Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-12-09
REUNITED.

lhe sullen sea heat upon rocky coast.
beneath stormy, leaden hued skv the
ueep blue Waves seemed almust black, and
near the land they crawicd gfeen with
crvsts OF cruel white. A narrow strip OF
beach alone remained uncovered.
Along the white shell sand little child
strayed--a baby girl-all alone.
Slowly and wearile the little feet paced
the beach, Slowly, but with awful sure.
ness, the cruel waves crept nearer.
She came to whore, shut in by tagged
hcadlands small creek danced 20 its
meeting with the ocean. There boat
lay moored to point OF rock, and pres.
emily some sailors came down its banks,
beAring watercasks that they filled at the
springs above.
They saw and questioned the child. who
looked In their rough faces without fear,
but could only answer that size twas call.
ed Madeleine and wanted her mamma. -
Their ship, which lay in the offlng, was
signaling their return. The child could
not be left 70 perish, they said, and the
captain would set her ashore when the
storm was over So they placed her IN a
buat, and soon she was hoisted upon the
ships deck.
That night she slept in the spare berth
OF the captains cabin.
The little cot at home BY the mothers
bedside was empty. Beside Il the mother
knelt and prayed and wupt through all
the watches of that fearful night, while
aboard, unheeding rain, hurricane and
deluge, the father and his neighbors
searched far and wide along the stormy
shore. And 90, for days and nights, til
hope became despair, praying, weeping
and searching, they sought the child.
Then the parents made tomb for their
darling in their hearts, for they dared not
hope that she was yet alive.
The little garments were placed away
toys and worn playthings, thesmall chair,
the cradle and the crlb--in ono dim, 81
lent room they were all placed, and that
room was the shriue to which the mother
went daily to weep aud where the father
stood with still awe and n man'sundomon-
strative grief.
And so passed days aud months and
years. Other children came to light mp
the gloom OF the house Of mourning
dearly loved aud tenderly nurtured, beau
tiful ms thelost Madeleine, but never quite
filling that dreadful void in the parents
hearts.
Meanwhile little Madeleine, nurtucd
by the wife Of the captain of the ship (tht
Resolute) on board which the infant had
been taken, had grown TO womanhood
The vessel had been driven TOO far by tn,
storm that night TO return; hence tn,
adoption OF the child by Captain Strange
ways wife. She and her faithful nurs'
had made many voyages in the Rcsolutc
-. FanH
ite with the old sailors who had stuck e
the ship from the time she first set he
tiny foot ON its deck. At last she marrie'
Jasper Strangewny, nephew OF the ole
captain, who was soon after promoted &
the command Of u new Resoluto, on boar
which many Of the old crew shipped.
After her marriage, Madeleine some
times made voyages on board the ship ant
sometimes staid at home and nursed tn
| little Jasper beside the captains uresida
while he aud his gallant mate breasted tn
oceans storms.
The youngest child Of Madeleine's par
ents would be a sailor boy. From his in
fancy he had loved tho sea, and often hi
mother had watched with an agony o
memories his feet as they trod the shor
where Madeleine had strayed and beel
lost.
know not how, nor does 81 matter, b
became one OF the crew OF the Rosolute-
a pet aud favorite Perhaps II was tina
something in the brown, laughing fac
was like Madoleine's fair features.
Tho boy led a happy life on board th
Resolute, happier still when Madelein
md her e-year-oid Jasper came to max
the voyage on board the old bark.
This time they sailed TO the port neares
the boys home, the home Of Madeleine
infancy and those bereft parents. The'
the boy visited OF course, and he so prn
tied Of the lady and the beautiful chile
the gallant mate, the white haired captai
and his dear Old wife, that there present.
came an invitation from his parents to II
whole party TO visit the seaside cottage
an invitation gratefully accepted by all,
And so Madeleine returned to her hom'
They learned Der story ere she had Doe
many hours beneath their roof and kne
that she was their own lost Madeleine r
turned TO them. At first they were Owe
whelmed by the one thought Of Joy. The
calmness returned, and they were quiet
happy until Madeleine was forced % d
part with those friends, now nearer 70 hl
by the force OF circumstances and wiiel
maternal love than the parents who nu
turcd her infancy.
Then was observed new phenomenon
Madeleine, their baby Madeleine, was no
All different was this splendid womal
But the little child, so like what She ia
been when her tiny feet trod the viii
shell sand Of the beach, entered the Ion
vacant place in those hearts that forg
their bereavement ia his childish oaresse
They drew him there with fcrvent loy
and henoeforth Madeleine became, as b
fore a dream. a memory Of the past, ai
her little child the link between the pre-
ent OF Joy and the past that had swallow
up their great sorrow.--New YORK Ne"s