San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-05-17

tOIke OF the seas went there, but Indians
never.
In another weeke we were far from our
hollyoaks and our deare rusticall porch The
Toppans o the Garrison house helped us off,
even running with a fitch of bacon when
We were upon tn load, Mr.. Toppan seeming
i'll a browne study over my mothers glitter
ing eyes; but he said nothing Our gear was
woefuliy broken i tn handling, Robert
breaking the green beaker as we crowded
upon tn smack-a' having the glass in S
hands for safety. o, tn intolerable smells of
oar craft as we went rocking and dipping
upon the green waves! We could but say
naught and cover our heads close as the sail
Ors advised for sicknesse, till at length, when
Robert and | came up for breath like fishes,
10! great and small fields before and round
us set upon tn sea like the stones i tn splen-
did ring upon Lady Pickering's finger. But
alas Hampton was now a lttel rimme of
wurld of water.
Our home on the shoals was a close cham
Der of a miserable hut, our bed with its hang
ing occupying half tn space. Onlie one pane
i the easement, and that upon a prospect, o,
dOlefule! of the deep seas. We all thinned
for tn swete, fresh ayre of Hampton, and tn
cleanliness and tn quiet and tn pleasant
smells, sights and sounds. Our mother Satte
allie day at her wheel, and at her feet hetch-
eling flax and tow. And tn puny babe be-
tween us, minded too little sometimes. Then
would come in Robert with a great fish per-
chance or kettle of CLAIMS, and would take
up tn precious mite into his leathern jerkin,
not DER clean to touch, and kiss and hug her
till tn tiny maids frocks were allie rumpled
Twas plain to see this wild life suited Rob-
ert He liked tn sea. But tho the life
pleased him it harmed him, foul words begin
ming to stick in S memory and fall from S
tongue
The end came. One night we were stirred
from sleep by a horrible face at our case
ment. Twas of foul man, drunk ever and
sDrawled upon tn rocks cOntinuallie in
drunkenness-twas said he was to have been
hanged on the land and did never dare step
off the Shoals.
Wake, woman" beloved the harsh voice
Look, all of ye."
And as we huddled at tn easement he
pointed DER the heaving waters, rejecting a
full moon to a flock Of canoes like swimming
birds We could see dark forms i them,
steering with arrowy paddles.
20, what shall do'" shriekeG our mother
80, what shall do,'
"Do'' yelled the man; "hide thee! Hank
ye! Harll ye! There's no time for boats
but there's a cliff i the rocks back O. tn fish
house. Thoult know it by the big balanced
rock where the babes play with kickshawS;
tits below that And the face was with
drawn.
And thou:' | screamed after him.
''ENl a marcy yynDrb ~ criaj no no 20 4,
to other houses; there be forty lurking
places on Star"
How ghost like were tn rocks; and the
booming sea was frightfulie neare this GREY
ice u which we crpDt upon cure knees, letting
each the other down painfullie therein. Our
mother drew herself in as far as a could,
lying lat and face down upon tn shiny floor
| next pressed close, and Robert valiantIy
near the mouthe Of the poor rift; twas soc
small we were scarcely out of the moonlight
So we crOuched and quivered together till
awful sounds began to rise, somewhat dulled
10y the dashing waves anextus Then Robert
did creep in more. and our mother pushed us
both to tn farthea5 place, and She with tn
babe, did lie upon us, guarding us.
But now tn poor babe, unable to move as
legs, and half smOthered in our mothers
kirtle, began to roar Justify. O, tn horror O.
tn time! Again and again our mother tried
to feed it, but a would not eat, ami its cries
We're shrillcr and more shrill We both
turned in an agOnie TO look toward the Uncon-
sciOuS little thing that was calling death our
way, but or mother writhed herself out O
tn cave, went headIong forth into tn pit ats
mouth; then back anew upon Us. trying with
more than mortal endeavor to still TIL child;
t:l"n forth again Then a sharp wall like
cats cry wnrn a is grasped by tn legs for
killing, a thud, shower of warm drops and
nnty bits i our faces, and our mother drew
herself in alone
cannot tell what a braid that night was!
BY times tn redskins went scampering and
yelling DER tn rocks, smells of smoke drift
ing down cen to us. Robert would put up a
cold hand, touching us for COmpanionShip
But our mOther replied naught in kind, as
She lay upon Us her whole length making no
sound, whether a sigh o." 4 groan; but draw
ing long breath ever and anon, like one that
is coming back to life.
Twas light cnOw to see each the others
face when she did draw herself out O the
cave All noise had long ceased We chill
dren following, stiff, sore and appalled,, came
upon her wOriles,, with a bloody covered
bundle i her lap
Then up started she and darted out O. the
rift like flame to the smoking town
Alack! Our kind heralde had found no lurk-
ing place. Robert stumbled Ger him in tn
ashes ShOalerS were landing from other isl
andS, and to them our sad mother went
straightwaie with as story, sparing a'self not
at all. | have seen death, but ne'er have
seen anie sight 50 woefull as as drawn, tor
tured mouth and tn tale coming from lips
that refused to close over her teeth
There was silence: but twas dreadful to
how al fn nu-ain fl.nrnl r,,,r littnl ,n,n hc