Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-02-25
NO.. 4s
#iseelIa
KATIE's TRUST: A STORY OF THE SEA.
By WINNIE VERNON.

Katie was seaman's child. She had
two brothers, one older and the other
younger than herself Clyde was tall
fisherman OF about twenty years, while
little "Do" still wore his baby aprons
They lived in cottage by the sea side,
in the State Of Maine. The mother was
sad, pale woman, whose life seemed to
have been drowned out of her, by great
wave OF sorrow which swept over the lit
tie home two years ago. That sorrow
wave was this:
One wild night in November, when the
sea doomed loud along the coasts, and
knocked with wet, spray fingers on all the
window pans, the fisher-folk heard crash,
and saw the dim outline of a vessel,
wrecked upon Rocky Point" far out
from the shore. In moment there was
running to and fro along the surf-beaten
bank, and lights flashing in every cottage.
A boat was hastily unclaimed, and half
dozen brave men started out toward the
wreck, to do what could be done to save
the drowning ones of the ship. Among
these bold fishermen was Adam Ramsey,
the father of Katie and her brothers.
They went out with the shout Courage,
AHy coJo AAAH"t5 AIOkA LuC SuOEc.
Warm fires were kindled in every cot
tage, awaiting the drenched forms to be
gsthered out Of the sea.
The storm grew fierce. Hour after the
black shadows along the shore huddled
closer together, listening to every sound.
Every now and then the silence was start
led by a half stiied moan, or the wild
prayer "God have mercy - from some sad
heart whom the sea had robbed before.
As the darkness deepened, they saw, by
the red lightning's flash, that the ship was
gone, sunk to its watery grave; and now
the boat which had gone out was eagerly
expected.
Hours passed! 1t did not come! All!
the waiting-waiting- only the thun-
ders roar and the waters rush, to answer
back to their hearts cry! All now it was
their own who did not come
The night drew on! Another boat went
out to look for the first, but all In vain,
and morning came up weeping out of the
sea, for even the sky dropped down tears
of pity upon the hopeless crowd.
All well-it was terrible God only
knows the horrors of that night!
In the grey dawn there were drifted
along the shore the cold, cold forms which
no fires could ever again warm into life
Bodies from the wreck-bodies from the
boat ! All the cries of the widowed hearts
over their dear, drenched dead The
pitiful wall ofthe children! The still, white
faces Of the bIoken-hearted, who could
make no sob or moan But God knew
and ptied them all, and will make it all
right at last
There were those whose bodies did not
come. Adam Ramsey was among the
missing
Clyde bore his fainting mother home,
and, with his strong, hopeful words. tiled
to ease her sorrow, though his own heart
was sunk in grief. Through all the long
nights that followed-when the sea called
wildly around the house-the poor wom-
an lay in her little room, shuddering 1t
every sound. A raging fever came on.
stealing her reason, as she tossed wildly
about
"Oh Clyde. Clyde !" she would moan,
"open the door My poor husband in ly-
ing upon the steps. waiting to be taken in
An angel of God found him out there in the
sea and carried him up to us Quick
Quick" :" and Clyde could scarcely hold
her in bed, while Katie opened the door
to satisfy her. Seeing her mistake. she
would sink back fainting
SO. night and day, Clyde and Katie had
to learn the lesson of crushing their own
sorrow. Little Dot was but three wears
old then, and did not understand it ALL
He would stand with wondering ewes,
looking down the path by which her father
used to come home, sometimes saying.
"Why papa not tom, Tatie?" till they
could do nothing but weep.
The neighbors, all sharing in the loss
of Adam Ramsey. took care that his FAM
lily should not suffer, while CLYDE was
kept at his mothers side, from work.
After several months she was able to
get about the house again, but was not
like the same woman, In those days Katie
learned great deal. Her mother would
say-"My little girl must be brave wo-
man, and learn this we'll, to do when am
gone away" So, she learned how to sew
for dear little Dot, to make her own clothes,
to take care of the house, and to prepare
their simple meals: yes, and Katie was
only twelve years old then, too!
Sometimes, in the long summer after
Moons, when her mother would wish to
sleep, the little girl would start out with
Dot for rambie over the cliffs.
The little fellow would be wild with de-
light, and, catching bright flower. ora
pick tinted shell. look up into his sisters
face with shout Of joy but seeing how
sober the girl was, he would clasp his
club by arms around her neck, saying,
Laugh, Tatie! Laugh But, Katie
could not laugh, and there. away from all
other eyes but those the child, she would
weep her heart ont for the lost ship and,
the father who never returned.
'Why 'ou cwy, Tate ?" little Dot would
say and poor Katie, listening to the sad
sea .sobbing on the rocks below, would an
swer. "Dottie's papa is drowned in the
deep, deep sea-. and the children would
weep together as she told of the graves
the summer waves were whispering about,
down there on the beach.
Nearly two years had passed since that
dreadful wreck. A long line of green
mounds in the churchyard-some with no
names upon the white head-boards-
mossed over. while white faces, in many
darkened home, stood as tomb. stones
over the graves deep in the heart
One day, Clyde. returned home to find
his mother very sick She had ia lien into
one of those fainting spells--so common
TO her since that nioht-and Katie could