The Columbian fountain., 1846-02-28
WASHINGTON,
THE WATERWAYS ARMS.
A TALE OF DOVER.
BYED WARD F. WELD.

YET season, anu Inc uT'VluS SiVCt aS - Stt uCh
The easement, together with the rafting of
the window sash, the creaking Of the sign
board, as it swung on its rusty hinges, the
rude howl of the blast without, and its sub
dued moan in the chimney, lenl but cheer
less aspect to the faces OF the inmates of
the Waterman's Arms. Busting, babhling
Meg, the hostess, was herself no less goo-
my, and the pretty maid Of the bar, taking
her cue from her mistress, neither cast an
occasional glance at the mirror, nor allowed
a coquetish smile to light her countenance.
The common room of the Waterman's
Arms was the rendezvous of the pilots.
Here they met to smoke, drink, transact
business, receive their pay, hear their sail
ing orders, have their publications., and hold
coincidence. Souwesters, pea-jackets, over
hauls, speaking trumpets, portraits Of hard
faced old sea dogs, paintings Of ships on
lee-shores, models Of life boats, medals,
certify bravery skill, and diplomas, from the
Court Of Admiralty, covered the walls.
Of the guests assembled there were now
some dozen, and as you surveyed the group
you could but feel assured that they were
at home in the Pilots room. Here were
muscular frames and brawny arms, whose
very dress coats were storm-jackets, and
who aspired to no other-men born, nursed
and reared amid danger, who from their
calling and daring imbibed courage, and
breathed humanity. They were rough and
uncouth, but noble Of heart, charitable and
kind to extravaganza.
The party were met for no idle pur-
pose-it was their turn at sea. Husbands
and fathers, at home they were men of ten.
der hearts, and as such each had for the
while bid adieu to all he held dearest But
here assembled they were Misunderstanding
pilots, and in that. character, they spoke
only Of shoals, quicksands, reefs, spare an
chors and heavy gales; and no trace of
finer or more domestic feeling, or weaker
affection, could you find in their bronzed
and weather beaten faces.
W-h-e-w! came the blast, with vio-
lence that shook the building, and away on
the wings Of the tempest was borne the
gallant ship, which, as the well known
sign of the house had rode out series Of
gales year after year. The pride and prom
Use of the Waterman's Arms now foated
in the muddy water which flooded the
streets.
ssDo you mind that, my lads-I wish
the masters glass had not been out Of the
ueckets the day. For do you know as the
gale blows Tor US to hear and face tonight,
the calm of tomorrow will hear the sobs
of the widow and falherless and may
perish If would not rather face storms
lll Pm beached, than that poor Jeanette
and her youngsters should face the over
seer of the poor To be sure know we
have a widows fund, but What would that
be il we were all lost am AS stout at
heart as any of you, and older than most,
and again wish the masters glass was in
the becke,s; for if he war Mt at the look
out we should Mt launch boat tonight be-
fore hearing signal gum" said one of the
party.
"Poor ballast, that, my good fellow, to
put to sea with. Pitch it overheard al once.
lll be bound Meg has betler," rejoined
another
"Bestir yourself, Alice" spoke the hos
toss-"brng the old brandy, you shall
drink my brandy and my toast-SMay you
forget your own wives to save the husbands
of others = Bear that ia mind and there
will be the fewer widows. Why, you fool
ish man, see what you've done--Alce, the
hussy, with tears in her eyes,!
"Come, come-a tear with you must be
rare, my pretty one; we believe it is false
shore yet, and for one will know sure ,:
and suiting the action to the word, the
speaker would have removed the apror
which concealed ber face had he not beer
rudely cast aside by the youngest of the
party, who was the masters son.
Alice found vent for her tears now, and
her defender encircled her waist, her head
had resting place, and her bushes a CO..
| yer.
"You audacious shrieked Meg, the,
hostess-"ain't you ashamed--to 60 to dc,
the likes of that now, afore folks
aNo! am !" sobbed the girl.
Pll--" and her mistress might, per-.
haps, have carried out her unuttered threat
if it had required more than one arm of the
masters son to have supported Aice--but
il the one arm of affection, the other said as
much for muscular strength, as with it he
kept the landIady at bay.
ssHow all in drunken row |? " asked
the. master, who at this moment entered.