The herald., 1894-09-16

u hunger, and for bours they hai iosse.
lclpless at tho mercy Of the waves
Many a ship had como near them, bat
sao wcnan's cries werc not heard II
Tho bowling Of the tempest, and be-
heath the darkened sky tho futtering
rag she waved was lost in the spray
which cnvcloped her So the ships went
on. The woman 5 voice grew faint, and
despair was in her heart. ''Lct death
but como quickly" " she cried, ''aud but
for my child it would be wclcome--hut
for my child and for his father await
ing him at home. havo cried. I have
prayed i'll vain. No help is left i'll earth
Or i'll heaven"
But the little ray wandered on toward
her over the sea, aud the woman, lift-
ing her heavy lids, saw the coming
glimmer on tho water. Her breath came
quicker, her pale lips trembled, her
glance followed swiftly up to the patch
Of blue sky above, while over her death
like face and in her dnlled eyes there
broke light such as the ray had never
seen before. AT the sight of it now lie
flashed back up to the heavens beyond
the clouds. Come, " he cried to his
comrades, ''come and see. for there is
something fairer than aught that has
been before, fairer than the sunlit sea
or than the laughter on children s lips.
His comrades flockcd to his call and
poured down through the crcvice i'll the
clouds, widening it as they went. Then
they stretched themselves, broad path
of light, from the sky above to tho lone
ly boat, which they bathcd III their soft
radiance.
Across the storm driven sea, cleaving
the waves asundcr with stately motion,
great ship came. The eyes OF those
on board her, wearied with gloom, turn
ed gladly to that bright spot OH sky
and sea, and turning saw the boat, saw
the white face Of the woman and her
waving signal. So the ship altered !ier
course, ard soon the mother and her
burden stood safe upon the decks.
Evening drew near. The tempest had
fed now, and thus left alone tho tired,
gray waves, their strength failing and
their fury spout were heaving in sullen
impotence to rest. The clouds, falling
away from the sky, gathered themselves
in soft, changing masses of vapor
around the edge Of the sea. The sun,
sinking lower and lower, called to the
rays to come. Sadly they heard the call
They bade farewell to their beloved
earth i'll passion OF feryid color. Upon
wave and cliff, mountain and cloud
they rained their glowing kisses, and
earths beauty quivered into new glory
as does maiden's in her lovers en-
brace. Then they drew together, road
of golden splendor on the sea as they
crowded westward after their depart
ing king. With slow, majestic motion
he sank to rest.
But the little ray hung back. He had
found the cloud who had stood his
friend that morning, and he waited to
give her goodby. He was filing her
now with his own golden glory of light
as he whispered to her of all the beauty
which was in the world. Alas, she
would stay with it still i'll the wonder
of the night, tho great dark peace which
he never might know. He thanked her.
too in loving words and kisses till she
blushed red with pleasure, and then
with tender, slow reluctance he drew
| away from her. AS he went the flush
| faded, passing in gentle change through
every shade of russell and purple till the
cloud was left alone, resting soft and
gray on her twilight couch.
But the little ray was thinking of the
light of hope which he had seen in the
woman's eyes that day. "Ah," said he
to himself, "if I could only shine like
that!' And with this wish in him he
fingered still in the sky beneath, color
ing it a green SO pure and SO tender that
to the woman watching from the ships
deck it seemed as if heaven S own spring
were bursting into blossom in her sight.
But the light lessened, and tho color
faded, and she remembered that it was
but sun tinted vapor after all. She sigh
ed, but the sigh left her lips in smile,
for the child laughing stretched his
hands to her face Lovingly she pressed
him closer to her and drew her shawl
more warmly round him. Good night,
little one," she whispered. "You must
sleep now, for the day is ended. To-
morrow, when the light comes back,
you shall wake again" Then she bent
her head down toward his face and min
gled her smiles with his in long, soft
| kiss.
That was the last thing which the
little ray saw before he, too, followed
the sun to rest. Pail Mall Magazine.