The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-03-28
BY CORA B. BIcKFoRD.
9" / hate it, Roc. / Just hate it,

al hate it, Roc. lust hate it.s
She was a little girl, and her hands were
doubled into aggressive-looking fists. A
| large shepherd dog with coat as tawny as
young lions sat on the sand at her feet.
III tell you why hate it" this time the
voice was so low that only Roc'S well-trained
ear could have heard above The breaking o.
the waves on the beach. "I'll tell you why
j hate it: because it's SO big, and cold, and
shiny" -
A large wave had thrown itself upon the
sand; she reached down and dipped hel
hand in the ripples. ugh Roc, see how
| cold it is," and she thrust her wet fingers
| against his nose.
That's fathers boat" pointing to sail
| fast nearing the horizon. know, for Fve
watched it all the afternoon. You can't see
the patched places in the sails now, because
it's so far away. It's sailing on and on, and
that's why hate the sea, because it takes
my father away" Roc looked at his little
mistress with a world of sympathy in his
great brown eyes.
Let's 60 up on the bank, then we can
see farther away. The sun isn't near the top
of the pines yet. When it is, Aunt Kareen
will call us in"
Together they climbed the bank with its
growth of witcbgrass, and sat down on the
highest hummock to watch the sail that was
fast going out of sight. 1t was too near the
horizon to remain a speck for a long time,
and it was soon lost in the gray of the sky.
All the brightness was gone from the
Summer day. Could life hold greater
grief for the child? She threw herself upon
the sand and sobbed aloud. The dog gave
low whine, crept close to his mistress, and
stretched himself beside her.
"You needn't, Duroc," she said, as he
thrust his nose against her face you're
only dog, and you don't know" and be-
tween the sobs she kept repeating, hate
it so. L hate it sol"
Gradually the sobs grew fainter The sun
slipped behind the western pines. Aunt
Kareen came to the door and called "Nita
Nita!" but there was no answer. The child
and dog were too absorbed in grief to think
of anything else.
The wind that was stirring grew chilly as
the san went down. The dog crept closer
to his mistress, and stretched paw across
her shoulders as if he would shield her from
the cold.
"You needn't Duroc," she said, and then
she lifted her head and sat up. I'm going
home now, but Pm going over by the
SBduDeI llUCk UisJ. IOu tdu CUluC, tOVj
if you want TO. I'll tell you what I'm going
to do" She drew down his head, and put
ting her lips close to his ear whispered,
Pm going to pray. Well go across be-
cause it is nearer"
The dog got up and stretched himself with
solemn dignity. He had been to Chamber
Rock" many times with his young mistress,
but never TO pray.
1t was not far across to the "Point" TO
where the rocky coast opened into a tiny
cove or beach-the "Oyen's Mouth" the
fisher folk called il.
On one side the rocks reached far into the
sea and piled themselves into the air. In
the center OF the pile WIS the Chamber"
tiny inclosure shut in on three sides by
steep, perpendicular rocks. The waves could
not reach it; the wind passed over it; above
it was the blue heaven, and in the heaven
was God. Surely prayer would reach Him
from here, were it ever so short.
Nita's was SO short that she repeated it