The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 241: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

64 THE STEAM PACKET.- scenes of fashion and splendour in which her proud relatives moved. The union was blessed by two children; and not a cloud passed over the existence of the contented Pierre, until his faithful and fond part- ner was summoned to the tomb. We need not say how deeply she was deplored—how sincerely lamented : suffice it to observe that a sense of religion, and a firm hope of being re-united in a happier sphere, enabled him to support his loss with resignation, and to enjoy that in- ward tranquillity which a strong reliance upon heaven can alone produce. % We said that Pierre Michel was sitting, in the twilight of an April eve, in the year 1776, upon the bench before his cottage door, ponder- - ing upon those serious matters which were congenial with his years, and seemed chiefly to bear relation to the reminiscences of her whom he had lost. Albert had gone out in the afternoon in his little boat— for he was passionately addicted to the sea,—and his father knew that, though young, he was both skilful and cautious ; while Pauline had proceeded to pass a few hours with some acquaintances in the Basse- Ville. These friends consisted of a notary, his wife and son; and although the gloom of evening was rapidly increasing, Pierre did not feel uneasy, for he well knew that young Henri Alvimar would escort her home. M. Alvimar senior was reputed to be wealthy ; Henri was his only son; and it was not with feelings of discontent that Father Pierre had beheld evident signs of attachment on the part of the young people. | | But as the shades of night rapidly deepened, dark clouds gathered above, the wind began to whistle through the trees, and the whole aspect of the heavens announced the proximity of a fearful storm. Pauline reached home, escorted by the son of the notary, just as the heavy drops of rain had chased her father into the cottage; but still Albert returned not. An hour passed away; and the storm broke with appalling violence. The roar of the sea commingled with the . crash of the thunder, and the moaning of the wind ; and from time to time the whole sphere was illuminated for a few monet with the brilliancy of the lightning. It was eleven o’clock on that fearful nig when Pierre Michel and ‘Henri Alvimar proceeded together to the coast, as Albert had not re- turned, and the fears of the father and sister had arisen to a pitch bor- dering upon frenzy. Pauline wished to throw her cloak around her, and accompany her father and Henri to,the sea-shore; but the storm raged with a fury which would have rendered it hist imprudent and dangerous for a young female, tenderly nurtured, to expose herself to the cold wind and heavy rains. She accordingly consented to await Gomichbooks (E(0) 7 -~" : *. ew er Ot. es ee