The mountain Democrat., 1864-08-20

ing, from grim sort of smile, thar De had
good story if he would but tell it.
Two years ago, Come January, was
the last time as ever it was tried on NAV
hap, sir, you would like to hear about it ?
Though part seems rather sad.like, here
goes:
Two years ago, come January next, a
ship, looking like a collier coming from
Newcastle, anchored in the offing; it was
clear frosty morning, with a sharp
breeze from the east, which prevented
many from going out fishing. About
twenty of US were gathered around the
benches in front Of the coast-guard station
yonder, when we seed this ship letting
down her anchor.
"What ship be that p said l.; 'tain't
the 'Tilda, what brings Goals to the Elruin
wharf. jack says I. to my son, 'cut
home and get the glass, and let's see what
we caR make of it,
Just as Jack comes with the telli.
scope, up comes Lieutenant Barns, who
commands the station. -
''What do you make of it, my man P
says he.
Make it, CaptainH p says l 1--WE alters
calls him Cart:in), make Oft? why no.
thing at all; faint the 'Tilda, though she
seems to be collier
/ "A salvage case, perhaps says he !;
but we shall hear all about it directly, as
they are letting down the boat, see.'
In few minutes the oat was at the
shore, and man with thick serge coat
aud very large buttons. jumped ont and
walked up towards the place where we
were standing.
docs your parSon live near here,
matcs:' says he, as lie came up the gang
way
"Parson?' says old John Piler, who
loves his joke, 'tobe sure he does, and
he'll marry you as well as any one along
the coast, as no doubt You have heard
/ This sally was received with shouts
! If laughter by all, except the man with
hig buttons, who put on most uncom-
mon sad face, and pulled out large hand.
kcrchicf, with which he began to mop his
/ eyes
"Taint my getting married. says he
I 4 be come about. Yonder ship be the
Marv Ann barley. Of Newcastle and it
he along of Mary Ann barley that be
here to day
''She then wants to get married. only
it's not TO you,' said OLD John; and that's
why you puts on such an uncommon long
face. We'll, be sorry for you mate, that
/ be-
MARY Ann barley, who was the be-
loved wife of our skipper, George Hatred
Daricy, and arter wnom the ship was
named, is dead, dead as a red herring,
said tie nan, with a voice full Of anguish,
Which made old John look ashamed Of his
former jokes. no, mates, without any
more tiit!ing with my feelings. which are
such rs | caR't-cxpreSS, tell us where
your dear parson lives, because our skip
pcr's mind b. in such a state that he says
nothing but the consolation your vicar can
give, CT whom he has often heard, can do
him any good.
/ This compliment to our minister, the
Rev Mr.. Coles, whom We all loved, and
Of whom We were not little proud, and
the expression Of deep sorrow on the
mans face, turned all our sympathies to-
ward him, and we ali volunteered to show
him the way to the vicarage.
/ In less than half an hour We saw our
minister's tall thin figure coming down
! the village with the man with big buttons,
! and in another ten minutes he was on
( board the vessel.
In about an hours time, the boat land
Ell Mr.. Coles again, who. as he passed US,
stopped to shake hands with the Licuten.
ant, who had again Joined US, bringing
his own glass with him.
"A most interesting case said the vi
car. Il never saw man more completely
prostrated by grief. Poor fellow his
wife drad-just three days-only been
married two years! | never witnessed
more sympathy exhibited for any one
than the whole crew expresses towards
! him to see it was quite charming. The
man with those large buttons is a good,
honest, sailor-like fellow, with the tender
est of hearts. | was deeply interested in
all the particulars of the young woman's
! death, which he told me. lie ended by
hesceching me to persuade the skipper to
bury his wife, MS the crew can't bear a
dead ody on board ship,and the skipper,
he says, is almost always sitting and cry
! ing by it. could not help agreeing with
him that it was no use keeping the poor
woman above ground
| and what have you determined to do?'
said the lieutenant, returning his glass in
to its case
why, of course. the thing was rather
Irregular but, as all the men on board
seemed very anxious about it, | told the
skipper, poor fellow, who seemed as over.
come by grief as any man ever met, that
if he liked. would perform the last rites
over his poor young wife this very after.
noon. at first. as was told to expect,
he would not hear of the funeral taking
place anywhere but at Newcastle, his
home, but, after some persuasion, he
yielded the point. and the thing is all set
tied So, as | must tell the sexton to pre-
pare a grave by half past three must not
talk ans longer; and, really, the scene
have Just come from makes me feel that
should like tn b. alone f. time. am
most thankful to say that the converse
ton | have, mad with the poor fellow has
done much to make him resigned He
had heard Of me often before, he said, and
on his table I noticed nv little tract or
resignation, which he told me, to use his
own language, had been as balm to his
wounded spirit Very gratifying, was it
not? Good morning to you, my dear lieu
tenant; good morning, my good men, he
added as we raised our caps to him and
saw his kindly face turn toward home.
Before long the bell began to toll, and
as | went home to my dinner | saw the
sexton hard at work at the grave, which,
at the shippers request, was to be made
on the side nearest the sea and farthest
from the village, since he told the vicar it
would be so comforting, when his ship
passed by Elruin, TO see the spot where