The state herald., 1891-11-13

by the glimmer OF the embers which
flickered on the hearth, and reddenetl
the dark rafters overhead. The fish
erman's nets were hanging on the wall.
Some homely pots and pans twinkled
on n rough shelf in the corner. Beside
. great bed with long, falling curtains
a mattress was extended on couple
OF old benches on which five little
children were asleep like cherubs in a
nest. By the bedside, with her fore
head pressed against the counterpane
knelt the children's mother. She was
alone. Outside, the black ocean,
dashed with stormy snow-hakes
moancd and murmured, and her hus
band was at sea.
From his boyhood he had been q
fisherman. His life, as one may say
had been u daily fight with the grent
waters. for every day the children
must befed, for every day, rain, wind
or tempest, out went his boat to fish
And while in his four-sailed boat h,
piled his solitary task at sen, his wife
at home stitched the sails, mended
the nets, looked to the hooks OF
watched the little fire where the fish
soup was boiling. As soon as the five
children were asleep she fell upon hei
knees and prayed to heaven for her
husband in his struggle with the waves
and darkness.
And truly such n life rs his was
hard. The likeliest place for fish was
a mere speck among the breakers
not more than twice as large rs his
own cabin-a spot obscure, capric'
ious, changing ON the moving desert
and yet which had to be discovered
in the fog and tempest of winter
night by sheer skill and knowledge oI
the tide and winds. And there-whilc
the gliding waves ran past like
emerald serpents and the gulf o
darkness rolled and tossed, and the
straining rigging gronned rs il in ter.
ror--there. amid the icy sens he
thought of his own Jenny; and Jenny
in her cottage, thought OF him with
tears.
She was thinking OF him then and
praying. The seagull's harsh and
mocking cry distressed her, and tn,
roaring OF the pillows on the reel
alarmed her soul. But she was wrap
ped in thoughts-thoughts of then
poverty. Their little children went
bareiooted winter and summer
Wheat bread they never ate, and on
ly bread OF barley. Heavensl the wind
roa-ed like the pillows of a forge, and
the scacoast echoed like an anvil
She wept and trcmbled. Poor wives
whose husbands are at sea! How ter
riblc to say, "My dear ones-father
lover. brothers, sons-are in the tenn
pestl" But Jenny was still moro un
happy her husband was alone-alone
without assistance on this bitter
night. Her children were too little to
assist him. Poor mother. Now she
says, ~ wish they were grown up to
help their fatherlI Foolish dream
In years to come, when they ar,
with their father in the tempest, she
will say. with tears, wish they were
but children still"
htIny loeh ucr lunitru huu H'i
cloak. at is time" she said to her
self. "to SEQ whether he is coming
back, whether the sea is calmer, and
whether the light is burning on the
signal mast" sho went out. Ther,
was nothing to be sccn.-barely n
streak OF white on the horizon. II wns
raining, the dark. cold rain OF early
morning, No cabin window showed II
ray OF light.
All at once, while peering round her
her eyes perceived a tumble-down old
cabin, which showed no sign OF light
or fire. The door was swinging In til,
wind: tho worm.catcn walls seemed
scarcely able TO support the crazy
roof. on which the wind shook tn,
yellow. filthy tufts OF rotten tlntch.
"stay.' she cried. "a nm forgetti
the poor widow whom my husband
found the other day alone aud III.
must Zee how she Is getting on"
She knocked at the door and listened
No one answered. Jenny shivcrod h
tho cold sea wind.
"shc IL III. And her poor children
She has only two OF them; but sho !,
very poor and has no husband"
She knocked again. and called out
"IIcyl nciehbor'" but tho cabin was
still silent.
"IIcavensN' shc said. chow sound
she sleeps TINT II requires so much to
wake hor."
At the instant the door opened o
itself. She entered. Her lantern "
Eliminated tho interior OF the dnrl
and silent cabin, and showed her tn,
water falling from tho ceiling u.
thravgh The oponings OF o..Ajcyo. n
the end of the room mn awful form
wns lying-a woman stretched Out
moiionless with bare feet and sightles,
eye. Her cold white arm hung down
among tho straw OF tbs pallet. sh,
was ddad. Onttu strong and happy
mother. she was now only the apcctr,
which remains Of poor humanity ait
or long struggle with the world.
Near tho bed on which the mother
lay two little children--n boy and CIR
slept together In their cradle and
were smiling In their dreams. Thcil
mother, when ahc felt that aho wa
dying. had laid her coat across thciI
iect and wrapped them IN hcr dress, &c
keep them warm when sho bcrscli wa
lola.
How sound they slept In their ol,
toiicred cradle. With their calm brcal |
aud quiet it'll. fncesl II seemed M i
nothina could awake these sleeping
orphans. Outside, tho rain beat dow