Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-01-03
From Hsrper's Bazaar.
FIOTSAM.

as it rushed through the heavens, above
the tossing of the trees and the peIting
of the rain, the below of the waves
upon the beach-a long unbroken roar
that it 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 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 bil1ow chasing after another rose
in gigantic shadow and fell like O
cataraot. 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 a 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 everybody 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.
That blessing they knew 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, we're overlooking
with wealth; they lacked nothing but
the bliss of children in the house, yet,
lacking that, it seemed to them they
lacked everything. Il 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 little heart-while it
lasts, the only utterly disinterested and
perfect affection in the world. cit is
my punishment for the insane folly of
that European trip" Mrs. Brenton used
to sigh to herself, when dreary weather
5r hapless memories made her arms
feel emptier than ever. 1T is my pun
ishment for remaining at home and let
ting her go abroad without me- Mr..
Brenton used TO sigh. Had gone,
they would have been lashed to me that
night, and the wave never ran that
could tear them away"
It 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 pac-
ing her room and peeriug from the
window; and though sleeping an hour
or two at time, they were both awake
the greater part of the night, and by
the dim dawning were eager to make
their way down to the beach, some
three miles distant, Mrs. Brenton cast.
ing long glance at the little empty
bed beside her own as she went down !;
for she always felt when going 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.. Brenton,
bidding his wife put on her other wrap,
threw back the top of the phaeton to
prevent it's 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 over
flowed the highway, and was over the
hubs of the wheels large portion Of
the way, sucking back, with every i'm
pulse 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.
eve shall have to go back, May"
said Mr.. BrenGon; "you can never stand
this"
"Oh, I have stood worse Ones" she
answered. DO let me go on
"I don't know. It isn't question
of letting you. I doubt if it is pos
sible."
"Oh. must try-indeed I must I
couldn't go back" she cried. cit
seems all the time as though I heard
some one calling me-" And On they went.
Ii 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 retreat
ing line of breakers before. They could
not have told, as they gazed, where the
sky ended and water began; and only
dimly, far out in the bank of opening
and closing vapor, could they discern
the phantom-like outline of a bark with
broken masts drifting helplessly ina
shapeless hulk, from which every now
md then came the awful thud of min
ute- gun.
10 pieces on the inner breaker, said
Tr Brenton, "6oon, ct this rate of