Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-10-30

times before. You see, they had come
from Spain TO visit the Lord Mayor"
"And what has Spain to do with little
Ocean Pearl?" asked Martin.
Spain? Did you not say it was my
country, and that some time you would
take me thereP i am tired waiting Oh,
want to 60 back in one of those ships
know shall fiud my mother. feel ii
way down here"
Child. child ~ Martins voice trembled
but his face was hid behind the meshes oi
the net. "Why should you care for your
motherP Cannot you be content with old
Martin, the fishermans Has he not been
a father and mother both, to you, these
ten years ?"
II shall never leave you, you know, but
Oh. Marty. l do want my mother, be-
sides !"
She unwound the net as she said this,
and clung round his neck. The tears
rolled over Martins cheeks as he took her
in his arms.
''It is ten years ago tonight, ten years,
and just the same appealing look in your
baby eyes. And |, heart-broken. des-
pairing man, whose srfferings had led
him to shun the world as mockery, who
courted every danger, prayed for death,
felt my heart bound and melt within me.
at sight oil you. / prayed to live, then.
Yes, thank God. the last ten years have
made up for all the trials that came be-
fore"
You have been very good to poor
Meme. Was that all the word could say
that night-Nene ?n
Yes, and when you had said it, you
shut yonr baby eyes smpingly, and fell
fast asleep. as content with my rough
nursing, SIS with a mothers lullaby"
"Now, tell it all over. won't you?"
Martin c-uld never resist the child's
/ pretty coaXing.
1T was dreadful Storm be began,
with a suhdder; "there has not been such
2 one since. The great waves rose up
mountain high, and lesbcd sgaius tire
rocks. white with fury. The night vas
black az death, except when the lightning
would shoot athwart the heavens. BY the
urid glare l saw the ship driven among
the breakers. launched my liteboat. !
knew there was hardly chance, bat l
courted death, then. | could hear the
ships guns booming; but when the next
light came. she had sunk. a.! on board
wen. down With her.
Only me. You saved ne, you know,
said Meme, with eyes Of vivid splend"r.
Yes, all sunk but you. NJ boatrode
ike a Iockt-shel! on the waters, pitching
violently down into The trough oil the sea,
or tossing ike crazy thiHg on the top
most crest of the angry waves. At last
it swamped, and bad II good mind 10
give up further effort, and perish, but
something beyond nv own will urged M
on. a spar dashed up agains, me, and
turned upon my back and clutched H."
20. Marty to think that was me"
Meme drew long breath.
"Yes, when ! finally made land, found
that what held in my grasp was little
child, bound firmly 10 spar. The moon
was shining out full and clear by this
time, tor the tempest had suddenly ceas-
ed. feared YOU were dead. you were 50
cold and white"
Then what did you do?"
Meme always asked the same questions
at the same places; for Martin had whiled
away many an hour with the olt-repeated
recital. But she always listened to 1t
with the same thrilling, up1lgging inter
est. Martin went on with the story;
Then | carried you back to the hut
and tried every means to bring you to lite
and when had begun TO despair, you
woke to consciousness. Poor baby how
vou sob5ed and moaned, and held out
YOUR little hands | took you 10 my heart,
and lelt the Lord had known what was
best Tor me. For prayed for death, and
he sent me You"
Don; stop, papa Martin. always
ike what comes next, best"
And SO do l." said the old man. 81
shall never outive the exquisite sensation
that thrilled my whole being when you
nestled up to me, and stealing your tiny
hands round my neck, lisped out your
name, Meme. Then you cuddled down on
my shoulder, and went to sleep clinging
TO me. Vowed then to protect you and
study your interests; even, if need be, 10
carry YOU in search of your kindred.
have hesitated long, but now will nc
longer delay it. We will 90 10 Spain
"And that's the end :" Sho thought
minute. "Do you really suppose that is
my nameP"
1T may be; your clothes are marked
with ? coronet N. The coronet stamp;
you nobly born"
And now We are going to Spain ?"
Yes" answered Martin, with a sigh
He knew 1t would be sometime. DE
oor1d mot nxnect always to keep his treas.