The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-05-10

"There was shiDwreck in the Pacific
ocean, Davy. years aud years ago, and one
man only was saved-saved, Davy, by saw
ages, who made him a slave, the worst of
slaves! But one day this sailor saved the
life of the chiefs daughter, who was in the
coils of a huge snake, and the chief re-
leased him. More than that, lie gave him
choice spices and woods, and sent him
aboard the first passing ship. SO tue sailor
landed in great city, sold his presents,
and put the gold in safe keeping. Then he
Travelled till he reached the seaport town
where he was born, and coming there at
sunset, heard the story of his life from the
lips of a man cutting his tombstone
Not word spoke Davy. Standing erect
he seized an immense sledge hammer, and
with powerful blows from strong upified
arms, dashed The marble into fragments.
Then, painting with exertjon, he held out
his brawny hand to the stranger sIrau-
ger no longer.
"rve done no better work in my life than
I've done i'm the last five minutes, Hiram.
SO home man. an make Pearls heart g lad. -
''She don't need it, Hiram--she 0on't
need it. You asked me about the stone.
The neighboIs drove her TO ordering il,
twitting her that now she was rich. she
grudged the stone to her husbands memo
ry. So she told me to- cut it, but says =
Don't put dead upon it, Davy. Put lost at
sea, for Hiram's lost, but he'll be found
and come back To me- She never looked
at it. Hiram. Dever. And there's not an
hour, nor hasn't been in ten years, that
she's not been looking for YOU to come
back. Go to her, man, and the Lord S
blessing be upon both of you"
So grasping the hard, brown hand, Hi
ram Goldby took the path to the little
| white cottage where he had been born for
ty- five years before. The sun had set. and
darkness was gathering, but a little CLEAN
of light streamed FROM the window of bis
cottage He drew near softly, and stand
ing on the seat of the porch looked over
! the half curtain into the neat but poor sit
ting room.
| 1t was not the grand house, PeaIrs her
rage in New York, but Pearl was there.
slender woman, with pale, sweet face,
| and black hair smoothly banded aud gath
cred into rich braids at the back nT her
| shapely head. Her dress was plain dark
| one, with white Iuffles, cuffs aud apron.
She had been sewing, but her work was
put aside, and presently she came to the
open window aud drew aside the curtain.
She did not see the tall figure drawn close
| ly against I'll wall in the narrow porch,
/ but her dark eyes looked mOurntuliy toward
the sea, glimnering in the half light.
My darling ~ she whispered, ''are you
dead, and has your spirit come to take
mine where we will par. no more ,?
Oniy the wash of waves below answered
her. Signing softly. she said lis my
! darling coming? | feel him 50 near 10 me
| could almost grasp HIM"
She stretched out her arms over the low
| window sIll and low voice answered her
1 "Pearl Pearl 90
The arms that had so long grasped only
/ empty air were filled then, as Hiram stood
! under the low window.
"Do not move, love-" she whispered
pressing her soft lips 10 TO his Il always
wake when ynu move"
"But now" he said, 'you are already
awake. See, Pearl, your trust was HEAVIER
given. |; Is myself, your fond true hus