Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1876-01-26
Che family Circle.
In Gods Care.
From the French.


From the French.
One night, when Mr.. Hansen, a rich
Swedish merchant, was visiting POmerania
with his son, he took lodgings at a neat
looking inn. where many years before he
had passed three days. 1t had been pleas
ant weather then, but now the wind ragged
fiercely, and the SEA dashed itself into fury.
The hardest men had abandoned the coast,
and, shivering with cold, had returned to
their homes. Edmund, the son Of the mer
chant Hansen, went out to look about him,
wrapped in Il great wooden cloak, but soon
came in and said to the white haired land
lady:
What fearful weather. Mother Mar
tens. No one in his senses would venture
Oh the sen just now"
That is true enough. young man; no
good would come Of it,, replied the old
woman.
You could very easily weather such
Storm said Edmund smiling. " Such Il
voyage rs you once made is not taken very
often. My father has told me about it,
You ale shielded from wind and wave"
Hush" said the old woman, we are
everywhere under the eye OF God. Those
whom He keeps are well kept
:. That is true, Mother Martens" obser-
we'd the merchant You have had proof
of the Divine power and goodness. The
storm is still raging; let us close the shut
| tiers. and hear the story from the beginning
to the end Edmund will be pleased t"
know all about it.
Il do not like to speak Of it myself
said the woman; " one should leave that
to others. However, you are right, sir;
this narration may be useful to the young
gentleman, and, as there is nothing more
to be done outside. will tell you how God
gave me a proof Of His watchful care
At these words the good old woman
closed the shutters, put the kettle on the
fire and when the water was hot. an the
tea served, she began;
You see sir. | am an old woman. |
have lived many long years in this strange
country; but the day left my own land is
as distinct in my memory if 1t We're
Yesterday The cabin of my parents WAS
situated on the sea-coast in the southern
part of Sweden have never possessed
riches. Our greatest treasure was 4 cow.
spotted black and white. We had raised
her, and she was very precious to Us, 1t
was nv business to lead her every day to
pasture In summer il was very pleasant,
but not so in winter. My father WAS a
fisherman, and when the snow covered the
country, and the sea was frozen over. We
suffered much. Once we might have died
of hunger if it had not been for the cow
The poor creature was the object of all oul
care.
" One time the winter was more severe
than usual the snow was piled up in heap,
all around our cottage, and l. scarcely six
teen years old. lonyed for the spring As :;
bird for the sun. At last, one cold, toggy
, misty day. the sun drew me to the door
and led our COW along the shore, where
here and tn re at the foot of the dunes
} (banks of s. y were some tufts of grass
The COW hounded with Joy, and 1 Wa;
truly happr. Suddenly she ran toward,
the sea, which was covered with thick ice
that cracked and broke * she moved over
it. She reached a large cake of ice. and
standing on it attempted to drink. ha,
gone with her. | kept close to her side
5 and saw in the distance great blocks of ic,
carried away by the tide. lmmediatev
: felt the ice under Us move. | called to the
COW and tried to drive her to the shore
but She had not drank enough. and woul'
F., not stir cried aloud; seized the COW
P and drew her with all my strengths; and,
< stood, separated from the shore. and be
/ gan to drift out toward the open sea.
y To right and left, before and behind
o the ice was carried away. looked aroun,
I | was going farther and farther from til,
t land. | was numb with fear. The ic,
collected in heaps rs it moved slowly o
e heavily along; and that on which we were
P tloated as a small boat. The COW >hool
e with cold. The swift tide pressed on u
b and drove us ahead. Darkness came on
The sun had set long ago. and now it va,
d black night. The waves broke on on
2 ice-cake. fell on my knees-l prayed
e The COW had lain down. | stretched my
d self close to her; this warmed me. Thcl
: | thought of my father my mother. wh
+ would look for me so anXiouslv. | wa
: filled with grief, and | slept, exhau>te,
: from fatigue.
i I'm the middle of the night | awok
e shivering and my teeth chattcrinT. q
1 what Il spectacle was before me- On III
3 sides where nv eye rested. nothing bu
e the water-nothing but the dreadful sea
/ The stories about water elves, or fairies
e that had heard told by sailors, came +
my mind. | seemed to see monsters an,
piantOms come from the bottom of tn
q abyss. fanclcd | SAW strange figure
l. floating like clouds toward me. Then
Y shut my eyes and prayed again. When
J opened them saw bright star ahead
t. looked again. 1t was light, and it surel
: moved. A boat with men in it WAS com
4 ing towards us 90, Nannettcn | cried
!, stand up 1t seemed to me she ought t
+ shout for joy: but the poor shivering crea
8 ture did not move. My fingers wer
5 n, NIB and stiff, but | tore off my apron
l. and waved it in the air: then-then-'
e Them interrupted Edmund, will
5 g owing eagerness, they reached you
c and took you home-you and Nannetle? q
Il do not know how it was,' said tn,
i old woman, whose eyes were filled will
n tears. II remember only voices, an,
i then finding myself on Il big ship, an,
g then being home again in the dear cot ge
d and father thanking the blessed God an,
e rubbing Nannettc; and then the happiest
G moment, when father said, %, my daugh
e ter, felt sure you would pray. and Go,
a would hear you" My young friend. witt
!. God to help me was rs safe on that opel
It sea as am now by this bright, warm
I fire."
# Ay. ay." said the merchant, quietly
y and the son, looking intcntly at the dane
ing blaze, said, " thank you, Madame
Martens. You have taught me u lessor
that | shall remember for many Il day.
IS Ear'y Days