The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-12-25

ouiP VI tGe buuy,
can went well with US until We were
within three days suil Of New York, end
then terrilils Nturm camu on. II was
in the winter, aid ivr eight long days
We tossed at the mercy OF tho tempest.
Il was an awful time, ma'am. Charlie
didn't laugh then; and although he
tried to speak cheerful words, could
see he was almost wild with anxiety. III
never forget that time, when I sat day
and night oa the cabin il!or, with Min.
mic ciingiDg TO my dress aud poor little
Pepita in M Ntus, listening to the
waves crashing against tue ship as il
every moment l1U be our last. The
sailors wonld come down now and then
for drop Of lot coffee and to warm
their frozen fingers, Tor everything on
deck was covere witt! ice. They hadn't
the heart, poor fellows, TO speak TO the
children, and l cav more than ono tear
on their rough cheeks when they looked
at them, and Pepita would smile and
stretch out her little hands in her un-
conscious baby way.
"But Goi saved us after all. Iu tue
evening Of the eighth day tho wind
changed, and we drifted into calmer
waters. II it hadn't been for the east
wind blowing, we might inst rs we'll
have drifted the other way, for the
chip WIS almost helpless. II was about
two in the morning wben Chal lie rushed
into the cabin and almost carried me in
his arms to the door. There I saw,
cleaning through the fog, two great
shining lights. They were like angels
eyes looking from heaven to me. I've
passed those Highland lights many q
time since, ma'am. I've seen them in
soft summer evenings and clear spring
mornings, but never see them without
my whole heart going out in thankseiv.
ing and praise. No one to whom they
have not shono as they did to me TINT
night can know what they really mean,
standing there on tho headland and
pointing to heaven.
"Well, we saw the lights from other
vessels all around us, and at daybreak
tug was alongside taking our iorlorn,
nearly wrecked ship up the harbor, and
before night I laid Pepita in my moth
er's arms.
"After that, Charlie wouldn't hear to
my going to sea again. lie said he could
bear anything il the children wero not
suffering too; 50, for the cake OF my
little ones, I consented 10 stay behind.
Charlie bought n little cottage on tho
Jersey coast, where l could overlook
the sea, and settled down quietly to
take care OF tic children while lie wen.
his voyages.
"He kept on going 10 Brazil aud
back for long time. Twice I left the
children with mother-ior she had com.
to live with us in the cottage-and went
with him, for it hurt me to pass all my
life away from Charles side. So every.
thing went well with us. We owned our
cottage and bit Ct garden, where
mother and Minnie used to pass long
simmer days wedding and watering and
tending tho beds OF poppies and mari
Colds and asters-uld fashioned flowers
such as mother loved. Pepitl WA her
fathers own girl. She loved tho sea,
and would leave Minnie 10 take care Of
the garden, and go and sit Tor hours on
tho beach watching tho waves tumble in
among tho stones and beat against the
foot OF the cliG. When Charlie came
home she WIS always the tires to SEQ
him for down the road, and III never
forget how her pretty face used to look
rs she woul como danciTg up tho gar
dca path pulling him with bnth her
hands, and he laughing and calling her
all manner OF tender names.
"Those were sunny days, ma'am,
and I'm sure there never was n happier
family than the one gathered round our
little table while Charlie was at home.
"We had saved good bit OF money,
loo, for Charlie wasn't like como sail.
ora, who throw everything about whcn
they are Oh shore. Every penny we
could spare he laid by for the little
girls; for they were always little girls to
him, and always will be. -
"But our day OF anxiety was 10 como.
An opportunity was offered Charlie to
go on q long voyage 10 the East Indies.
The chance, as we looked at it, was too
good to be thrown away; 30 lie sold the
PepiGa, which WIS getting to bo au old
ship, and went of as half owner OF Gn-
other bark, the Arago. 1t was hard to
lot him go for SO long n time. Sonth
America seemed like home, but the
East Indies was IN unknown world. He
was no full OF hope thAt hc tried 10 go
off III his usual Jolly way, kissing Mil-
ME and telling her she would be little
woman when he came back-she was
fourteen then-aud promising PGpisa no
end OF curious things from tho foreign
lands; but there was great heaVlness
in nv heart, and when he came and put
his arm around mo and maid Keep up
your courage. Maggie; I'll soon be
back, I couldn't look at him. I hid my
face in my hands and sobbed like a
baby.
"Aiter lie was gone We settled back
into the old ways; tho children went to
school, and mother and I kept tho house
tidy. But was uneasy; ! didn't dare
to soy anything to trouble tho girls,
but / mover lay down OF night without
dreaming Of shipwreck, and when the
timo came round when we could expect
news from Charlie, it seemed rs il my
heart would burst with anxiety. The
news never camo. Day after day We
wait d, and little by little sad silence
settled down on our cottage. When
word would come Of the arrival Of ships
which sailed long after Charles did, We
would look in each others faces and
never speak word. but each knew what
sorrow was in the others heart. Only
little Pepita never gave up. MY father
will come back; my father will come
back she used to soy, until I couldn't