Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1900-09-06
iWrislea for TIC Bsasen.)
The starn q Nineteen Hundred.

Leonardtown's san was -lnwiy setting. SETTING
DER the west.
When the sounds OF distant fhnsaer reused us
from our sadly needed rsst
Were VIC awake or dreaming Why was Al,
90 STRANGELY stiIi2
Hank there comes clash OF fhuns.er, rs,dcgy
shaking vale and hill
Up we jumped. and sorcly frightened, for the
windows made . rush.
But ere we could lower them there came
fash OF lightning partly binding us.
Down upon the bed we croucheI-tremblInr
shaking. shiyering.
Tears toour eyelidssprans. whlie our lips were
quivering.
Louder stiIi and louder the storm ragged on at
its Wild. fcree win.
Lake unto that mighty borabariment OF the
famous Bunker Hin;
Quietly one by one we three lone girls slipped
from tho bedsupon our knees.
And there prayed most earnestly "Oh. God.
spare us. pleasei'
Prayed. ali. such prayers as girls had never
prayed before
Who were alone and helpless. on the verge of
deaths cold door.
Zen as we knelt there. the very heavens
seemed 20 break upon our heads,
So scared, 90 miserable. 90 nervous. we scarce
knew We were alive or dead.
For one long hour We knclt thus. our faces
buried deep into the bed.
While every peal OF angry thunder fell on our
young hearts like lead.
Yet our trust I'm God was stauneh, rs we made
the low and humble cry.
Spare US just = little longer. doar God. forw we
are not flt to die.
Give us one more chance to serve Thee; we
win try 80 hard to be good.
A new life wen lead tomorrow, and only do
that which we should"
Surely passing angels bore this heartfelt
prayer 20 the throne Of God.
For tho the storm ragged on. sparkling rain
drops fell upon the hot, dry sod.
Down they poured In rushing torrents, while
the winds were fierce and wild,
Sounding against our window panes like the
moan Of some little child;
But az an augrv woman gives vent 10 her pas.
sion by q flood Of tears,
So did these golden rain drops calm the most
violent storm Of years.
But ere We left the chamber where the shadow
OF death seemed lowering DER,
We knclt with hearts upliftcd and thanked God
for peace once more.
Then with lighted lantern We looked the place
around.
All just see yonder tree-tops and green corn
strewn upon the ground
Grieve not, ye hard worked farmer. for that
which ye have lost,
A life 10 worth moro than q crop OF corn. tho
ye sadly need the cost.
Ans quiet ard darkness now, and wsare quite
alone,
when bark there comes O roaring sound like
unto drunkard's moan.
We walt to hear no more; another storm we
wildly cry, and jumped from the porch;
We jerk the lantern and start for Leonard
town on "our midnight march~
Through the mud we plunge, over rushing
streams, and torn.
wonder were there ever three maidens moro
forlorn C0
AT last we see the light OF the village CLEAN
through the darkness and mist,
And a feeling OF JOY comes over US that our
souls cannot resist.
At last we reach the old, old homo, 10 find it
all solemn and closed;
"Ahi mother" we cry, "come let US In, "here
Is your little Rose -
Then as our sad tales we tell, we find one was
little worse than the other;
They too had a terrible storm. but they too
had IAN otherr,
But now Il Is all over-saye for the damage the
world looks as Of yorc.
And now that Ills all over, let's see how much
better we are going 20 DO than before.
Aug. "a, 1900. NINA c. ROBERTS.