Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-02-18
lQlottester Dailp Spp.
THE SAILORS DREAM.

One beautiful Sunday afternoon / was walk
ing the quarter deck of a fine ship running
down the northeast trades. William Thorn
ton, an old weatherbeaten sailor, was at the
wheel and | could hear him occasionally hum
ming the air OF "Black Eyed Susan" wnen
my back was towards him. He was an excel
lent helmsman, and kept the ship true to her
course as the needle to the poles. Although it
is still, as it then, contrary to rules to en-
ter into conversation with the man at the wheel,
yet observing William smile and raise his hat
upon "nine hairs" | asked him, sympa.heti-
cally-
what are you thinking about, William 2"
about my sweetheart, sir"
Are you going to get married when you
return ?'
81 was never married, sir, nor never will be
II should live a thousand years. vet have n
sweetheart. It's just forty years this dav
since saw her, and never saw her but once
But what interest can you have in an Old salts
love dreams 2"
GO ahead, Wilam-tel me about this
sweetheart I'm in love myself and can sym.
pathize with you"
"Wel sir, it's Just forty years this day since
1 strolled into one of the biggest churches in
Broadway, and was invited to a seat in grand
pew by an elderly gentleman There were
two ladies with him. One of them, the mo.
ment our eyes met, said as plainly as ewes
could speak, Pm glad to see you again. l
was sure had seen her before l felt that we
were old playmateS, but tor 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 PRAYER book in
my hand and pointed to the lesson for the day.
was young then, sir, selfconceitcd as most
young men, but the more l looked at the sweet
girl, the less thought of myself When the
service was over | followed her to the door of
the carriage, and could not help saying as the
gentleman handed her in, God bless you,
my sweet angel and to my surprise, in
stead Of being offended she replied 4
thank you, sir, and may He bless you too.
The gentleman raised his hat to me and
smiled. Goodbye, jack he said, good luck
to you 1t was the voice of a sailor; lie was
no doubt retired sea-captain. Both the la
dies, though 1 had neglected one entirely
bowed to me out of the carriage window In
moment they were gone, and l never saw
them from that time to this yet from that day
to this have truly loved that sweet girl 90
odd you ever try to find out who she was?"
inquired
"NO, sir, what was the use? felt myself
poor ignorant sailor, hardly able to write my
own name; and | was not silly enough to
think that such lovely girl would care any
lIlIlB ABOUT me. thinking ABOUT her look all
the selfconceit out of me-"
"But you said you thought you had seen her
before: how was that? %
at was only in a dream, sir. l never saw
her before. Now, as ] am growing old, have
been thinking seriously about trying to be
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 my sweet girl she looks more lovely
than ever could never think of marrying
with her image ever present in my mind.
DO you think, sir, it is possible for an old
sinner like me to be good enough to go to
Heaven!"
"Why not, William?'
''I'll tell you why. About eight years ago
left the sea- for then | dreamed that l saw
my dear angel go to Heaven, and tried to be
good worked along shore with niggers and
stevedores, and had got over two thousand
dollars that l saved, so | got along very com
fortably | Joined the church and thought L
had got religion, when a rascally deacon cheat
ed me out of fifty dollars. was so thunder
ing mad that | gave the fellow an awful hid
ing, and before he could set the law dogs on
me, l was at sea again / think did very
wrong, but I'm so hard hearted that l can't,
in my soul, forgive the fellow even to this day.
My sweet angel tells me in my dreams that |
must forgive him; and that if l wish to Join
her | must be good"
He said much more, but the above affords a
glance at the inner life, and shows the purity
OF his soul. 1t must not be thought that he
was whining old fool; on the contrary he
was man of dauntless courage, bold even to
recklessness, and quick to resent an insult.
NO men are thrown more upon their resources
for mental food than seamen.