Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-04-28

tOn. feopie running frantcally above
and below, rushing after their luggage
like mad things, crying with pleasure or
stled by anticipation, the fond heart
beating. the needy soul hoping, mothers
calling to their little ones TO look at that
dim strip in the horizon, and to believe
that it was America; all the hustle of
passenger ship nearing port bewildered
rather than amused Janet.
Here, Janet. take out the money from
that box said Robert. .ID all this con.
fusion it is not safe, for shall have to
leave you on board, while go and look
for lodgings. Take il out, will secure
it.
Janet obeyed unhesita,ngIy.
Where shall put it!' she asked.
'-et it into the inside Uf my waistcoat,'
said Robert, quietly. 1T will be safe
there
She did as she was told; stitching i, in
securely.
Il will come back again for you and
the children he then said, kissing her,
'as soon as have found lodgings. Itis
such tramp for us all to go together;
you stay quietly till come and fetch
you. Hurrah, Janet! we are a, home at
last!'
He ran up on deck gayly. and flung
himself into the first boa: going off to
shore. As long as Jane. could see him
ne stood in the stern waving his hand
then his handkerchief.
Hours-long, weary, endless hours
passed by. and no one returned for ia
net. BY degrees. and in time. the whole
vessel was emptied, and only the wife
and her two children remained. II was
against rules that they should stay any
longer, and the first mate came and told
her she must 'clear OUT
MY husband has gone for lodgings
for US, sir, said Janet, trembling. HE
has not come back yet, and | do not
know where TO 60 to-
| The first mate was very sorry-they
should have managed better--he would
have allowed her to stay if he could. but
it was against orders aud he must obey
his captain. He was really very sorry
tor her; but she must clear out in double
quick time for all that. Rules must be
obeyed and discipline kept up.
There was no help for it. Janet was
put on shore with her two children, and
must fare for herself as well as she
could. She had five shillings in her
pocket, which she calculated would give
them all supper and bed to night, and
to morrow she would find her husband
it he was alive in New York. .,...
Wandering about all bewildered at the
strange place, not knowing where she
was or where she must go, holding her
childred in her hand, one of whom was
crying bitterly from WEAKNESS and dread,
she met motherly-looking, handsome
woman of middle age, with kind and
positive brow: woman that made you
love her and obey her at the same mo-
ment. She looked hard at Janet and
half stopped too, and spoke to her.
| My husband left me in the ship this
morning., she said. TO look for lodgings
for me and the children. I am afraid
that some accident has happened to
him, for he has never come back: was
obliged to leave the vessel; they would
not let me sleep there
III is agains. orders,' said the stranger
promptly.
Yes, so the mate told me, ma am.--
But, as am a perfect stranger here,
don't know where to 60 to, and my little
children are getting tired and sleepy.
Can you tell me where / can find res
pecsable lodging for the nigh.?'
Come home with me- said the wo-
man, after moments pause. Il see
that you are a stranger, and am sure
you are respectable. | will give you
bed tonight. and you can look for your
husband tomorrow. A fool! to leave
you in this manner. What was the
man about. wonder!'
janet thanked her gratefully, and The
woman took her home.
They had supper and beds prepared
for them-all done in certain good
hearted, motherly, majestic way, that
impressed Janet deeply. Not much
conversation passed, for the poor girl
was too tired and too anxious to talk;
but she kissed her hostess in childlike,
loving manner. and clung to her tender.
ly, and thanked her with an almost pas
sionate gratitude. Not tor herself so
much. she said, 'as for her dear chill
dren.' And the stranger seemed 10 read
right down to the bottom of her guests
heart. and to renew again and again all
the freshness of her motherly cares.-
And so they parted for the night; Janet
holding the hand OF her hostess long and
lingeringly. and wondering a, herself af-
terward at the strength Of the impulss
which attracted her.
She went to bed, early as i, was, but
she could not sleep. A thousand nery-
Gus fancies, thousand horrible fears,
disturbed her. She tried to hope there
was some mistake on her husband par,.
but she failed sorely in her attempt and.
at last. abandoning herself Of fit of
despair-almost like madness-she gave
herself up to the terrible belief that she
hac been again trusted, and deser ted
Deserted, robbed, left to starve and die,
she and her children. in this strange,
wild city! And this was the man sho
i