The Cairo bulletin., 1911-04-02
AN EASTER
MORNING
BY F. A. mitchell.
Copyright by American Press Asso-
ciationW19ll.

had sold his cottage by the ocean and
bought the farm. One more voyage
remained to him, at the end Of which
he was to give up the one and enter
upon the other. The voyage he had
laid out would bring him home in the
month Of April, and his boys We're to
prepare the ground OF his farm for
planting against his return. Then
when his last cruise had been complet-
ed the family would spend the summer
on the farm-the first summer they
had ever spent together
Mrs. Collins was one OF those women
who are always looking ahead for
something to happen. When she babe
goodby to her husband she remember
ed cases wherein persons had made a
last venture which proved Il last one
In more ways than one. Several OF
her friends had sailed on a last voy-
age intending not to make another
and had never returned. She did not
take account of the many who had
returned and lived to good old age
atehome. Her husband had no sooner
sailed than she showed by her de-
meanor that this feeling was troubling
her. Her eldest daughter, Helen, a
girl of strong religious faith, stiOve to
her. She reminded her mother
that the same God was supreme upon
the ocean as on the land that II he
intended that their dear one should
return TO them no storm was fierce
enough to prevent. For a time such
arguments as this would dispel the
forebodings of the wife and mother,
but not for long.
Letters came from Captain Collins
from various points at which the ship.
the Helen Collins. named for its mas
ter's daughter, touched-Porto Rico
and other tropical ports. Then came
news Of one of those West Indian bur
ricanes that are a terror both on land
and on sea. Day upon day, week upon
week, passed after the storm had sub
sided and no word came from the
Helen Collins. From the first the cap
tains wife gave up all hope. Her chill
dren, who were not overcontident. did
what they could TO instill hope within
their mother, but without much sue
cess.
The winter passed. and the spring
began to peep from beneath the soil.
The boys told their mother that they
were going to prepare the farm for a
crop. In case their father should re-
turn and find shat nothing had been
done be would &c disappointed.
In March. when 1t became necessary
to do the first planting. the children
begged their mother to remove TO the
farm. and she only consented because
she must give up the cottage to the
new owner and if she remained il the
same locality would need TO rent or
buy another. So they moved their be.
longings to their new home.
1T win never be home to me, -
said the mother, without your father.
| had a feeling when he left us that
he would never return to enjoy this
place, and that foreboding has been
realized"
Mother" said Helen impressivey,
Il have a feeling. 1t is more than a
feeling--it is a hope. Easter will be
here within fortnight. The day Is
typical of renewed life / believe
that father will be with us on or be-
fore the anniversary of the rising Of
our Saviour"
ooh, my child, you have no founda'
ton on which to rest such belief
Nor Is there any foundation for the
feeling you experienced when he sail
ed that he would not return. OF the
two mine is by far the better, since Il
is the more comforting. And was
not the great resurrection that occurred
nearly twenty centuries ago intended
to give hope to mankindT'
But the days passed, the radishes,
the peas, the beets and other early
vegetables showed their tips above
the SOIL and Captain Collins did not
return. Instead parts of the wreck
age Of his ship were picked up at sea
asid their finding reported by return
ing ship. This news came the day
before Easter. ana IL there had been a
ray Of hope I'm the breast of the mother
of these children that their father
would return it was abandoned. only
Helen chung to what she called her
belief
Easter morning broke bright and
beautifiil. After breakfast all went
out to have look at the growing
plants. The children kept calling
their mothers attention TO this and
that row of springing vegetables. re-
marking how rapidly 1t was growing.
in order to divert her mind from her
bereavement A balmy breeze was
coming up from the south.
Mother" said Helen. II have one
Of your feelings. Not the same kind Of
a one, for 1t is more like hope. I'm
thinking this sweet smelling breeze has
come all the way from the tropics to
tell us that father is living, even IL he
can't yet be with u.s."
"Oh, Helen, you have such absurd
ideas"
Father
The exclamation came from little
Joe. Az turned and saw the child
running with open arms to a skeleton
Of man who was coming toward
them. The boy jumped into the mans
arms, and all knew that the husband
and father had returned.