The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-22

In one of those low rambling houses. with fiat roof broadNporches, wide doors, and wide. low rooms, that nestle here and there upon the cliffs beyond the sight, but not beyond the sound of the waves, sat a solitary woman. When a bride of IS, she had come to this home, where the sun shines ftfully and the storm wind rages frequently. As she listened now to the sullen boom of the sea and the furious roar of the wind, her thoughts reverted painfully to that long ago.
 She drew her easy chair nearer the fire of driftwood. and stirred anew the bright leaping flames. The earlier restiessness of the day had left her. She had sent her faithful old servant, Jan sen. down to the shore to help the fish erfolk-if help were needed---and now there was nothing for her to do, but to wait.
 She did not know If she had fallen asleep, when the door opened softly and Jansen entered. followd by his wife. In the arms of each was an unaccus- toned burden; a badly was pressed to the wife's bosom. and hanging limp and helpless across Jansen's arms was A boy: his sea a-drenched clothing had been removed and he was wrapped In the rough coat of a fish erman The once ruddy cheeks were the marble nue II, faint pulsation inspired an unwopted activity in that quiet home. When, at | last, their efforts were rewarded. ana | the fair lids fluttered, the unexpected | happened. The childs blue eyes flew | open, and pushing back the damp | flaxen curls, he sat up with strange | and sudden energy. l aOh. the beautiful mother" he cried, l flinging himself into the woman's arms, and giving way to such a burst or | weeping as to appal her.
 At every fresh gust of the wind, his
 sobbing Increased. He seemed striv- | ing to tell her something, at the same
 time holding his oh ildish hands press Eed tight against his ears to shut out | the sound of tho tempest. Finally. he | made clear his wish. He wanted Jan- | sen to carry the dry driftwood out to | the sheer edge of the cliff and in that | high sheltered place to build beacon | fire. that the vessels tossing at sea, | might pass the dangerous reefs In l safety.
 1 Ills wish obeyed, he fell asleep. and for the first time. the woman had 2 moment to turn her attention to the baby, quietly cooing in the lap of Jan sen's wife. A little girl she was with something mocking and elfsh looking in her wise baby smile. The woman hastily looked away Why, oh, why had the box called her the beautiful
 mother"--words fraught with such poignant pain? Once. oh, once. the
 beauty of motherhood had been hers.
 For four blessed years a little son
 had toddled after her, till one day, he had disappeared. She had gone to visit sick neighbor and had left him
 at home. When she returned. he could not be found. There was but one con-
 clusion to reach. he had wandered to
 the edge of the cliff-he was lost at | sea-
 sNo, she could not-must not-dwell
 upon the memory of that time. the
 hopeless search; the helpless longing;
 the bitten certainty; and the endless
 endless apathy of despair. She bent
 over the sleeping boy. Her son would
 have been just his age. And his eyes
 oh. it was her own child's eyes that 4 opened and looked up into hers. as the little arms were again outstretch Cd to "the beautiful mother"
 Again, as the days passed, he had a wish unexpressed, and strove to ex- press it --Atslast he made 1t knowr
 in his quaint way, saying:
 "The sons of the fisherfolk, beauti.