The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-08-06
NORAH.

We had been out all night watching the
herring-6shers, but as soon as the work was
over, and the faint glimmering of the dawn
appeared in the east, we turned our boats
bow toward the shore, and pulled swiftly
homeward. IARTe lay the group of cur.
raghs, still upon the sceen OF their labor
loaded with phosphorescent fish and drip
ping nets, and manned with crews OF
shivering weary men. The sea, which
during the night had been throbbing con
Nulsively, Was calm and bright as a polished
mirror, while the gaunt gray cliffs we're
family shadowed forth by the lustrous
light of the moon.
Wearied with my nights labor lay list
lessly in the stern OF the boat, listening
dreamify to the measured splash splash, OF
the oars and drinking in the beauty of the
scene around me; the placid sea; the black
outline of the hills and cliffs, the silently
sleeping village of Storport Presently,
However,, mysears detected another sound,
which came family across the waters, and
mingled softly with the monotonous splash
ing of the oars and the weary washing Of
the sea.
"Is it a mermaid singing?p l asked,
sleepily.' "The village maids are all
dreaming of their lovers at this hour, but
y
it-must be mermaid for hark the sound
is issuing from the shore yonder, and surely
no human being ever possessed voice half
so beautiful
To my question no one vouchsafed a re-
ply, so / lay still hnlf-sleepily and listen,
to the plaintive wailing OF the voice, which
every moment grew stronger. 1t came
across the water like the low sweet sound of
an Koian harp touched by the summer
breeze; and as the boat glided swiftly on,
bringing it ever nearer, the whole scene
around seemed suddenly to brighten as If
from the touch of magical hand. Above
me sailed the moony scattering pale vi'ra-
Gus light around her, and touching with
her cool, white hand the mellow thatched
cabins, lying so secluded on the hillside
the long stretch Of shimmering sand, the
fringe of foam upon the shiDgle. the peaks
of the hills which stood silhouetted against
the pale gray sky.
A white owl passing across the boat, and
almost brushing my cheek with its wing
aroused me at length from my torpor. The
sound Of the voice had ceased Above my
head flock of sea-gulls Screamed, and, as
they sailed away, | heard the whistle of the
curlew; little puffins were floating thick a
bees around us, wild rock-doves flew swiftly
from the caverRs, and beyond again the
eorinorants blackened the weed-covered
rocks. The splash Of our oars had for &
moment created commotion; presently
all calmed down again, and again | heard
the plaintive wailing Of the mermaid''
Voice.
= The voice suddenly ceased, and as i
did so, | saw that the singer was a. young
girl who, with her hands clasped behin1
her, and her face turned to the moonlit sky
walked slowly along the shore Suddenly
she paused, and while. the sea kissed he
bare feet, and the moon laid tremulou
h1hds upon her head, began 10 Sing again
AS the last words fell from her uemulou
lips, and the echoes of the sweet voice fadeC
far away across the sea, the boat gliding
gently on ran her bow into the sand, and
leaping out, come suddenly face 10 fac
with the loveliest vision ever beheld,
"Is tia mermaid?' asked myself again
for surely | thought no human being coul'
be half SO lovely.
| saw pale Madonna-like face set in
wreath Of golden hair, on which, the moon
light frightened and darkened like tn
shadows on a windswept sea. Large lus
trous eyes which gazed earnestly seaward
then flledWith strange wandering far Of
look as they turned to my face. A youn
girl clad IN peasants dress, with her bar
feet washed reyerently by the signing sea
hes half parted lips kissed by the breez
which travelled slowly shoreward he
cheeks and neck were pale as alabaster s
were the little hands which were sti
claspedr edrhalf-nervously behind her; and z
she stood, with her hands wandering res
lesslS first to my face, then u the dim lin
OF the horizon, the moon, Frightening wit
sudden splendor, wrapt her from head
toot in mantle of shimmering snow.