Where now are those gladsome little
children, those aged men and women, who, listening to those voices of
childhood, would fain have believed themselves young again? Ah! where
are they? Wringing their hands in wild despair! clambering over the
sides of the ship, endeavoring to save themselves on rafts, spars, or
articles affording inferior protection.
The Sea-flower,--where is she? where is her aged protector? Upon the
deck of that ill-fated steamer the Sea-flower kneels, with eyes meekly
turned heavenward. She asks that peace may be shed upon the hearts of
that agonized throng; that they may fitly receive this will of divine
dispensation. Never was her countenance more serene. Just then a voice
was heard at her side,--"we are going home;" it was the voice of the
noble officer, who had before noted her words.
"I was happy," replied Natalie, "when I said we are going home, but I
did not realize we would so soon meet the loved ones in that celestial
home, where we shall part no more forever; and I am happy now; yet this
terrible cry of anguish incites my deep, deep sympathies."
"Thank God for this presence of an angel, to shed light over my last
hour!" said the officer; "I now go down through that dark valley of
death, unattended by that gloom which had seized upon my soul.
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