The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-01-18
FLOTSAM.

as it rushed through the heavens, above
| the tossing of the trees and the pelting
of the rain, the below of the waves up
On the beach-a long, unbroken roar
that made some hearts stand still to
| hear.
It made the hearts of Mrs. Brenton
and her husband stand very still for,
years before, Mrs. Brenton was bringing
| her children from Europe, and it WAS in
such a storm as this, while the steam
ship lay broadside to the assaulting
surge among the breakers, and the life
line was being sent ashore, that one
great billow chasing after another rose
in gigantic shadow and fell like a cata-
ract, rushing across the whole breadth OF
the deck, and sweeping from it every
living soul that was not lashed fast ; and
though Mrs. Brenton herself was thrown
high and dry upon the shore, with the
life so nearly beaten out Of her that it
took hours to restore it, the children
never came to shore at all. Now every
storm had for these parents horrible
fascination. They had fitted out a life
saving station from their own means !;
| they seldom slept when the wind blew
bitterly; they usually sought the shore
as soon as the storm grew so dreadful
that everybody else sought shelter. 1t
seemed as if they were drawn to scenes
of wreck and disaster by some fatality !;
moi precisely hoping that after this lapse
of time the sea would give up its dead,
but having an obscure prescience of the
necessity of their going, Or of some bless
ing to come by means of it.
That blessing they knew not. They
were in need Of no blessings, as the
world goes, for they were beloved 10y
each other and by troops of friends,
were in perfect health, were overfowing
with wealth; they lacked nothing but
the bliss OF children in the house, yet,
| lacking that, it seemed to them they
| lacked everything. 1t was hard to con-
| tent themselves with children in heaven.
They would have given all their wealth
for one little laughing body toddling
about the halls and walking into every
ones favor, for the pure love of one lit
| tie heart-whiie it lasts, the only utterly
disinterested and perfect affection in the
world. SIT is my punishment for the
insane folly OF that European trip" Mrs.
Brenton used to sigh to herself, when
dreary weather or hapless memories
made her arms feel emptier than ever.
SIT is my punishment for remaining at
home and letting her so abroad without
me-" MIR. Brenton used to sigh. "1iad
I gone, they would have been lashed to
me that night, and the wave never ran
that could tear them away"
1t was early afternoon when the storm
began to blow about the house, and it
had not become extraordinarily fierce
till toward midnight, though an easterly
wind had been piling up the water along
the coast for many days. But before
midnight Mrs. Brenton was pacing her
room and peering from the window; and
though sleeping an hour or two Mt a
time, they were both awake the greater
part of the night, and by the dim dawn
ing were eager to make their way down
to the beach, some three miles distant
Mrs. Brenton casting a glance at the lit
tie empty bed beside her own as she
went down; for she always felt when 60
ing TO the beach in a storm as though
she were doing some expiatory duty to
The little ones whose grave had been
made in the great cradle of the deep.
The rain had ceased, but the wind still
blew hurricane; and Mr.. Brenton, bid
ding his wife put on her other wrap,
threw back the top of the phaton to pre-
vent its being blown over. And when
they reached the water-side, it was all
they could do to make their way along
at a walk, for the sea had overfiowed the
highway, and was over the hubs of the
wheels large portion OF the way, suck
ing back with every impulse Of the tide
SO strongly, that it seemed as if they
must 90 with it. AS they rounded the
bend and came out upon the beach road,
the whole force of the gale threw itself
upon them.
"We shall have to go back, May"
said Mr.. BronSon you can never stand
this"
"Ch, I have stood worse ones," she
answered. ''Do let me go on"
81 don't know. 1t isn't question of
letting you. I doubt if it is possible.
''Oh, must try-irdeed I must [
couldn't go back" she cried. cit seems
all the time as though L heard some one
calling ne" And on they went.
1t was e tremendous scene. Far as the
eye reached, the gray expanse churned
an angry yeast. Rank after rank the
great black bodies Of water, rearing
above the grayness, came rolling on,
breaking in long cloud of foam, and
crashing down on the retreating line CT
breakers before. They could not have
told, rs they gazed, where the sky end
ea and the water began; and only dimly,
far out in the bauk OF opening and clos
ing vapor, could they discern the phan-
tom like outline OF bark with broken
masts drifting helplessly ir-a shGpeless
hulk, from which every now and then
came the awful thud OF minute gun.
ssSho viii drift into the cove and go to
pieces on the inusr breaker soon, at this
ri, ns iho tiIN ,, sni,i Mr. RrsntOr