The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-03
The LOST CHILDREN OF NANTUCKET,
PoR TUE NEWS.

FoR TUE NEWS.
On cioudiess sumner sunday,
In "ths days Of long ago."
On Nantuclct's seagi.t Island.
Went two children to and fro.
Dressed In spotless sunday garments.
Neatly brushed their glossy curls,
One. prince Of loving laddtes;
One. a Queen Of torny girls
Twin companions. Ben and Bessie.
Youngest OF a household band,
Started for the place of worship.
Merry hearted, hand In hand.
Often had their parents cent them
or Sabbath morn, before;
Never wandering. they had always
Safely reached the old church door.
There to waik till patient Dobhia
Bro't tho Others on their way,
That they might in solemn worship
Spend the holy Sabbath day.
But this morn. .he fragrant wild flower ..
Biooming round them far and wide.
And the butterflies SO brilliant
Tempted them TO turn aside.
Plucking flowers and tall beech grasses.
Roaming after butterflies.
On they wander till the echo,
or the distant church bell DIES.
Sounding, like some far-of music
Fain tly lingering ON the breezs;
But they only hear the song-birds
And the droning hum Of bees.
Bees and butterflies fit past them;
On they wander, hand in hand.
Till their merry voices echo.
Ger the waste OF shining sand.
No more thought of home. or mother
Nor tho't of church. or bell.
As they search the sands for treasure
In the shape OF some rare shell.
High, above the old church steeple
Glares the sultry August sun.
And the worshipers, emerging
From the church doors, one by onas
Gaze with anxious, balf-scared faces
Out along the dusty way.
Wondering why the children, came not.
Scarcely thinking them astray.
"Might they not have tired OF waiting"
Hopefully. the mother said.
"And returned, perhaps, to meet Us, |"
In her heart, piercing dread.
"we should certainly have met them."
Said the father, "and you know
II they were returning homewsrd.
There is but one way to TO-"
"To the orgap-ioft. and tower"
said the sexton. "let us search
In the gallery and the pulpit.
Open every pew in church;
Mayhap, they grew tired of.waitinR,
And. so tho't, they'd softly creep
Up the loft, TO hear the music.
And are lying there asleep"
But the pews. alasl were empty:
oaly shadows. fitted thro'
Organ loft and dim old tower.
But, the search they must renew.
"To our horses, men and neighbors,"
Cried tho sexton. al will ringi'
Then out-spoke the white. haired pastor,
"Unless you some tidings bring
Before sunset. with the sexton
In the church-tower will stay,
And, until you find the children.
Twill never cease to prayi'
"And. until you find the children
Or some tidines to us bring"
Cried the sexton, tween the bell-strokss,
II shall not the ourfew ringi"
Sunset came, and weary horsemen
Roamed the island. far and wide:
Groups OF psllid men and women
Paced tho shore, and watched the tide;
Not form or speck beheld they
As they watched the crawling foam,
And mid twiIieht's deepening shadows
Anxiously they fastened hope.
Homel alasi no tidings waited:
Drums were beat, and torches Jared,
And. upon the growing darkness.
Flames from many a bonfire Rlsred;
And across the moor-liks commons,
All night long, until the morn
Paled them, CLEANED the lurid torches,
Pealed the drum and rang the horn.
Morn. and noon, and second sunset,
Still tho lost ones are not found.
Means the sad, despairing mother,
son the sands my babes are drownedi
Or. Rave died from fright and hunger,
Else they're drifted out to sea.
Loving Father, is there no ono
Who will bring them hack to msf''
Just at eve, q sturdy fisher
Coming, with his laden boat
Fancied that he in tho distance
Saw a tiny skiff ahoat,
Swiftly floating outward empty.
Hsrk! was that the voice of song
Waited TO him Ger the waters
AS the slsitf was borne alongf
"Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear us.
Bless thy little lambs tonight,
Thro' the darkness be Thou near u.s.,
Guard us, till the morning light"
"Saints defend u.s." cried tho sailor,
''surely, angels are afioat."
Then voice said, snow lay me-"
"some one, must be in that boati
will follow" swiftly rowed he,
While upon the evening air
Came the words. in childish accents,
OF that tender. evening prayer.
"Heavensi" no cried, "Miles Carbon
babies,
All alone upon the sea.
Bless you'll Bonny Ben and Bessie,
1 will take you back with me-"
Up alongside, then, he lifted,
WITH m axSong m nd et.adv h.zS