The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1890-07-05
"a LIGHT in THE WINDOW
The Beautiful Story on Which the Well
Known Song Was Founded.

| am greatly mistaken, it is found
ed upon Il story told upon the
little island of Syli, but which
might easily have ITS exact coun.
terpart on almost any scashore
where mothers heart heats with
yearning love for her sailor son
and keeps its fond promise from
night 70 night.
Among the simpler fisher folks
on the island lived a woman and
her son. He was her only chlld,
the pride of her heart as we'll as
tho source of constant dread, for
the boy loyed the sea rs his ia
ther before him had loved it, and
nothing gave him 50 much pleas
ure as to watch the incoming tide
tumble its curling waves over the
sands. No sooner was he strong
enough to WELD an oar and steer
u boat than he joined the men IN
their fishing expeditions.
The mother, in all her fears,
and the fate of a long line Of
sailors in her m:nd, ye. would not
have bad it otherwise for 1t would
have been deemed dishonor among
the hardy coasters to have kept
the boy at home or sent hlm safe
~ 1T work for some farmer. What
ever the dangers, they must be
faced for the sake Of family pride.
Had not the boys grandfather
been captain when he went
away the last time? Had not his
father sailed his own ship when
he went down in a great storm
The child was the last of his race,
but he must not dIshonor 1t by
tame and cowardly safety on shore.
So the boy grew up tall Of his
age, straight as Il mast, uimble as
the lleetest and handiest boat,
bIue-eyed, falr-haircd, true heart
ed, Il real son of the sea. The
fishermen taught him the tricks
Of his craft until he knew how to
sail boat, splice a rope, or do
many little things which sailor
must know. Whenever d ship
was IN the oiling he was soon
aboar !, learning the rigging and
how work was performed upon
her.
He was a great favorite among
the 'longshore folk and with the
sailors, and when t. last his 18th
year came around and he obtain
cd the consent of his mother to
go to sea, he easily found a good
ship and captain. Then there
was parting, and tears shed by the
mother while he looked forward
into the great, wide world with
all the joyous eagerness of boy
But with her last blessing the
widowed mother promised that
every night light should burn
IN the seaward window of her lit
tie cottage to light HIM homeward
aud to show him that she still
lived, awaiting his return.
The ship sailed. Six month,
passed aud sailors dropped into
the village and told how she haC
been spoken and all was we'll, and
the mel yhbors came to the cottage
and told the pleasant news to the
waiting mother, who nightly trim
med the candle, lit it and set it ir
the window 10 make a bright patti
upon the sands. Again SIX month.
elapsed and other sailors arrived
from far-off lands, but they hat
no news to tell of the ship. A
great storm had happened anc
she was overdue. She might vel
make port, but-and The people
shook their heads and carried NJ
iales to the window, whose candle
burned brightly every night anc
SUSO tobS otlrdhiCiS VI IShO Ou
upon the sea. Another year pass
ed, but the sailors going or com.
ing brought no news of the ship,
ald the neighbors whispered apart
and shook their heads whenever
any spoke of the widow son, but
DO one was cruel enough to cut
the slender threads which held the
anchor of her hope. And thu:
the light continued to glow Out
toward the sea at every cleaning
and burned steadily through every
night.
Years came and went. The
children who had played with tbs
sailor lad had grown to be mer
and women, her own head wa:
sllvered with age, hti form wa:
bowed, yet no one dared 10 cut
the cables of her hope. Tender
words cheered her and tender
hlads smoothed her way for he;