Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-01-31
An Old Woman
Whose House
Faced the Sea.
By Frances J. Delano.

Once there was an old woman who
lived in a little house facing the sea.
There was a great hill in back of her,
the sky was over her, the sea in front
A her and not IA house in sight for
many mile.
N was thought that the old woman's
DAYS Of usefulness were over, for she
eould not 20 to the little fishing ham
,et az she used and care for the sick.
n was all she could do to keep her
house In order and tend her garden.
Rut still she was useful and happy
because she had a friend. She could
not see her friend, it is true, but no
more can we see our friends; 1t is only
their body we see, and what good
would that be il the friend were not
inside?
Well. the old woman knew that her
friend was with her, and she tried to
make her little house pleasant place.
When she felt the fresh wind sweeping
In from the sea, and saw how the tide
came in and washed the sands clean
every day. and how the rain came down
and washed the whole earth, then she
knew that her friend liked whatever
vas clean. So she secured her pewter
plates. and brought white sand for her
Hoor. and kept her candles always as
good as new.
She found, too, that her friend loyed
beautiful things; for the great sea,
both In storm and sunshine, was al
ways wonderfully beautiful, and the
shells thrown up on the beach were
delicately fashioned. So, when she
planted her potatoes, she planted pop
pies, too, and Canterbury bells and fox
glove. Sometimes she picked a flower
or two and set in a cup upon the table,
and then she would smile, thinking Of
her friend and of mis- love for every
beautiful thing.
She found out, after a little, that
her friend loved people-the staunch
old fishermen who kept the ships al
ways steady before the wind, and the
wives of the fishermen, the poor old
wives and the Eighty young ones, and
the little children everywhere, and the
wicked people away out in the great
world. The old woman knew that it
was beyond her power to understand
how great was her friends love for all
these.
But she tried to help, and, when
ever the fishermen went by, she would
nod to them. and sometimes, when the
weather threatened, she would call to
them: ''Ye're safe, ye're safe" she
would call. whether We come back, or
no. ye're safe" Now and then, in the
summer time. when the children went
wandering by, she would give them
lowers and help them in their search
for shells; and no weary, discouraged
traveller ever went by her door with
out being fed and cheered.
One winters night, when there was a
great storm abroad, when the wind
came from far out of the north and lift
60 the sea as II it were a feather and
hurled 1t against the rocks, when the
rain came In sheets on the roof of the
old woman's cottage, and when every
snip that could had been run into har-
Dor, on this night the old woman lay
IN ner bed, which was rocking like
cradle, and she was listening to the
sweep Of the wind, and thinking of
tne sailors at sea, when all at once
sne heard strange sound. 1t was not
tne sea, nor the wind, nor the rain:
~ was different sound from any of
hese- The old woman raised her head
ana listened, then she dressed herself.
nef candle was burning in the little
rom below. and she seized it and peer
"a out into the night. She could see
notning because OF the storm, so c..e
paced her candle upon the table and
opened her door. With the wind and
ue rain, which almost deluged the
o'o woman's cottage. there came also
Stranger into the room. The woman
e'ped him to a seat, then did her
oest 70 close the door. against the wind.
wnen this was done, she turned to the
granger. His strength was spent, and
.'emg this. she started the fire to blaz-
ing. and made him some Cruel.
me stranger was not like the men
ee was used to seeing. He was taller
ao thinner than the fishermen, and
hands were white and shapely.
clothing was like the clothing OF
{ king.
re come from a far country, be-
said the woman, when the heat
tne cruel had restored her guest.
AVE- said the stranger.
Inc old woman eyed him keenly.
like ye're king" she said pres
me stranger looked at the woman.
ne said. and dropped his head
~ his breast.
et courage will come with yer
nstn. said she.
~. the stranger neither spoke nor
ms head. Then the old woman