The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-03-22
"a TRUE HEROINE.3=

"Who has such a right, Bridget9
But it will never be-"
flush, woman, dear. Tush! DON'T
tRlk such nonsense, child. It is the
weakness that has come over you.
Wait awhile, and a bIithe christening
ven have when we are once on shore"
The young mother bowed her beau
tiful face upon her pillow, and the
heaving Of her breast revealed the
emotion that convulsed her.
After an effort of compoeure, che
raised hersel in her bed and flung her
arms around the neck of her friend.
''Oh, on this wide, wide sea, where 1
thought to find only danger and sor-
row. I have found a friend like unto
the mother I have left. You will have
her blessing, Bridget. and his. Oh,
that I might live to tell him all I owe
you"
Nov, Dora dear, if you go on in
this manner" said Bridget, struggling
with emotion, and gently trying to
disengage herself, "what will l dos
Sure, I shall be ifs for nothing this
blessed day-and the babies, too-why
we are changing places with them and
crying as if they could not do it much
better than we. Take heart, woman,
dear, the boy will need all your care"
"All yours, Bridget, all yours. Oh,
tell me that you will never forsake
him! 1 know it, 1 feel it; he will soon
be alone with you-have only you.
Ga, let him creep to your heart when
the salt seas cover his mother. Nay,
Bridget, you shall not unclas my
hands until I have you promise: say
that in danger, sickness or distress
he shall be to you as your own"
Holy Mother, be my Witness"
family e circulated Bridget. He shall
have half Of my heart, half of my
strength. When I forego my hold of
him, sorrow be my portion. But you
will live, Dora CallaD, and my child
may call you mother by means OF this
boy Of ours, for now he is mine, you
see, and 1 mean to dispose of him"
A faint smile played upon the lips of
the sinking girl in answer to this
spoFtive sally, and then closing her
eyes che folded her hands upon her
breast III silent prayer.
Inc prophetic spirit in which the
yoUUg creatures had spoken was soon
apparent.
A rapid change passed over the fair
face; the power OF utterance suddenly
failed; but while life fingered her
grateful and ~beseeching eyes were
raised to the face of Bridget, at whose
breast the little creature so soon to be
orphaned nestled in comfort.
The next night a white hammock
was lowered into the sea beneath the
solemn starlight.
The passengers and crew stood round
while the captain read the funeral scr
vice; his voice often faltered, and at
intervals a deep sob was heard; it
burst from the Bosom Of Bridget Ryan,
who, with both children clasped in her
arms, knelt upon the deck.
When the. solemn ceremony was
over and the fair form of Dora had
sunk many fathoms to it's deep and
silent grave, a low wall of excessive
anguish broke from the lips of Bridget
Dora Callan, Dora Callan," che at
length uttered, with a deap tervency
of tone, which was in itself e~lcquence,
why have you gone from me-from
whose heart loved you like it's life3
But who may keep what the Great
Maker Wants9 Bright be your place
among the angels. Welcome be your
fair face when all is beautiful. O5h!
shall 1 ever forget how sweet you were,
how kind, how loving7 When you
wake from your great winding sheet,
Dora mine, may we who mourn you
now meet you ri oicing."
Then her voice sank till Its
became inaudible. While
rocking herself to and fro the deck,
she cowed over the children and
bathed them in tears.
Impressed by the scene, all stood In
deep silence, watching the subsiding
struggle of her deep grief.
Almost unmarked, a change OF
weather had gradually come on, and a