile and half from shore.
Upon the top of this point, known to
the villagers by the name of Eagle Crag,
stood cottage, veritable little nest,
in fairy-like proportions, around which
a garden bloOmed and blossomed like a
paradise in a desert.
"Where shall build little cage to
hold you till l come back ?" asked
brown and resOlute John Danforth, the
sailor, as he looked on the bright face
of the newly made Mrs. Danforth, with
all a lovers fondness shining in his
honest face and fearless eyes, transform.
ing the hard lines Of his weather-bronz.
ed face into positive tenderness.
"At the Eagle Crag," answered Rob
ina Dan forth, usually known among
her acquaintances by the pet name o
"Robin."
"In that bleak place!' said John, in
his establishment. "Why, birdie, you
would die OF homesickness in a week.
"Oh John! please" coaxed the little
woman, who practical and houSewifely
to the last degree, hid beneath it all @
vein of romance, none the less strong
for being hidden "In m lonely life
before you found me, John, a silly little
thing as am'-here the lustrous eyes
grew brighter-'before you, with your
experience, and wisdom, and noble
manlness, took me to be your foolish
little wife, and actually stopped to fall
in love with me, mere school girl, !
used TO long so for home, dear. Next
to the longing for father and mother
and sister TO love and care for me,
this one longing for home was the
strongest and after l saw you, john
here a bright flush stained the clear
brow Of her sunburnt cheek-"I used
to think if the longing should ever
grow TO be a reality, and the little home
whose picture grew brighter every
time | mused upon it, should ever he
mine-ours, L mean"--(with arothar
little blush)-"how happy, how very
happy should be. saw the place where
it should stand, this little home of ours
on a high point overlooking the ocean,
where we could watch the white ships
sail along the CLASSY water or ride fear,
lessly upon the bounding waves. saw
the roses and jasmine twine tenderly
their wealth of bloom around the little
porch, and / have heard thousand
times the hum of bees and songs of
birds, that darted In and out among
the vines and blossoms"
"Vines and blossoms!' burst forth
honest John, in his amazement; "little
woman, are you crazy? l should like
to see tht vine or blossom that would
flourish within half leagud of Eagle
Crag, the most arid, barren waste con.
ceivable."
"Oh John is this true ?" was all she
said; but the smothering sigh attested
the depth of her disappointment.
John made no reply; but stimulated
by the sound OF that half smoth ering
sigh, and theglimpse of glistening tear,
twinkling hastily from the curling,
brown lashes, fell to studying ways and
means and-the result was the pretty
cottage, set on the topmost point Of
Eagle Crag, while vines and aowers
hourished and grew in the artificial soil
spread over the small inclosure which
defined the boundary of his purchase
Perched up there, like a mountain
birds nest, one could see, from the
porch, which was on the north side,
the village, with the tishermen's cot
tage the long, winding, steep road