Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-09-25

When Bertha looked from the windows
of her home she could see the ocean shin
ing, darkening and moving restlessly under
the sun, the clouds and the wind.
Bertha little knew of the sorrow the
ocean had created. To her il was joyful
mystery. Who put the great water there
Why did it whirl, dance, frown and smile
along the beach and never 60 TO sleep like
little girls2 These were questions Bertha
asked herself and could not answer
1t brought her fine gifts, too, of pearly
shells and trailing sea-weed, and traced
rare curves and delicate markings along the
sand.
Bertha's mother used to sit by the win
dow sewing, and once in a long while her
hands wond rest idly in her lap and her
eyes looked far away over the rolling
waves.
Then Bertha would leave her play and
nestle close by her mothers side and ask
her many questions, and chief among them
where her father could he and why he
never came home; but her mother only
answered, still looking at the waves, that
father had gone away in far country, she
thought, and so il was not long before Ber-
tina noticed, or rather felt, that her mother
nevet smiled at the sea.
Ii was lonely shore where Bertha lived,
and she used TO play about a great deal,
talking sweetly TO herself all the time.
Bertha was queer little girl. Often she
sat down in sheltered nook, secure among
the rocks, and wished there was some one
10 play with her. But there was no one
Often in the quiet afternoons she had long
dreams about her father, who went away
in great ship, and whose face she could
just remember.
From her place among the rocks she
could see far away along the sand, little
village where there were white houses and
port, and once in a while a sail would
grow slowly out from the silent horizon
and glide gently towards that village ha-
ven.
"All the ships go in there, +" said Bertha,
one day. perhaps my father will come
that way. must go and see if he don't
right away this minute"
Without thinking how frightened her
mother would be or how long it would take
her to reach the village, she ran swiftly
away over the hot and shining sand.
For long time she walked, and her feet
began to ache and her heart to sink within
her, for the village seemed further away
than ever before.
The sun went behind cloud, and the
waves instead of dancing joyfully as when
she started. now seemed 10 shout as they
rolled in upon the shore, $50 back, return, J.
over and over again. But when she looked
back, her home was not to be seen.
She was lost, and in her minds eye she
saw her mother running about among the
rocks very white and frightened. calling,
Bertha, where are youl" The village,
DeTJna sat uoN1f uesDonuenC anu weeping.
AS she sat there wondering what she
should do, she saw a bearded man ap-
preaching her. AS soon as he reached her
he put his great brown hand gently upon
her shoulder, and said, very kindly
''My little lass, what is the trouble"
81 am loosed," said Bertha.
'Iost, you mean," satd the stranger
smiling, "And how came you SO What
is your namea
''Why don't you know?" she said. 81
be Bertha. | was going TO find my papa,
because | and mamma be all alone and
papa has been away dreadful long time,
such long time think he never will know
the way back if | don't find him and show
him where we live-oh look at that big
white bird out there But he 'fraid
can't find my papa now. Do you know
where -
Bertha stopped talking suddenly. The
stranger was pressing her in his arms so
so close she could not speak, and there were
tears in his eyes.
81 will take you home little one, he
said huskily.
''Has you got coldG" said Bertha;
'cause you don't talk right and plain like
dc" "
When Bertha and the stranger entered
the cottage her mother gave a great cry.
That night the waves upon the beach
had hushed Bartha to sleep before she
could believe she had really found her fa
ther at last.