The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-01-04
FLOTSAM.

1t was a fearful storm. All night
they had heard, above the whistle of
the gale as it rushed through the heav-
ems, above the tossing of the trees and
the pelting of the rain, the great bel
low of the waves upon the beach--a
long unbroken roar that it made some
hearts stand still to hear.
1t made the hearts of Mrs. Brenton
and her husband stand very still; for,
years before, Mrs. Brenton was bring
ing her children from Europe, and it
was in such a storm as this, while the
steamship lay broadside TO the assault
ing surge among the breakers, and the
lifeline was being sent ashore, that one
great billow chasing after another rose
in gigantic shadow and fell like a cat
aract, rushing across the whole breadth
of the deck, and sweeping from it every
living soul that was not dashed 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 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 every body else sought shelter. It
seemed as if they were drawn to scenes
of wreck and disaster by some fatality,
not precisely hoping that after this
lapse of time the sea would give up its
dead, but with an obscure prescience OF
the necessity of their going, or of some
blessing to come by means of it.
What blessing they know not. They
were in need of no blessings, as the
world goes, for they were beloved by
each other and by troops of friends,
were in perfect health, were overflow
ing with wealth; they lacked nothing
but the bliss of children in the house,
yet, lacking that, it seemed to them
they lacked every thing. 1t was hard
to content 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 little heart-while it lasts, the
only disinterested and perfect affection
in the world. alt is my punishment
for the insane folly OF that European
trip" Mrs. Brenton used to sigh to her.
self, when dreary weather or hapless
memories made her arms feel emptier
than ever. alt is my punishment for
remaining at home and letting her go
abroad without me-" Mr.. Brenton used
to sigh. "Had gone, they would have
been dashed 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 easter
ly wind had been piling up the water
along the coast for many days. But
before midnight Mrs. Brenton was pac-
ing her room and peeriRg from the
window; and though sleeping an hour
or two at a time, they were both awake
the greater part of the night, and by
the dim dawning were ca
ger to make they way down to
the beach, some three miles distant,
Mrs. Brenton casting long glance at
the little empty bed beside her own as
she went down; for she always felt
when going down to the beach in
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.. Bren-
ton, bidding his wife put on her other
wrap, threw back the top of the phseton
to prevent its being blown over. And
when they reached the water-side, it
was all they could do to make their
way along at walk, for the sea had
overfowed the highway, and was over
the hubs of the wheels large portion
of the way, sucking back, with every
impulse of the tide, so strongly that it
seemed as if they must go with it. As
they rounded the bend, and came out
upon the beach road, the whole force
of the gale threw itself upon them.
"Wo shall have TO go back, May"
said Mr.. Brenton; you can newsstand
this"
"Oh, 1 have stood worse ones" she
answered. "Do let me go on"
CT don't know. 1t isn't question
of letting you. doubt if it's possible. "
"Oh, l must try-indeed must! /
couldn't go back" she cried. at
seems all the time as though I heard
some one calling me-" And on they
went.
1t was 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 roll
ing on, breaking in long cloud of
foam, and crashing down on the re-
treating line of breakers before. They
could not have told, as they gazed,
where sky ended and water began; and
only dimly, far ont in the bank of open.
ing and closing vapor, could they dis