Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-01-20
5rlrfte0 Alistellanp.
TIE SAILORS DREAM.

One beautiful Sunday afternoon, I was
walking the quarterback of a fine shin
running down the northeast trades. VIM.
Thornton. an old, weather beaten sailor.
was at the wheel, and | could hear him,
occasionally, humming the air Of "Black
Eyed Susan" when my back was turned
towards him. He was an excellent
helmsman, and kept the ship to her
course true as the needle to the poles,
although it is still, as it was then,
contrary to rule, to enter into converse
ton with the man at the wheel, vet OBJ
serving William smile and raise his hat
upon " nine hairs" | asked him sympa-
thetically, "What are you thinking about
William p about my sweetheart. sir. :"
"Are you going TO get married again
when you return ?" Il was never mar
ried, sir, nor never will be; if l should
live thousand years, yet have a sweet.
heart. It's just forty years this dav
since | saw her, and l never saw her but
once. But what interest can you have
in an old salts love dreamsY' $50
ahead, William, tell me about this sweet
heart. I'm in love myself, and can SYM
pathize with you"
" Well, sir, it is just forty years this
day since | strolled into one of the big
gest churches in Broadway, and was in
vlted to take seat in grand pew
by an elderly gentleman. There were
two ladies with him. One of them as
our eyes met said as plainly as eyes could
speak" I'm glad to see you again"
was sure had seen her before; | felt
That We were old playmates, but for the
soul Of me | could not tell where, could
hardly take my eyes off her, she looked
so good. When the services commenced.
she put a rayer-book in my hand, and
pointed to the lesson for the day. Twas
young then, sir, and good-looking, too.
aud had about as much self-conceit as
most young men, but the more | looked
at that sweet girl, the less | thought of
myself When the services were over.
| followed her to the door Of the carriage.
and could not help saying as the gentle
man handed her in, God bless you, nv
sweet angelo and to my surprise instead
Of being offended, she replied, THANK
you, sir, and may He bless you too. y
The gentleman raised his hat to me and
smiled Goodbye, Jack said be,
"good luck to you" 1t was the voice
of sailor; he was, no doubt, a retired
sea-captain. Both the ladies', though |
had mes 'ected one entirely, bowed to INC
out Of tie carriage window. In mo-
ment they were gone, and I never saw
them from that time to this, yet from that
day to this have truly loved that sweet
girl y
+" Did you ever try to find out who
she was" | inquired
+" No, sir, what was the use | fell
myself poor, ignorant sailor, hardly
able to write my own name and was
not silly enough to think that such a
lovely girl would care anything about me
Thinking about her took all the self-con-
ceit out Of me-
But you said you thought you had
seen her before how was that %
3" 1t was only in dream, sir. never
saw her before. Now, as Tn growing
old, | have been thinking seriously about
being good, that | may meet her in
Heaven. Every Sunday, for forty years,
has the scene in that church been before
me, and every time l think upon NV
sweet girl she looks more lovely than she
did before. | could never think of mar
rying with her image ever present in nv
mind. DO you think, sir, it is possible
for an old sinner like me to 70 to Heayen?o
Why not, William p
"Pll tell you why. About eight
years ago left the sea, for then dreamed
that | saw my dear angel 90 to Heaven,
and tried to be good. | worked along
shore with niggers and stevedores, and
bad over two thousand dollars that |
saved, so | got along very comfortably
! joined a church, and thought had rot
religion, when rascally deacon cheated
me out Of Fifty dollars | was so thun-
dering mad that | gave the fellow an aw.
full hiding, and before he could set the
law dogs on me, | was at sea again. /
think now that I did very wrong, but I'm
so hard hearted that | can't, in my soul,
forgive the fellow even to this day.
Ny sweet angel tells me in my creams
that | must forgive him, and that if ]