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

"a
@where the beautiful noun
tains of the resort Zoppot raise theil
heads, there lived heathen fisher
named Trasiko. Wild and rude q.
the sea which, autumn and spring
broke In storm lashed fury on the
dunes. wac the old man; weather
hardened were Is soul and hand
defiant and inexorable AZ the
cliffs. bis character; no man had
ever heard a good word from his
mouth. His hut was built high on
the sand, forlorn and fraif. a play-
thing for the tempest that roared
around it and coveted prey of the
waves that struggled up higher to-
wards 1T every year and eagerly tore
away piece after piece of the narrow
dune that was the foot and support
OF the hill. Yes, the sea was like
cunning and faithless woman who
stretched out her white arms threat
eningly and coaxingly to the fisher:
who, full Of enticing favor threw
the rich treasures of shipwrecked
vessels into his lap, and then, with
impatient haste, strove to draw him
and all his precious belongings
down to her in the cool, death still
palace. Trasiko knew the mighty
deities who often raised their snow
crowned heads above the water. an
CRY or smiling, wreathed with rushes
in the sunshine or driving furious
iS in their shell formed chariots over
the waves at night, amid thunder
and lightning. He made sacrifices
to them when ne needed their helm
and reviled them when they refused
it.
Inc ola man had stored up great
wealth in his cabin during the long
years, but the loveliest pearl that
ever mans eyes looked upon did
not lie with these treasures of the
Dead, but stood like an angel of
light, living and blossomifig on the
hill, gazing with longing blue eyes
out upon the sea as if she were sure
OF seeing sail loom up at last upon
the horizon with "Delivarance" as
skipper and Happiness" as cargo.
Swanada was the fishers golden
haired daughter, the most beauti-
full flower that had ever sprung
from this stern cliff land, the val.
ued goal toward which the youths
of the coast and of the neighboring
islands made their way through
wind and waves.
But Trasiko kept his hard hand
on the lovely flower and inspected
the suitors with his cunning, greedy
eyes. There was none rich enough
to purchase such wonder plant.
Swanada took it with indifference.
Her face showed an occasional fleet
ing shadow, but in her heart all re.
mained peaceful and cool. She
waited for him whom she had seen
in her dreams, earnest and eonvin-
cling, gentle and proud at once. A
dark cloak hung from his shoulders.
Where his boat tossed the sea spark
led and the clouds of heaven changed
to gold and foated in the shape of
a cross above the strangers head.
Hi! How the tempest shrieks,
how the sea thunders against the
shore
Trasiko leans his bearded chin on
both hands and curses the gods.
de knows how the bare teeth of the
sea cut into the coast. Then he
hurries down eagerly. 1t seems to
MN that ne sees by the glare of the
lightning a small boat battling with
the wages.
When he returns, his face is
sterner than usual aud his back is
bent with an unaccustomed burden.
lie drags youth with him-he
knows not if it is god or man. Pre-.
caution urged him to the rescue
that he might not risk running him
self completely with the all power
full spirits.
Swanada lifts the flrebrand, and
rs she looks on the strangers face
1t seems 10 her that a warm sun-
beam has suddenly fallen into her
heart. 1t becomes bright into the
cottage, as il it we're bathed in fam
ing purple light. 1t comes from
the little cross that glows on the
seaman's breast.
And when the sun shone again in
the heavens the young Christlieb
looked into the blue eyes of the
heathen fisher maid; two hearts