Year: 1859

husband and so the spark was auenched which might have become scathing flame, | bl shtlng all the domestic peace under their l humble roof,

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 At last the long voyage is ended, and the sailors talk only of home now. They talk of those they are to meet, of their wives and children, to whom their thoughts have so oft en wandered during these three yefrs' ab- sence. They wonder if the young sailor, AL ] fred Heath, who lies so sick will ever see | home again, and with their rough tones sub l dued almost to gentleness, tn speak of his anxiety to see his mother. 1 He is so hopelessly i'll that his heart is now where the worn spirit ever turns in it's hour of l bitterest sorrow, or it's approach to the unseen end-to God and his mother. Faintly as his heart beats, it still throLs with earnest desire l for life. Dim as his keen eye has become, he f,ncies it would brighten once more at the sight of his mother. and his failing mind be- ! come cleared could he lean on hss breast. 1 With folded hands the young sailor prays his words are confused and indistinct to those | who listen, but all clear and earnest are they to the Great listener above. And when the | ship had reached her distant port, and min gllng voices are all around the sick sailor his comrades bear him comfortably to hone-a miserable lome-but better to him than the ] rocking vessel ip the midst of the sounding sea. Now, if l could see mother," he mur- | urcd to the strangers around him.

 She is sitting by the vne-covered window, patiently reading the shipping journal and | thinking meanwhile, of her absent boy think | ing it was time for him to return, and hoping that he will never go to sea again. How quick the word catches her eye -Arrived ship Ban ner, Lowell. ...+.

 And it was week ago he could have been home by this time he will come to- | night. she said joyfuIly, as she went to con- municate the good news to her husband. They watched fol him in vain that night and then Mrs. Heath suggested what 10 moth CT ever failed to suggest when the long ab- sence of child was unaccounted tor-he must be sick ; when night after night passed, and they neither saw nor beard anything of AL fred, her anxiety would let her rest no longer.

 'We will go for him, or at least go where we may hear of him." said Mfr Heath, who now, as anxious as his wife, readily assented

 Their simple preparations for the journey were scoa made, and with heavy hearts they proct eled ill search of their son, with little hopes of gaining anything more satisfactory than definite Ltvligence of his death.

 It was dark and rainy evening when they entered the city, and after an hour spent ill fruitless enquiries, they found the place where Alfred had been carried. Little care had he received in the crowded boarding house. There was none of the neatness and order that shows better in sick room than anywhere else Rough hands had roughly tended him. and pale and death-iike as he looked, it seemed as if It mattcred little what care he had now. In the agony with which the parents bent over the unconscious sleeper, and marked the sunk ell cheeks and asted form, there was but cue ray of comfort they could watch over him. they should not hear of his deu tn with the sad thought that none but a stranger had smooth ed his dying pillow.

 The sufferer awoke from troubled dream to find his aching head supported by his father look of unutterable tenderness. So taiut was the smile of recognition with which he greeted them, that only parents eye could have caught the 1tterng expression.

 'Cant live can't live !" said the doctor, with professional carelessncss, as he entered the house the next morning.

 ' But his mother has come !" said the land lady ''

 That alters the case; he may get up again" answered the doctor, than whom none knew better how much a mother could do.

 But how frall seems the thread that held that young and promising life. For days it quiyered and trenbed with the slightest breath, and the mother tearfully prayed that it might not be broken. A gentle care and kindly watching as ever blessed sick bed, had Alfred Heath, and not ill vain gradual y he grew better, and was able to walk with his parents, and asked them how they chan ced to come to him in the hour of need.

 It was the newspaper" said Mr. Heath, just three words in the paper told us your ship had come. You didn't arrive at home, and so we came to see if you were sick. You will soon be we'll enough to go home, my boy, God be thanked" he added fervently, " for send ing us to take care of you"

 At length Alfred was pronounced well enough to ride, and in few days the pleasant old homestead gladdened his sight. How bea autiful it looked as the sun shone on the vines in which it was embowered, with their wealth of grapes, just purpling in the au- tumn sunshine. 5'i

 No one so joyful as Mrs, Heath, who, after being gladdened by hearing Alfred say he wonld not go to sea again, expressed his opin- ion of newspapers ill general, and his own newspaper in particular, in this wise:

 "I am so glad, Millicent, that you took that paper, for l count paper just the most necessary thing in 6 family. We should never have had boy here strong and well, if. it had not been for it. It is an excellent thing. and shall subscribe fer it as long as live" @