Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1891-11-21
MAN AND WOMAN.
story Of the Firsts Thanksgiving

had gone and no news from the ship.
With darkness, pal of gloom set
tied over the little band ofsettlers.
There was so much need that the
ford had to be apportioned.
EBurton Laird had married Ed.
ward Loves daughter month pre-.
viously. She was beautiful young
woman OF 20; be sedatc lieutenant in
Her Majesty's army.
As the suns last beams had faded
beyond the Western horizon, prayer
full people wendell their way to the
quiet chapel on the hillside. Ed.
ward Love was to i'll to go. At his
bedside were Alice and Burton Laird.
60, d ar children" said the old
man, "and pray for relief, for it is
well 20 do so.
And so it seemed to both. They
bent and kissed him with that ten
der affection only born of poverty
and parental ties, and then left him.
They knelt near the quaint altar and
watched the pale lips OF the good
man utter holy words Is family
heard by tue listeners.
The voice grew faint and weaker,
as that OF starving men must.
b ,th tried to sing, but the melo-
DIV Of their nurmura died away un-
der the roof.
Burton Laird thought his wife
leaned more heavily on his shoulder.
Then her voice was silent. Her
face whitened under the dim light
iron tue pulpit. Her eyes put on
dying look. She sighed and ceased
to speak.
Witt a grasp she fell forward on
his breast. He lifted her into his
arms as If she was q haoe ana car
ried her out into the open air.
There was a gust of sharp wind
which quickly revived her.
She opened her eyes.
Until now Burton Laird had been
strong. AS he noted the rallor OF
her face his anguish overwhelmed
him. He C lied aloud TO Heaven to
spare the wife of his b'som.
She head him.
ave have loved each other we'll, !"
she murmured, sand if we must part
here it will DOLLY be TO meet in that
happy, happy land, where there is
neither grief nor suffering. The
Heaven for which we have sacrificed
earth will be ours for all eternity.
Weep MOI, dear, that | go first.
Burton Laird f,lt as he never felt
before. He saw the sun of young
life sinking faster than that which
had an hour before burnt low upon
the horizon of the New World, and
he would be left in darkness forever
more.
"Pity u.s., he cried in anguish that
eaamed to tear his soul from within.
Speak not of grief till you have
seen the tears of war-like men.
At that instant, against the dark
horizon of the sky, sweeping down
from the bosom of the seething
ocean, came the ship so long expect
ed.
From the rocks beyond, the look
out had already seen 1t. His shout
arose in the distance.
"The ship!'
"The ship!"
"The ship is here!"
The glad tidings swept down the
hillside and along the valley.
Then from the church rushed all
the worshipers.
Weak-voiced utterings of thanks
giving soon resounded.
Burton Laird lifted his wife that
she might see the glad sight the
ocean presented.
THANK heavens" she cried; ''you
will live. Many will be saved, but |
must die"
''Die," cried her husband in awful
anguish. mo, it must not be; aid is
at hand"
TOO late for me-" the voice was
weaker; but mourn not at that. |
will tell you how it is Fathers life
is far more valuable than mine, and
tor four days have given him my
share of food instead of his. But for
that he would now be gone, and they
look to him for aid and comfort in
their trials. He will be powerful in
the future of the New World am
but a wom.n you know"
And / your husband, never
dreamed of this sacrifice. How
gladly-But, no, you shall not
die"
She had tainted.
Throwing hnlselt beside her on
the ground he drew the silvery
sword from the sheath which hung
at his side.
He drew the blade across his arm
and then placed the wound against
her white lips that had fallen rigidly
apart.
She received the hot gush OF his
life's blood as n child would the
milk from its mothers breast, and
without that bathing which know
ledge Of the truth would have given
her.
And he binding up his wound,
II 4