The daily gazette., 1879-11-05
Jeanie's SOrrOsO.
by II. 7. BUCKBEE.

In little fishing village on the coast
ofScotland there lived, long while age,
q poor fisher and bis only daughter.
Though this story Ii true, her name II
not recorded, and 20 We will call her
Jean Burns. Jean Burns worked very
hard, and Jared very poorly yet she was
happy girl, rich in her fathers love.
And In her turn, she was veIy light Of
his eyes. Often, on summer evenings,
as he sat among the rocks with other
fisher folk, and watched her . little
higher up, spreading his nets to dry, or
sitting at the cottage door mending them,
or knitting stockings, he would say
proudly that che dIdna ken where ne
suld be without Jeanie-bless her !"
And when the others praised her pretty
face and comely dress, he would answer,
with the common prudence of his race,
that she didna ken about her being Draw
or bonny, but he kenned she was a. guide
as goldl"
Ye. Jeanie had her troubles. When
her father went out in his trim boat, and
winds rose, or darkness fell before his
return, her heat often grew sore and
heavy. There we're great dangerous
rocks q little way out to sea, and that
little, Insignificant village, could not az
ford lighthouse, or even a regular bea-
con fire. In great storms, one was Lit
upon the beach, but on ordinary nights,
the belated fishermen had to fare Is best
they could /; and once and again, a. the
fresh sun rose on tho receding morning
tide, there were bitter lamentations "for
those who would never come back to the
town."
One bright autumn day, Archie kissed
his daughter, and gave her bis usual rart'
Ing orders about nets and tackle. Jean
followed him out of the cottage, and
watched him 60 down among the rocks
to the shore, and enter his boat. She
even watched him and his comrace as
they rowed of, until they became little
undistinguishabl specks in the bright
horizon. It was. a habit with her, rer
haps springing from some half-forgotten
fear-that some day he would so &c
away, and never come back again.
Jean had plenty of occupation to be.
guile the lonely hours. When she obey
ed her fathers commands about his fish
ing-gear, she got to her knitting, ane
wrought so diligently, that twilight stole
on almost unawares. Then she brough
the great old Bible to the window, ant
read her chapter In the fading light
Jean was a good scholar in her humble
way and when she was alone, she low
ed to read Gods book aloud, as wheI
her father sat beside and listened.
She put food on the table, ready 70
his return, and then crept up the ladde
which led to her own little dormitory
She wished she could await his coming
but she dared not, for all her strengt
and energy would be need before dawI
to dispose of his watery gains, while h
] lay down and slept.
Her slumberS were as sweet an
dreamles as health and labor can give
but alas they were unbroken long pas
the usual time, and when at last sh
opened her eyes, the sun was high !
heaven and the returning fishers wei
talking below her window and yet he
father was not home.
And he did not come home all day
and late in the evening, while she wa
still hoping those sad hopes which al
more piercing than the worst certainty
Q neighbor brought the tidings that th
wreck of fathers boat was seen anon
the rocks, and thar she and the forlor
wife of his comrade would mover agai
behold their missing ones It'll the 81
gave W its dead,
"She bore it bravely, did puir Jennie
said the old fisher, as he left the Orphs
girl. "She didna speak at first, but 1u
greentit quietly; and when L said 1t WI
\ all through the black darkness anon
them rocks, and that be thought he W;
} returning TO his ain home when he row
\ ed down to his death, she just lifted h'
Q head, and asked "if little light oil tt
q shore might have saved him?" and Isal
Q "No doubt 1t would"
And the fishers that went out tn,
i night saw, on their return, a candle 81
= in Jeans window. They did not mai
. II much at first; they thought sorro
= made her restless and she did not wis
to sleep. But night after night-wee
after week-the little candle was alwa,,
J. there. The women and they scarce
!, saw Jean by day-her curtain was {
Il ways drawn; they thought she slept
the sunlight, and set up to work al
. watch her candle in the darkness.
And 30 1t was.
alt caupa bring back my ain dead
= she said meekly, when they spoke +
v,rently of her noble kindness, "but
may save anither. Where's the use
sorrow, unless it helps us to keep it az
from others? Experience is ane of Co
gifts, and il we let 1t be in napkin, Hs
call us to account. Ye need ma thank 4
friends