The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-11-16

tae nAl1e v heNNI Cluuu nuuB uNeE ~,
casting o gloom where everything had
been bright and happy before. We saw
the face that had been the brightest OF
all, growing each day pale and thinner.
II was long time before I fairly real.
iAed that our boy had gone from us for
ever. l have often found myself gag
ing OF on the ocean, with o nervous
feeling OF my heart, thinking half
aloud, Perhaps she'll heaSe i'd sight
to-day, but tho remembrance OF those
two years Of vain waiting and hope
would flash upon my inind-then my
heart would sink, with dull sinking
pain. After Maria-his. wife, sir
died, the clouds seemed 10 fall thicker
about us. Ishould have lost all heart,
had II not been thpt the child was left
us. Each day some new trouble over.
took US, and last year / was obliged 10
mortgage our little home here"
The fire was dying down-only q few
Goals smouldered among the ashes.
The wind sang dolefully, and shook
the old house till doors, sashes, and
blinds beat in chorus q loud tattoo. I
was much affected by the old mans
story. His wan face, so deeply fur.
rowed by age and care, and sunken
eyes now moist with tears, were thrown
out in relief by the light OF the oil.
lamps on the mautel, making q sad
and almost weird picture. He had
fallen into one Of his thoughtful moods
again, his eyes fixed upon the floor be-
fore him. His wife sat rocking back.
ward and forward, in o low char, ner.
yously picking at the thread in the hem
OF her apron, while the mysterious fe.
male and the child slumbered peace
fully. Suddenly o gust, stronger than
any which had preceded II, shook the
house from foundation 10 roof, so that
even the dishes in the pantry added TO
the general rattle aud clatter OF doors,
windows, and blinds. All at once, the
door throughwhich l entered the apart
ment dashed open, and the freezing
wind, bearing with 1t o quantity Of
drifting snow, rushed madly in. The
sudden change Of temperature awoke
the small female In the corner with o
start. Pushing the child from her lap,
she sprang up and rushed toward the
door. For a moment abe stared fxedly
out into the darkness, with look OF
terror upon her face, and then uttering
terrific screech, she sank to the floor
Fastening forward, I was confronted
by tall man, with . full shaggy beard,
dressed in half civilian, half sailor
costume. He stepped by me, and
crossing, with extended arms, toward
the old couple. exclaimed-"Father !
mother don't you know me?' AT the
sound OF his voice they rushed forward
with cry Of joy, and fell upon his
breast. He had returned, as from the
grave, the son they had modrned as
dead, TO be the stay OF their declining
years. But tho wife he had 80 tenderly
and truly loved Where was she ?
Alas beneath the frozen sod Of the
nearby churchyard she lay, wrapped
in that deep sleep that knows no
waking. Sadly, but fondly, he clasped
his motherless child to his breast, aud
seated there before the ample hearth,
he told his story. The Starlight had
founded in the Arctic Sen, but he
and two others succeeded in reaching
M iceaoe, upon which for three en-.
tire days they driited over trackless
sea, until q Danish bark hove in sight;
and rescued them.=his comrades in q
dying state, and Eb6 almost. On his
arrival at Copenhagen, he found an
English vessel al Sit TO sail for Liver.
pool, and succes led in obtaining pas.
sage on her. His great desire was to
reach home rs soon as possible but as
he was without means he had no alter.
native but to work his passage. Reach.
ing m English seaport, he atonce went
in quest Of n vessel about sailing for
some American port. The Virginia
was m American ship. She would sail
in q few days for New York, aud wanted
o few good searnen TO complete her
crew, the captain, informed him where
he made his application. It was not
until the Virginia had been two days
out that he discovered she was a
SLAYER, bound for the coast Of Africa.
After tedious, stormy voyage the ship
put in OF Qnitta, q little town on the
Atlantic coast Of Africa. He succeeded
in effecting his escape TO the, interior,
where he remained several months
among the natives. he recounted the
strange things he had seen, and the
danger he had encountered in the Jun.
gle. AT the expiration Of two years he
again found himself upon the coast, at
Old Calabar, where he shipped upon a
Brazilian vessel, and in due course OF
time arrived at Rio de Janeiro. Years
Of toll, seeking for gold in the mountain
districts, found him poorer man than
when he left his home to seek his for
tunes-at home again, o weary wan.
derer, with little pleasure In the sound
Of the Christmas bells a.ringing.
- x
The bald space upon my head has
considerably increased in circumfer.
ence since the Christmas eve I heard
that story told in the little old house,
and j am now very old bachelor. II
is just two oyearsa ago last New Year since
/ retired from active life, leaving my
partner, William Hemphill, TO manage
and conduct the business. The wound
occasioned by his wife's death has
never entirely healed over, 10 he o
widower and / o bachelor live together
in quiet neighborhood in the suburbs
Of the town. One would scarcely rec
ogniEe in the pretty and handy little
maiden who presides over our estab.
lishment the pale child for whom /
made my FIRST purchase OF toys that
Christmas eve. Together, once or twice
q year, William and I run down to
Cliffville to look after the little home
stead, which is now his property, and
viRit tho litk1a nlnt In tha ninturesnue