Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-06-10

daughter. He " poor, he said
He came from far ond the sea /
find amber on che sc coast.
Then came sn, evil lang
from the old man fz.
go your paY h6n.e again. ? b
cried seornfully have neve
met one who could rp gold Wit
bis finger naiIs Who uoul,
Hsrry my dahgssef must 10 some
thing more than hunt for scraps o
yellow resin.
"And what shall I do, Fathe
Trasiko /: No work is too hard tha
is done for nay love and God. Chris
and all the saints will help me-"
Sharp as a dagger's point wer.
the fishers eyes. His glance swept
over the shore. from which the tide
had again torn a large piece. At
ter a minute the sand dune slid
down after it, and Trssiko's hut
sank nearer to the sea. 1t was an
unpleasant thought for the old man
that he must set to work and build
himself a new nest. He laughed
defiantly
If your gods can do SO much, You
boaster, then make this dune firm
in spite of the sea. Then | will
give you Swanada."
Christlieb was white.
"Father Trasiko, such a thing is
impossible" he stammered.
"Then go your way, you dullard. i.
and put Swanada out of your mind. :"
"And will you keep your word ?"
Again the old man laughed loud
ly.
"l will be food for the fishes on
the day that | break it,
"Give me "a twelvemonth for it."
Trasiko nodded Grossly. He saw
how the young mans eyes shone as
if with prophecy. Who could tell;
perhaps the Christian gods were
more willing esheip=kairrwn than
were the unfriendly vater spirits.
So they parted. ~
As the little boat was again
launched in the foaming tide Christ
lieb threw himself on his knees and
prayed: "Giye me sign. or mer-
ciful Saviour, to tell me if thou wilt
bless my work and bring the holy
cross to everlasting honor on this
coast. Then will l 90 out into the
world comforted, knowing that /
shall return to happiness.
And as he turned his head again
TO look back joyful "Hosanna :"
burst from his lips, for up on the
dunes stood Swanada and stretched
out her arms longingly, so that her
figure was outlined against the sky
in the form of a slender cross.
Thus the saints answered his
prayer.
Christlieb laid down to rest in
his boat and saw a wonderful dream
picture. An island projected from
the blue sea. sandy and unsafe like
the hillock upon which Trasiko's
hut was built. The loose earth sank
into the waves, breaking up and
dissolving in utter helplessness.
Then down from the clouds came a
bright angel bearing in his hands
an insignificant looking plant, thor
ny and hard, with wonderful Jag
ged leaves. He planted it in the
arid sand, one little stalk beside
another. And see thers, with what
magic power it shoots up and be-
comes strong interlaced wall that
holds the earth firmly together with
ist network of 1000 roots :. And
the angel turned his smiling face
toward the young seaman aud
pointed to the work of his hands.
Christlieb awoke and thanked
God and praised Him. Then he
set forth to find the island through
the boundless seas of the world.
The sun rose and sank again into
the water; stars watched over the
solitary little boat and threatening
clouds thickened around the mast /:
storm and tempest played their
wild game and pulled at the golden
anchor of faith which love and the
vision had cast in the heart of the
young seaman.
At last he espied it, the longed
for island, standing high and un-
even above the sea, glistening in
the light of the morning sun. The
seaman raised his hands ioyfully
and cried, "God be praised, have
found thee, thou promised angels
land -