The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1862-05-02
The Ice Voyage.

4 CCy LHEIhC lCdsS, C4dl I'D bIIt gar Y
of poverty, tiiuging wide'open the door
and bounding into small comfortless
apartment on the third floor Of dingy
looking old wooden building near The
canal ground in the village of Cleveland,
Ohio. Come, hurrah, mother, put
away the slave work. and go and get a
nice DINNER right off," continued the lit
tie fellow, approaching pale. delicate
woman, scantiIy clad in thin dress. her
face pinchel with hunger and her hands
even blue with cold.
Why, what Go you mean my child:"
said the woman looking wonderfully up
from her work. "Do you know l have
no money to buy anything to eat, and
mus. finish this vest before | can get a
stick Of wood for our fire, which is almost:
cut"
" Nonsense, mother; let the old vest
90 to some poor woman who has no stout
boy ike me to earn money for her. You
-han't work this way, any longer, mother
Look here !" And the little fellow flung
down Oh tie table his two hands full Of
half dollars, while roguish smile lii mp
his handsome face as he beheId his moth.
er's look Of wonder.
Why, Frank Frank my son, where
have-where did you-"
All right, mother" interrupted the
bog. Aud down went another handful Of
bright silver coin. "Ill tell you all
abou! it mo- her. You .ee when | went
10 get my pay OF Mr Dennison to day, for
two months cooking on board the Aurora
well, he paid me twenty dollars in these
pieces, and then asked if | would 90 for
month in biz new schooner for fifteen dol
lars. | told him | would-aud when he
heard me SAY how hard you have TO work.
aud how poor and always sick you are he
gave me ten dollars more and said YOU
must get another room ard stop working
so hard besides he SAYS if I'll stay in the
schooner during the winter aud take care
e her, shall have twelve dollars month
10 be paid weekly to you. So hurrah,
nother vel have big fire and nice
dinner ut,er all If he is rich old bachelor
as thai crab apple old maid, Aunt lletty
Johnson calls hjIn."
Heaven bless you. my noble boy -
sobbed out the widow, as she cIasped her
arms around the chla's neck, bowed her
head upon his shoulder, and wept like
very child herself, for joy-ioy not 50
much for the timely aid her son had bro't
her, although her heart was fall of thank,
fulae~s for that, as for the noble qualities
displayed b. the brave little boy in re
menberiug her and bringing home every
cent OF his hard earned wages. instead Of
spending it foo!jshIy as too many boys of
his age would have done
a month passed away, and again the
hand .ome sailor boy Frank Merrill, stood
beside his mother in a more respectable
part Of the town, while the widow, as she
gezed proudly on her bov, looked ten
years younger and much happier than she
had done only four short weeks previously.
A cheerful blaze was in the CRATE, every
thing about the room was neat and elo-
qaent OF comfort, and the widow Merrill
was beautiful in her brown rnerino dress
and CATERS, with her dark brown hair par
ted on her classic brow, and falling in wa
W tresses upon her shoulders.
Frank thought his mother very beauti
luI and SO did another person present.
Taat person was Mr.. Joseph Dennison,
The boys employer bluff good natured.
money making man of forty~tive, who, at
the boys request accompanied him home
Mrs. Merrill, said Dennison, your boy
has been in my employ three months, and
I am 50 much pleased with his prudence
aud general good qualities tha. with your
permission, should be plarseG to keep
him during the winter on board one Of
ny vessels that SAILS tomorrow fof Buffa-
10. 1t IS so late in the season that he
mpv not be able to return this winter, in
which case YOU can have Franks wages
paid monthly 0, weekly in advance, for
su"his his wish; and should You need
anything more, your order on me will be
honored always"
The widow could only murmur her
thanks and invoke Gods blessing on the
kiudhearted stranger whom she had never
seen before, and bidding her good night
left her alone with her darling boy On
the next day tile schooner Western Trader
left Cleveland with cargo Of oats bound
Tor Buffalo. That very night there came
on a cold northeast storm, which closed
TIE navigation Of Lake Erie for The win
ter.
4 whole month passed Without any
new, from The schooner, and then when
everybody hal giycn her up for lost, cap>
"a, arl .ro,v anna L,.I- - t'la,ol,pl