Page:Story teller (2).pdf/12

12 carried off to sea. His parents received tidings of his seizure ; but beyond that they could learn nothing. It was the loss of their main prop. The father, who was already infirm, grew heartless and melancholy, and sunk into his grave. The widow. left lonely in her age and feebleness, could no longer support herself, and came upon the parish. Still there was a kind feeling towards her throughout the village, and a certain respect, as being one of the oldest inhabitants. As no one applied for the cottage in which she had passed so many happy days, she was permitted to remain in it, where she lived solitary and almost helpless. The few wants of nature were chiefly supplied from the scanty productions of her little garden, which the neighbours would now and then cultivate for her. It was but a few days before the time at which these circumstanees were told me, that she was gathering some vegetables for her repast, when she heard the cottage door which faced the garden suddenly open ; a stranger came out, and seemed to be looking eagerly and wildly around. He was dressed in seaman's clothes, was emaciated and ghastly pale, and bore the air of one broken by sickness and hardships. He saw her and hastened towards her ; but his steps were faint and faultering : he sunk on his knees before her, and sobbed like a child. The poor woman gazed upon him with a vacant and wandering eye. “ Oh my dear, dear mother ! don't you know your son ? your poor boy George !" It was the wreck of her once noble lad, who, shattered by wounds, by sickness, and by foreign imprisonment, had at length dragged his wasted limbs homeward, to repose among the scenes of his childhoed.

I will not attempt to detail the particulars of such a meeting, where joy and sorrow were so completely blended ; still he was alive ; he was come home ; he night yet live to comfort and cherish her old age ;