The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-07-17
Z u lIIE l3T "a s,l-liIi I'D q
The Sign al Cum
~ V1a} 58ut y tinsag .
BY NJ. C. II.

Iluf h@3si g'iB i;fGI IE@a5 i9ti ,s4E ~
H. On the southeastern shore the
point that juts out tof,the5 westward ol
Goldsborough bay, upon the rugged
coast of the north, there used to stand
-andr nlall probability il stands there
yetg7a small cets ;WAiclssin the winter
OF 1880, and for ;alaay years presieus
TO that time, was, occupied 9hy AN old
weather beaten son Of atbesacean, am
pfopriately named James Storms who
retired from actual service somewhere
about boz ten, years pre- yions to the above
mentioned period, and who now car
ried Oh the various operations of fish
sling, bodybuilding, saiimaking, ete.--
The old mans wife was still among the
living; and she, together with her hus-
band and one daughter, a fair, girl of
nineteen, possessed the unbounded love
and, confidence of all who ever Glanced
to form an acquaintance with the in
mates of the humble cot. !airrsr5E
It was on the evening Of the 3Ist Of
December, 1856, the last day Of the
year, The old man had returned from
his boat-house, whittier he had been to
close the place more securely against
the driving storm; and shaking the
white fleece from his thick pea-jacket,
he hung it upon peg near the fire.
place, and then drew up to the blazing
fire. a3 s.r @
"Ah," exclaimed old Storms, with a
as he rubbed his half benumb-
ed hands, "this is hard night for the
end of the old year. The Lord have
mercy upon any who may chance to be
on our coastm ,;isse7 gi,g>ss ear saIi'ii' 4
"Amen !" fervently calculated his
wife, as she drew her chair nearer the
fire. "Come, Hannah" she continued,
turning to her daughter, sslet's have
'ur cheer for the dawning Of tile new
year. You know we hold our watch
tonight" d gsE d3iw saifso l8fgsD r
atsYes, mother," returned the girl,
'our supper.will ,belrcady in good time.
lis but nine O'CLOCK yeti mce vi sds
n"Well, 'hsaid tie old man. '..let's have
'nr supper now, for i feel as though i
leeded1its'pE Tss5 roy .;<4" ;sm;af5
SIN obediencei to her fathers wish,
hannah set about the work, and ere
ong the table was covered, and all
for the evening meal. But
ncehaI year did the family eat their.
nRper SO Hate las this; abut for six
"a ears past had they made d practice of
Watching the exit of the old and the
dyept Of the, new year, and on such
ccasions they, had postponed their
zeal further into the d hight. ~ At the
end Of tile table sat the old woman, at
er right hand sat her husband, while
t henleft sat her daughter. AT the
pposite end of the table was set
''A'O' eANA az c"ILJ CudtlIs Oh IHe Oack
f (which was tied a, narrow piece of
lack Grape.
For several moments after they had
AIKEN their seat at the well filled board, 4
OF q word was, spoken, but all eyes
ere turned mournfully upon that
mpty chair. AT length the old man
pened his trembling lips, and uttered,
a broken tone: ''Tis six years since
ur poor boy was lost. Six nights have
'e watched the old year ont, and his
hair has stood empty before rs. Ah!i
,obert, so long as yonr old father and
lother lives, no. one shall fill that seat
hat once was yours" zs.;4 a i
Tricky flowing tears checked the !,
Id mans utterance, and. drawing the
ack of his hand across his eyes, he
,aned forward upon the table and
'ept. The mother and the daughter
.cpt also; aud though their lips gave