The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-05-05
THE wRECKER'S DAUGHTER.
A TALE.
VIRGINIA DLMITRY RUTH.

The rocking crafts mist hidden, underlined,
Like phantoms waved their ghOstly snowy
sheet.
The glistening sand in mounds Of silver lay
Along the stretch OF shore, where each sea
change
The crimson dulse- shells borne on waves
Wrought in its course joys marvellous ana
strange
Unto youthful group, who painting STOOD,
Beating with shouts of glee the fresh wind
Their laugh and song, their merry mirthful
Contrasting with the lowering storm and
wreck.
Their hair wind-tossed, each tiny chubby
hand,
Holding the bright red pebbles that the sun
OFT turned to ruby drops upon the strand,
AS ruddy as their lives the warm beams
shone upon.
Leaning against the bectling Jagged rocks,
Whose granite front kept grimly watch and
ward,
Their furrowed sides worn by recurrent
shocks
OF waves, which at their base dread gifts
bestowed.
A young girl musing, gazcd with steady look,
And rs the murmur Of the booming sea
Thrilled through her heart, her face sad
ness took,
A sadness, which the anxious know and dree
For stealthgy movements when the night hours
Gods mandate by mans lawless will pro-
s'Thou shalt not kill" called forth her an
guished prayer.
"Hetty the fair the rough-hewn fisher folk,
Thus named her for her placid, quiet ways,
And toiI-worn men in kindly greeting spoke,
While children, trusting, lisped their loving
She born OF the rude element which dwelt
Around her. though she shared their daily toll,
Her nature touched by purer impulse felt
The want and cares which sprung from life
turmoil.
Though quantity shaped In phrases not their
Stirred to kind deeds as her brave counsel
On weary hearts, and stilled their plaintlVe
moan.
No book-lore to her sight its page unrolled,
Nature alone with all her varied power
Impress her mind, which, like lily's fold,
Opened to holy dreams her treasured dover.
The sounding sea familiar to her eyes,
Whether meath CLASSY calm or tempest
tossed,
The lark whose free song pierced the azure
skies,
The osprey's cry on white-capped pillows lost,
The dog rose, in the wood beyond the beach,
A short walk; well she knew the sheltered
Nature her stores spread there within her
reach:
This realm her own-she queen in girish
grace.
Sometimes the trophies when the angry sea,
With one wild burst its CHASTITY burdens
threw
Along the dreary coast then blanching, she
Knew well the beautiful and the fatal lure
Which sealed their doom. And when the
Rose, bearing hope unto the sinking crew.
She watched the haggard glance OF him, her
sire,
And from her soul petitions meek and true,
Through the lone vigils OF the bleak, cold
Winged their swift passage to that throne
above
Where God, clothed in omnipotence and right,
Sends, down His peace-crowned embassy OF
The night with sombre shadows lowered low
The lightnings vivid flash iIlumed the dark,
Which broadened seward; each sharp fitful
glow,
Far In the of1ing, showed a storm tossed bark,
Hurled through the waves; no feeling, save
dispair,
Confronts the crew, each frail protection riven,
Some blasphemed heaven-SOme bowed low
in prayer,
AS through the mad waste they were death
ward driven.
A CLEAN, that slowly waved it's signal bright,
Broke on their bloOd-shot eyes, to them q
OF strength and hope, which wrapped in
beams of light
Those struggling souls quilted in the seas
The traitor torch moved still its balefuI spell !;
The treacherous rock stood silent, still and
gaunt,
AS If with sentient life it knew full well,
spectral host would soon it's holiowS haunt.
Father" the trembling hand was lightly lain
Upon the signal torch; the mans strong arm
Grew rigid, as the fearful voice in pain,
Broke on his ear, 80 spare yourself this
harm;
Let gentle mercy prompt you to deed
One that the White-robed seraph band OF
heaven
May envy when the recording angels read,
For this great act all other sins forgiven
Within your soul does not your memory keep
The tender unwOrn teachings Of your youth,
When He the sacred Fisher from the deep,
With golden net, drew souls to learn his
truth?
The clamorous waves dash DER yon slender
Death waits them there-F Father the stroke
forbear,
Which helps their doom. Is that gun? Oh
That distant echo sounds their wild despair. y
She stood, her clasped hands held in eager
Moved by her fears she kneels and for the
Prays, while the Jagged streak illumes her
Which glows with an emotion brave and
Vain was her prayer, as the sweet voice grew
still,
The weather-beaten face towards her turned,
While coined from hard and cruel will
The coarse words fell that all her pleadi ngs
Spurned
"Girl, get you to the home task and to the
wheel,
Nor trust your winnings thus to change
my plan
Keep fires alight, mend nets, set you the
creel,
And leave to man the labors of a man.
l swear by yonder sea to have my way;
Go you within, | meet the storms wild
roar
Up from your knees, into the house, say:
Dare finger and you cross it never mOrel'
She from her knees uprose, one moment
treslbling stood,
Then on her father dropped her tender eyes,
And turned, draped in her gracious maiden.
hood
As Eve when hanished from fair Paradise