Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-01-07

the early flowers were blooming, she died.
GAS said, she was very dear TO us, and
the loss was most too much for my wife.
Somehow she fancied our darling had been
lost at sea, and 10 she used to come here to
the beach and watch the water, begging IL
to bring the little one back, when all the
while 1t was sleeping in the graveyard over
the hill. Often and often have found her
here, when came back from work and
though on all things else she was rational, she
persisted In saying that the sea had taken
our little one, and that the sea would bring
her back
"A year passed, during which she grew no
better but at the end of the year. Just as
the month of May opered, great storm
swept along the coast. We were often on
the beach, for the storm lasted week. and
was the hardest had ever seen; and com
| ing at time when no danger was anticipa.
ted, the loss of life and property was un-
usually heavy.
"'She will come TO me soon-she will come
to me soon.' This she kept repeating over
and over again, as though there was a de-
gree of certainty in her mind that nothing
could gainsay. But the dead were all that
the storm gave up TO RoyalstoD Beach, and
still, even when the sun came out again, and
the wind died away, and yonder sea was
smooth and still, my wife would seek this
place and watch the waves.
$50 week went by, and our little girl had
been dead just year, when one day, as
stood at the hilltop yonder, saw dark OBJ.
ject come floating in toward this place. |
fastened here, and saw that it was boat.
My wife was at the beach before me, how
ever, and said, as came up John, it is
She know il, John. God has given her
back to me-
"And as the boat grounded little distance
from the shore, she waded out to 1t. | fol-
lowed her, just in time TO hear her utter a
low, joyful cry, and receive her as she fell
back, fainting. | carried her to the beach,
where she soon recovered, and looking
piteously around, asked Where is she ?
al waded out, and looked in the boat. Never
shall forget the sight then looked on. In
the bottom of the boat lay two men and one
woman, dead. The woman's breast was
bare, and nesting her face close to it, child
was lying, smiling and growing. She had
sunny hair, and bright, clear eyes; and
STOPPING, took her in my arms and carried
her to my wife.
"Her Joy, when she saw the babe, and
clesped it to her heart, was unbounded; and
no talking or reasoning of mine could con-
babe grew up, child to fill the loss we had
met, who loved us, and whom we loved as If
she was our own, and the babe was Annie.
We buried the bodies we found in the boat,
and that is all can tell you of our darling
for, save necklace and locket, containing
the pictures of a gentleman aud lady, and
having the letters G. and A. L. engraved
thereon, there was no clew to her people.
And now, Mr.. Clyde, you know the story OF
our darling, and can understand that we
have no right to influence her choice"
The old gentlemen-for despite the rough
clothes he wore, and the rough form he pos
sessed, he was genteman-gazed out
across the sea, just lighted by the golden
glory of a full harvest moon. There were
tears in his eyes, and his voice quivered
slightly, as he said "lf she loves you, Mr.
Clyde, and you marry her, be kind to her
for she has never known what an unkind
word or act isl
"Mr. Boyd it will be my pleasure and
duty to make Annie happy. | truly love
her, and hope that my love will be to her o
blessing But does she know of her history p
"Yes; we told her three years ago. You
see, after Annie came, my wife's mind grew
strong again, and she recognized the fact
that the baby she possessed was not the ont
she had lost. Yet she loved her just tht
same, and we both think that she was sent
to us by our Father above"
As he finished, the farmer arose from his
seat, and together we returned to the house
Annie met US at the door, sunny, happy
smile on her face.
felt that God had been good indeed to be
stow so much kindness and beauty on me
We were married early in September, fo
Il l,,N.. Il,I kna1 II nf
flee at that time; aud am sure that there
were no dry eyes in the little crowd tina
gathered to see Annie 20 out to her new life
Three years passed, and during that tint
we spent the summers at the old homestead
at Royalston Beach, always welcomed anc
expected as though we were truly the right
full children of the house; and | think tina
the farmer and his wife so considered us.
Annie grew more lovely all the while, ant
| was very proud of her. She was so love
able that she won all hearts, and bette
woman could scarce be found. The fourth
summer came, and as | now had more tim,
at my disposal than had been blessed will
heretofore determined to visit several o
the fashionable summer resorts, to ALLOW
Annie to see the life spent there. We wen
first to Saratoga aud then to quiet vale,
among the green Vermont hills. Their,
were but few people here; but at our frs
meeting at the dinner table was startled
Opposite Annie sat young lady, her exac
counterpart. Had known that they wer
sisters, l could not have been more forcibl
struck by the resemblance. | watched them
to see how the resemblance would affec
them, or whether it would affect them a
ALL For while their attention was not al
tracted to each other, but Simultaneous
they turned and their glances met. Fac
started. The young lady opposite Ami
turned quickly to an elderly lady seated b
her, and called her attention to Aunie, VIII
sat looking as if some memory was perple,
, ing her. The elderly lady turned, and SET
ing Annie, gave a short, sobbing cry. The
she leaned over toward her and said hui
riedly: Your name-please tell me ?"
"Aunie Clyde. This is my husband"
"But before you were married. Wha
was your name then 7"
81 do not know"
"How2"
al do not know. never saw my parents
think they were lost at sea-"
, "Tell me of it. Tell me all you kno'
! concerning them and yourself"
. The lady spoke excitedly, and though tn
, eyes of all the people at the table were fxe
on her, did not seem to heed them.
Annie told her story in as few words a
possible, and when she ended the lady said
"Will you let me see that chain an
locket now 2"
!, Annie arose from the table and so did tn
lady and her daughter. |, too, followe
, them, and soon we all stood in our room
1 Annie produced the chain and locket. Tn
lady seized them and tremblingly looked q
them. Then she opened the locket and
cry of Joy escaped her.
"Thank God thank God the lost
found. Darling am your mother ?"
As she spoke and sprang toward Auni'
her face seemed to renew its youth, and los
u all of the traces of pain and sorrow that ha
aged it; and then ! saw that it was tn
Q lady whose picture was in the locket foun
;, with Annie Annie seemed TO recogni7
this, too, and her arms encircled the form {
her whom she knew was indeed her mothe
"Darling darling" and /" Mother des
! mother |" was all that they could say bu
!, man that was, could not refrain frol
:, shedding happy tears. When their joy gre
" calmer, the lady turned to me, and held OF
her hand.
+, , al believe that 1 must salute my son,
!, she said, softly, and then continued " Ad
u here you have brother and sister, in plaS
D. of the sister you lost so long ago."
- The strange meeting was over and II
i, lost was found. The story of Annie
y mother, though long one, can be condense
y When the great storm, of which Farm'
nou1 haa tnI1 ma aWapt along tina roae