The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-09-22

E was dawn, and the fsherman's wife was early
astir, making ready the little breakfast for her
man, for he must catch the outgoing tide.
- From the window of the low, matched cot
tago he could the water the turbulent
Channel wind-swept and blue
There was already coming and going around the
dozen brown fishing boats. beachcd high and await
ing the tide to bear them out on the sea for the
days work. For this hamlet of fishers had no piers
or modern ways. With the tide they went forth.
Haste thou, Marie" said the husband, as he sat
before the table in the low-ceiIed kitchen bare but
clean Hasten for ! must be moving"
Marie brought the bowl of steaming coffee, the
long loaf land crisp fried egg and sat looking on
with pleased pride as they disappeared.
He rose: "A fine day before us, wife,
God wiling" she said, and putting her hands
his shoulders, looked aectionately into his face
She had come of fisher people, had seen her
mother mourn the men out in the tempest, had
herself known grief. and could never sec her strong
young husband go out to earn his bread on the
treacherous waters without fear in her heart
The little feow?" said Jacques. well, won't
break his sleep; kiss him good-by for his dad and
tell him to be on the sands to welcome me back"
and off he went tightening his red SASH his brown
face smiling and bright,
All was ready, and soon Marie saw the boats
lifted high upon the wave and carried out on the
water.
She watched them go; watched till they were far
cut for it was early yet the day long, and soon
SIC would waken little Pierre and feed him with
tho SAME thankfulness with which she had fed the
father. For food was something to thank the good
God for it came so hard and sometimes, when
tac winter drove the into fierce heights and all
were housed with naught to earn and little to eat
then meat was not always to be had and the eve-
ming soup and the morning bread for the winter
tine had to be we'll toiled for through the short
fishing season. and at all times be eaten grate-
fully.
These thoughts were in the mothers mind as
SC waited for little Pierre to waken Pierre the
sturdy and the mischievous. who spent long hours
locking out upon the and watching the strange,
sar-oh ships 60 by, for he too was to be fisher
just life his father, whom he thought the finest man
in the world.
Well WELL said Marie at last after the room
lad been tidied the fire freshened and the table
laid for the little man who still slept on "WeIl,
we'll must take peep at the laddie" So she crept
softly into the other room of the house there
were but two-and lifted corner of the curtain
which shut in the childs bed from the current of
cir SO feared by the peasant
With low cry she tore open the curtains and
felt in the un1bled bed. Where art hiding, Pierre?
Come forth, dear, do not tease thy mother"
But no Pierre peeped out with merry eyes, nor
crept UP from behind to startle @Maman"
Looking hurredly around she saw that his
clothes so neatly folded over the little chair were
gone that his wooden sabots, too, were gone. that
he must have clothed himself and stolen out to
play, while she had been busted in the kitchen
Running out, she searched the narrow street and
asked the nrchins about if they had seen Pierre
But no, madame"
And SO she ran down by the sea. that fatal sea
which charmed Pierre away from his play and
from his mates. She hurried along the sand sure
of finding him breakfastess and sleepy summing
himself and watching the white-caps
But Pierre was not there, and quickly the alarm
spread The village was small, and every lane and
climbing path were soon searched and nothing,
nothing was to be seen of little Pierre Them in
deed, eyes and thoughts turned toward the ocean,
and the stricken mother reached her hands to the