The Red Cloud chief., 1880-07-08

Percy left the house. and soon returned
with q strong pair Of oars and dressed
ready 10 breast the tempest. He offered
TO accompany them and render what
ever assistance he could.
Laying my hand upon his arm. ]
said:
"Percyl Percyi Must you. win you
go and risk a lie so dear TO Us ALT"
But Ada chung TO him. weeping. and
with plainfive entreaty besought him not
to venture out on the angry sea-
Kissing her quietly. he said, with an
air of unwonted composure, trust and
faith: "God viii take care OF me.
little Ada. And now. goodbye"
Ada. still OBTAINING him, said: mo.
no, Not goodbye, Bobby Shafto. Say
Auf wieferschen. Percy"
"Anf vfederschen." he called back.
in a brave. CHEEKY voice. as he waved
his hand and was gone.
The storm grew louder and fercer.
the waves dashed high on the rocks;
and thick darkness. almost like that OF
midnight, closed in upon u.s. Father sat
with his head bowed, and we knew that
he was praying. Mother and Ada and
/ stood with our faces pressed against
| the window panes, an agony OF sus
pense i'm our hearts which found ex-
preston only in our haggerd faces.
At length the day died, and the dark
ness of night fell owe the face OF earth
and sea like a veil of mourning.
The old clock which stood in the Or
ner, and which had kept up its cease
less, somber tick! tick! during these
long hours of silence and unspoken fears
and forebodings, struck the hour OF
twelve, when the sound Of approaching
footsteps was heard. Then came a
knock at the door. To the almost fran
tic demand Of father, where is my
boy?" the response which came from
the lips of the strong men who stood
before him was mingled with sobs OF
sympathy and sorrow.
=. The boat was overturned when we
were not far from the shore. and we all
struck out for the beach. We thought
Percy, rs he was an expert swimmer. was
Just behind US: but on reaching land,
he was nowhere TO be seen. We called
but there came no answer. And we all
plunged back intothe sea; but our search
was vain. Perchance he reached the
shore further down the harbor."
II was some such message as this
they brought us. 1 remember only its
sad import; for Ada turned to me with n
cry of agony, exclaiming. as she threw
herself into my arms: Bobby Shafto's
lost at sea-
but, darling" said /, 'don't you
remember the Afterwards of the song
Bobby Shafto's found at sea-? God
willing, the morning shall bring our
Bobby Shafto back TO us again"
In the gray of the early dawn Ada
was gone, and we found her kneeling
beside our loved, lost Percy. His brave
young face was upturned to the morn
ing sun. The ebbing tide played about
his feet and the soft wind gently lifted
his fair hair from a brow upon which
death had set his remorseless signet.
There was a restful peace upon the
dear, boyish face, and we knew that,
as for Bobby Shafto, .'God had taken
care of him"
The fire burns low. the lights grow
dim and to my lonely heart m a
whisper, ..Auf wiederschen." They
were the last words on Ada's lips, for
she soon went to meet Bobby Shafto.
II was hard for my rebellious heart to
trust in those days. 1t seemed a strange,
cruel Providence that should call our
dear Percy out on the ~treacherous waves,
and take him from us in the flush of
his bright young life. And when Ada,
my sister, left me, my cup of bitterness
was full. But God knew best. He
took them to Himself.
And so tonight, with chastened heart
and with faith and hope, l catch a
glimpse of the faces of the dear depart
ed Ones, and, reaching forth my hands
to the sweet vision, l echo back to them
their words of parting: .'Auf wieder-
schen"-Good-by till we meet again, in
the land .sthat is fairer than day
Annie Friend, in N. Y. Independent.