The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-09-30
Bertha and tho Ocean.

W Hcll DcTtlM lOOkCu from the windows
of her home she could see the ocean shin
ing, dnrkcnng and moving rcstlcssly under
the sun, the clouds and the wind
Bertha little knew of the sorrow the
ocean had created. TO her it was Il Joyful
mystery. Who put the great water there 2
why did it whirl, dance, frown and smile
along The beach and never go to sleep like
little girls These were questions Bertha
asked herself and could not answer.
IL brought her fine gifts, too, of pcarly
shells and trailing sca-wccd, and traced
rare curves and delicate markings along the
sand.
Bcrthas mother used to sit by the win
dow sewing, and once in long while her
hands wonld 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 be and why he
never came home; but her mother only
answered, still looking ut the waves, that
father had gone away in far country, she
thought, and SO il was not long before Bcr-
tina noticed, or rather felt, that her mother
ncvct smiled at the sea.
1t was lonely shore where Bertha lived,
and she used to play about great deal,
talking swcctly to herself all the time.
Bertha was queer little girl. Often she
sat down in Il sheltered nook secure among
the rocks, and wished there was some one
to play with her. But there was no one.
OFTEN in the quiet afternoons she had long
dreams about her father, who went away
III great ship, and whose face she could
just remember
from her place among the rocks she
could see iar away along the sand, little
village where there were white houses and
port, and once in Il while Il 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. ''Pcrhups my father will come
that way. | must 90 and see il 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 II cloud, and the
waves instead of dancing j0yfully rs when
she started. now seemed to shout as they
rolled in upon the shore, eco back, rcturn,'
over ami over again. But when she looked
back, her home was not to be seem
She was lost, and in her minds eye she
saw her mother running about among the
rocks very white and frightened. calling,
'}criha, where arc you2' The village,
too, was now hidden by Il wall of rock, and
AS she sat there w0iiaetng' wYntgninSo
should do, she saw Il bearded man ap-
proaching her. AS soon as he reached her
he put his great brown hand gently upon
her shoulder, and said very kindly -
only little lass, what is the trolblc?"
81 am looscd," said Bertha.
'I4ost, you mcnn,' satd the stranger
smiling, "And how came you so Whit
is your namci
"Why don't you know2" she said. 81
be Bertha. ! was going TO find my papa,
because | and mamma be al alone and
papa has been away II dreadful long time,
such long time think he never will ln wv
the way back If | don't find him and show
him where we livc-0h look at that big
white bird out there But be 'fraid |
can't find my papa now. DO you know
where -
Bertha stopped talking suddenly. The
stranger was pressing her in his arms so
80 close she could not speak, and there were
tears in his eyes.
81 will take you home little one" he
said huskily.
elias you got n cold?" said Bertha;
"'causc you don't talk right and plain like
do"
When Bertha and the stranger entered
the cottage her mother gave a great cry.
That night the waves upon the beach
had lushcd Bartha to sleep before shc
could believe she hnd really found her fa-
thcr at last.