Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-08-07

the income from my business enabled us
to live in comfort. We were English peo.
pie with no near friends in this country
indeed, none in the old land; so we were
all in all TO each other. When our boy
went on in years there came change over
him he got a thirst for the sea. He used
to wander about the wharves and the ship
ping, and he pined after the waves and a
freedom of life upon them. How could
he know what hard life it was? We used
10 talk it over every night. his mother and
|. sorrowfully enough. AMI ut last we
said; If he goes, let him go with his par
ents' blessing. Many another good lad has
gone secretly away. Let not our son re-
proach himself with that when the waves
will be swelling around him, and he's far
from the shore where fond hearts are
mourning over his flight Then, madam,
we blessed him and let him go. He was
all we had AMI he was dearer than our
selves so we shut our selfish grief out OF
his sight and let him go.
We heard from him sometimes, and
then he wrote TO US that, discouraged and
weary of life before the mast, he was
coming home to us,-never to leave us
again. lie had shipped aboard the Hester.
and when she sailed he would write SO
that we could expect him. 1t gave new
life to both our hearts, the Joy of looking
for him back again. That had been II
hal d year with us. Business was dull, and
my poor wife had sprained her ankle. She
lay abed and laughed at me trying to do
the work in my clumsy man. fashion, for
| was too poor to get little maid TO do it
in my wife's place. One evening when we
heard the cannon firing that told us that
the mail steamer had come in, | kissed
her not to be lonesome while ] was gone,
for | knew the letter must have come
And you will not be alarmed said |; |
will lock the shop door, and no one will
think of breaking into this poor place
while am gone You'll be safe up here
And she said she had no fear, that she
she could tell by the sound Of them if
had the IL tier.
1T w;.s wild evening. The wind was
rising and threateninga II stormy night. |
went down stairs; locked the door after
me, and went on towards the post office
nearly two miles away. It's II bad night
for Il fire, friend, said some one passing
NE. Then heard the fire bells ringing,
but WAS too busy thinking of my lad and
what he would Say in his letter. TO hear
what they were telling. l had to pass IL
newspaper building on my way. l saw a
crowd collected around the bulletin board.
1t was election time, and thought they
were reading the returns. What news?'
asked one of another who was moving
away. Another horror in the British
Channel said the man. A ship ran
down by a steamer and all on board gone
to the bottom Madam, my heart sank
like u stone in my breast. forced my way
up 10 the board and knew that we wert
childless. The ship WAS the Hester. II
was true, and there was no hope"
His voice sank to broken whisper. anC
II gasping sigh told the agony Of the
awakened memory.
Sweet Mary in Heaven! cried Bridget
starting forward, her pleasant face glow
ing with wondering sort of ecstacy; bu
II gesture from Mrs. Hewitt who hurried
ly rose from her chair and advancing
toward the old clock maker. arrested her
When came to myself, he continued
: the crowd hustled me away. for | stoot
there parayz d. l ran on bllndly-madl,
through the streets away from our home
/ How could | 90 home and tell to her wha
would break her tender heart? l heart
) the fire bells changing behind me. Me-
: and engines rushed by me. The whole
} sky was glaring red rs if it was gloatins
over my misery. | ran on until my limb
failed me and fell down. The cold earll
touching my forehead revived me, ant
: then thought of her alone in that it'll,
room without light, waiting and fearing
, on account of my absence. How could
J tell her? turned back and begun til,
: weary walk to my desolate home. Th,
fire was still raging; and as l came OF
. another deadly fear struck my heart.
( Madam, this horror was the worst
r Where my house stood was smoking
ruin, and far and near the flames wer,
} swept that had wrecked so many homes
l Seven years after that il all came back tt
ME; for my senses left then, and it was
) only seven years after that, in Gods gooC
! time, they came back to me. | found my
, self IN inmateof charitable institute in
Pennsylvania. They told that was fount
in that neighborhood demented, with TIT
, signs of l. ng travel and deslitulon upor
me; and they took me in. When they
! were satisfied with my sanity they let me-
D., 20. | went back to the city where | hac
once been so happy. All that | saw WA.
new to me. Stately warehouses; stooc
r where once had been humble dwellings
and no one could tell me the fate of mine
; There had been lives lost, they told me
, but none could tell of the precious life
that was not near to sive. cannot live
in the great city. follow my calling il
7 the peaceful villages and roadside dwell
t ings. The hustle of busy life is II torture
t to me; it brings me back my loss, my
! heavy, heavy loss
His head dropped on his breast, hi,
: w,r Is came slow and brokenly.
The buggy stopped at the gate. Its oc
? cupants rlishted, and came up the walk
The children ran to meet them.
20, papa! 0, grandmmama' He is or
, he piazza. Such II dear old clock maker
He mended all the clocks, and is going t.
stav all night. And. U, ism t il drefful bad
His little boy was drowned, and his wife
was burned upn'
Whittier than the widows cap that tolC
its own sad story grew the face beneath
ii.
William. Williamr cried his moth
, er, catching her sons arm, % what dc
: the children meang
, Dear mother, he answered. slipping
5 his arm around her, God knows. There
is some one there, and Marion is speaking
) to him. Mother! Mother! can you be
I braveP
Terribly agitated he supported his
, mother to the house.
My heavy, heavy loss murmured the
old cock maker. Memory brought his
woe afresh to his heart; tears coursed
down his thin cheeks and bowed his droop'
inr form. lie felt two soft hands clasp his
t own, and he looked up to see Mrs. Hewitt
t standing before him, trembling with agita'
+ lion.
oh, tell me your name! In Heaven s
t mercy, tell me your name. Is it Francis
Hewitt?
r Dear. kind lady, why are you so agi
, tated? That is my name.
She sank on her knees beside him and
winding her arms about him, covered his
face with tears and kisses.
% God be thanked' she exclaimed
q Father, dear father. am your sons wife
4 Al, n--