The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-05-11
The Sailors Dream.

Qo II lIC titNSS' " iiAiSAAii
Thornton, an old, weather beaten sailor,
was at the wheel, and eould hear him
occasionally, humming the air of " Black
Eyed Susan" when my back WAS toward
him. He WAS an excellent helmsmsn, and
kept the ship to her course as true as the
needle to her pole. Although it is still, as
it was then, contrary to rule, 10 enter into
conversation with the man at the wheel,
yet observing William smile and raise his
hat upon " mine hairs" [ asked him sym
pathetcally: " What are you thinking
about, William 2"
About my sweetheart, sir.
" Are you going to get married when
you return 2"
" | was never married, sir, nor never
will be, if should live a Thousand years,
yet have sweetheart. LIS just forty.
years this day since saw her, and never
saw her but once. But what interest can
you have in an old salts love dreams z"
''Go ahead, William, tell me about this
sweetheart. Pm in love myself and can
sympathize with you"
" Well, sir, it is just forty years this day
since strolled into one of the biggest
churches in Broadway, and was invited to
seat in grand pew by an elderly gen
tlemsn. There were two ladies with him
One of them the moment our eyes met,
said as plainly as eyes could speak, Pm
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. l could hardly take my
ewes off her. she looked SO good. When
the service commenced she put prayer
book in my hand, and pointed to the les
son for the day. | was young then, sir,
and good looking, too, and had about as
much self concsit as most young men, but
the more [ looked at that sweet girl the
less | thought of myself When the ser
vices were over, followed her to the door
of the carriage, and could not he saying
As the gentleman handed her in, God
bless you my sweet angel p and to my sur
prise, instead of being offended, she re-
piled, Thank you, sir, and may be bless
you too The gentleman raised his hat
to me smiled Good bye, Jack, he said,
good luck to you 1t was the voice OF
a sailor; he was, no doubt, retired sea
captain. Both the ladies', though had
neglected one entirely, bowel to me out
of the carriage window. In moment
they were gone, and | never saw them
from that tiIns to this, yet from that day
to this | have trueIy loved that sweet
cir. !"
did you ever try to find out whs she
was? % | inquired.
No, sir, what was the use? felt my
self poor, ignorant sailor, hardly able to
write my own name, and was not silly
enough to think that such lovely grI
could care anything about me. Thinking
about her took all the ssl.-concet out ot
me-
"But you said you thought you had
seen her before how was that q
1T was only in dream, sir. I never
saw her before. Now, as I'm growing old
| have been thinking seriously about try
ing 20 be good, that l may meet her in
Heaven. Every Sunday, for forty years
has the scene, in that church, been before
me, and every time | think upon my sweet
girl, she looks more lovely than ever.
could never think of marrying with hsl
image ever present in my mind. DO you
think, sir, it is possible for an old sinner
like men to be good enough to go te
Heaven e.
" WHY not, William %
"I'iI tell YOU why. About eight years
ago | left the sea, for then | dreamed thai
| saw my angel go to Heaven, and tried
to be good | worked along shore witt
niggers and stevedores, and had over two
thousand dollars that l saved, SO | go
along very comfortably. | joined The
church and thought had got religion
when rascalIy deacon cheated me out oi
fifty dollars. | was so laundering mad
that | gave the fellow an awful hiding
and before he could get the law dogs on
me, was at sea again. | think now thai
| did very wrong, but I'u so hard hearted
that can't in my soul forgive the fellow
to this day.
My sweat angel tells me in my dreams
that | must forgive him, and that if | wish
| to Join her must be good.
lie sdlu HiUtH EOlc, pus thC NDo'N 81
fords 2 glance at his inner life, and shows
the purity of his soul. 1t must not be
thought that he was whining old fool
Oh the contrary he was man Of dauntless
courage; oald even to recklessness, and
quick to reseut an insult. No men are
thrown more upon their resources for men
tai food than seamen. For weeks and
even monhs, SKY and water are their only
companions and long voyages, when they
! have watch and-watch, their labor Is very
| light. 1t is then their minds dwell on the
pleasant scenes Of the past and make the
dross of ealth appear divine. Bill Thorn
tons case is not singular. Almost every
sailor has some beaueous love-dream, and
hence the reason why so few Of them mar.
ry. The ideal has more charms for them
/ than the real.
With all their faults, sailors are not bad
men. AS class, in a rude way, they
love the true, the beautiful and the good
aud are proverbial for their generosity
May they all go to Heaven at last.
re- o. Miss. NAV see you home p said