Seite:Marsh Hallig 1856.djvu/165

165

THE DISAPPOINTMENT.

fresh, with all the impression that cold, hunger, and
wet clothing, could make upon the mind through the
body ; he has talked with them under these circum-
stances ; he has represented to them that the next night
might complete the destruction by overwhelming all
who were left, and yet he was able to persuade only
two persons — and these so very old and infirm that they
could not raise a roof beneath which to shelter them-
selves — to seek a more safe asylum. All the rest re-
mained, and built again, as the truly Christian charity
of the high and low, the rich and poor, on the mainland,
gave them means to do — on the same soil so dear to
them. They might have lived wherever they wished, so
abundant was the relief afforded them ; but they were
quite sure they should die of home-sickness, even in the
most favored situation. They expressed very decidedly,
the wish that their pastor would always remain with
them ; and in their love for their home, they did not
suppose they were asking any sacrifice which would re-
quire a struggle; for to them, after the late terrible
experience, a hallig was sufficient to satisfy every de-
sire.
  We have been obliged to speak of this here, that the
reader may comprehend how it could be so far from
Godber's thoughts to leave the island again, and how
he could flatter himself that Idalia would willingly share
such a home with him. This illusion could not last
long ; and Oswald was the first to open the eyes of the
dreamer.
  "If one could only bring a horse over here !" said he
one day at table. "They get on so slowly with the un-
lading. If we are to be as long re-loading as we have