The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1900-12-22

- sea, bringing WIN IL DING
|IN ing clouds of snow tina
~ plotted out all features
the landscape save tn
n7TI dark outlines Of an old farm
IlI|Ih house that stood facing the
UII land-locked bay, where
|IIII tossed to and fro by thu
IlIl troubled water, a mer
|IJI chairman that had sought
I'LL refuge from the storm, lay
r.om the chimneys of the storm
,...sr dwelling volumes eff smoke ros'
~ all. and through the high, narrow
' ,.aows. the light of household fires
cleaned brightly. ,o -. -, .
~. b,sv tasks being over, had gath
=. .d around the hearthstone, the
~. sr,ow was double festival, not alone
the day that
nG,o the cottage and the crown
aBring tididgs of salvation down,
l.. amid the Yule-tide greens were
.,.o twiued bridal wreaths. The
rhristmas bells would ring in the we'd
src day of the widow Winslow's son,
n.vid and her pretty ward, Rachel
Thorndyke.
The light of the huge oak fire flood
Al ,tbe old room, played "hide and
,eek" among the mistletoe and holly
,h.t decked the walls; danced among
M china in the old corner cupboard;
,enderly touched the Widows sad face
and deepened the gold of the tresses of
tbe morrow's bride, who sat with eyes
downcast, conscious of the gaze of her
liver, who, stroking the tumbled locks
# his little sister, listened to the tales
that his uncle, the old, blind sea cap
,aiu was telling of hair-breadth escapes
on the ocean.
Suddenly the little girl raised her
head from her brothers. knee and
asked whence came the ship that now
lay in the bay.
81 expect it is an Indian merchant
man, little one, and that she has run in
here for safety from the storm"
The old captain shook his head and
nuttered between the puffs from his
pipe:
ut brings no luck with it, for never
| did ship lay off this point, but with it
came misfortune to this family"
Mrs. Winslow glanced up quickly
with troubled face,
"Come, brother-in-law, don't cast a
gloom over our young people. A we'd
ding day must have no clouds over it,"
but, needless of his sisters interrupt
|dOn, the old man continued:
death and sorrow follow it. The |
FIRST time one came my old woman died. |
lean see that ship now, as it tossed off |
The shore-storm-driven to shelter
lust as the one out there. All the
spirits Of the sea were abroad that
blight. They called to Ann to come,
Rnd as the ship sailed away in the
Darkness her soul followed it. Again,
dark hulk came, and Jim went. Rob-
nmade his way out on the rock last
winter, to watch the great man-of-war
batting its way against the storm, and
|he hungry waves sucked him in.
Look, ye, to it, David and Rachel,
Plat phantom thing, lying there with
pare poles, BODIES We no good.
shudder passed over Rachel and,
|nvoluntarily, she stretched her hand
cDavid, who going to her, bent over
nd said: Remember the old proph-
~, dear Rachel:
VA wedding bell that at Christmas
rings;
Joy and happiness surely brings
pdo not let Uncle Ben's dark fore
'dlngs brighten you, or fear that the
PIP out yonder is the Flying Dutch
Pan' Even If the COLLINS carry me
Y shall make my way back to you"
Inc sun on Christmas morning rose
cloudless sky, although the waters
the bay dashed their white break F.;
Y nigh against the rocks and it's thun-
rlOus roar told of last nights storm.
ine earth lay at peace, wrapped in {
mantle OF snow; and soon the sleigh {
Fls broke its holy stiffness, as the
aulng guests sped on their way.
run iar and near they came; for on
sSmall peninsula that lay between