Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1880-12-08

down, and throwing back her hair from
her forehead, turned her face up toward
Heaven, and prayed with loud voice to
the Almighty, that she might have her
husband In her arms that night For some
moments she remained motionless and
silent IN the same attitude, till at length a
sort OF brightness, resembling a calm smile,
passed over her countenance like CLEAN
OF sunshine on the smooth sea, and bend.
ing her head low and reverently, she rose
up. She then went as usual about her
household affairs, and apparently not any
thing decomposed, but as tranquil and
happy as if nothing had happened.
Now the weather was fine and calm in
the morning, but toward the afternoon it
came on to blow; and indeed the air had
been SO sultry all day, that the seafarers
might easily tell there would be q racket
OF the elements before long. AS the wind,
however, had been rather contrary, it was
supposed that the boats could not have got
far enough out to be in the mischief, but
would put back when they saw the signs
In the sky. But in the meantime the wind
increased, till toward night it blew as hard
gale as we have ever seen in these parts
for long time. The ships out there at
the Tail of the Bank, were driven from
their mOorings, and two of them stranded
on their beams end on the other side :;
every stick and stitch on the sea made for
any port they could find; and as night
came on in darkness and thunder, it was a
scene that might COW even hearts brought
up to the water as if it was their proper
element, and been familiar with the voice
OF the tempest from their Young DAYS.
There was sad lamentng and murmering
then, among the women folk especially
them that were kith to kin to the lads on
the sea- and they went to one another's
houses i'll the midst of the storm and rain.
and put in their pale faces through the
darkness, as Il searching for hope and com.
fort, and drawing close to one another like
flock of frightened sheep in their fellow.
ship of grief and fear. But there was one
who stirred not far from her house, and
who telt no terror at the shrieking of the
night storm and sought for no comfort in
the countenance of man and that was the
wife OF Mr.. Douglas. She sometimes. in.
deed: listened to the bowling of the sea
that came by fits upon her ear like the
voice OF the waterkelpie, and starting
would lay down her work for a moment !:
out then she remembered the PRAYER she
had prayed to Him who holds the reins of
the tempest in His hands, and who saws to
the roaring water Be still, and they are
stiil-and the glorious balm she had felt so
sank into her heart at that moment of high
and holy communion, even like the dew of
Heaven on a parched land. So her soul
was comtorted, and she said to herself,
God IS not man that He can lie : and
she rested on His assurance as on rock,
and laughed to scorn the trembings of her
I M NVNn 49, 4 a
her hope was in heaven and what earthly
storm was so mighty as to remove? Then
she got up and put the room in order, and
placed her husbands slippers to air at the
tireslde and stirred up the fuel, and drew
IN the armchair for her weary and storm
beaten mariner. Then would she listen at
the door, and look out into the night for
his coming; but she could hear no sound
save the voice OF the water, and the roar of
the tempest, as it rushed along the deep.
She re-entered the house, and walked to
and fro in the room with n restless step.
but an unbleached cheek.
AT last the neighhOrs came to her house,
knowing that her husband was one of those
who had gone out that day, and told her
that they were going to walk down towards
the Clough, even in the mark hour, to try
if they could not hear some news of the
boats. So she went with them, and we all
walked together along the rOad-women
and men, it might be, some twenty to
thirty of us. But it was remarked, that
though she came not hurriedly nor in fear,
yet she had not even thrown her cloak on
her shoulders, to defend her from the
night air, but came forth with her head un.
covered, and her usual rament of white.
like bride to the altar. As we passed
| along, it must have been strange sight to
see SO many pale faces by the red glare of
the torches they carried, and to hear so
many human wailings filling up the pauses
OF the storm but at the head of our melan.
| choly procession there was calm heart
and firm step, and they were Jeanie's.
sometimes, indeed, she would look back,
as some cry of womanish foreboding from
behind would smite on her ear, and strange
| thoughts would crowd into her mind and
| once she was heard to mutter-if her pray.
er had but saved her husband to bind some
other innocent victim to the mysterious
| altar OF wrath ! And she stopped for q
moment, as if in anguish at the wild imae
nation.
But now as we drew near the rocks
where the lighthouse is built, sounds were
heard distinctly on the shore, and we
waved the torches in the air, and gave a
great shout, which was answered by known
volces-for they were some of our own PEG.
ple-and our journey was at an end A
number of us then went on before and
grouped our way among the rocks as we'll
as we could in the darkness but woeful
tale met our ear; for one of the boats had
been shattered to pieces while endeavoring
to land there, and when she went down
they were just dragging the body of a com.
rade, stiff and stark, from the sea. When
the women behind heard this, there was
terrible cry of dismay, for no one knew but
it might be her own husband, son, or broth.
er; and some who carried lights dropped
them from fear, and others held them
trembling to have the terrors of their
hearts confirmed.
"There was one, however, who stood
calm and unmoved by the side of the dead
body. She spoke some words of holy com.
fort to the women, and they were silent at
her voice. She then stepped lightly for.
ward and took a torch from the trembling
hand that held it, and bent down with It
beside the corpse. AS the light fell one
moment on her own fair face, it showed no
signs of womanish feeling at the sight and
touch OF mortality; bright and lovely
bloom bowed on her cheek, and heavenly
lustre beamed in her eye; and as she knelt
there. her white garments and long dark
hair floating far on the storm, there was
that in her look which drew the gaze even
OF that terrified group from the object of
their doubt and dread. The next moment
the light fell on the face of dead-the torch
dropped from her hand, and abe fell upon
the body of her husband | Her prayer was
granted. She held her husband in her