Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-11-17

at seeirg his wife in the kitchen; just
taking off great woolen wash apron, ,apd
putting down her sleeves which had besf
rolled up for washing. He listened; and
heard her say, as she took somo money
from Mrs. Brown, at won't be 50 l can
do your washing again"
ut has been great favor to have you
do it while l have been SO poorly" said
Mrs. Brown, land I'm glad to pay you
for it. This makes four times, and here's
two dollars. Tis just as we'll that you
can't come again, for think l shall be
we'll enough to do it myself"
Two dollars-just the price Of the
newspaper" exclaimed Mr.. Heath, as the
truth flashed across him. Rather q
silent ride home they had, till at last lie
Said
II never was so ashamed in all my
life -
"Of what" asked his wife.
"Why to have you 90 out washing. l
amt so poor as thas comes to-"
"Weil, I don't know" replied his wife.
"when a man is too poor to take o news
paper, his wife ought not to feel above
going out washing"
Nothing more was said on the subject,
although some il-feelings fingered in the
hearts of each. The making up was no
mawkish scene Of kissing, embracing, and
crying, such as romance writer's build
their eless fabrics with, but as Mrs.
Heath was finishing her household duties
for the night, she said, quietly
II don't think did quite right Rich.
ard"
IL don't think did, either" respond
ed the husband !; and so the spark was
quenched which might have become a
ssathing flame blighting all the domestic
peace under their humble roof.
At last the long voyage is almost end.
ed, and tne sailors talk only Of home
now. They talk Of those they are to
meet. Of their wives and children to whom
their thoughts have so often wandered
during their three years absence. They
wondered if the young sailor, Alfred
Heath who lies so sick, will ever see his
lone again, and with their rough tones
suhdIed almost to gentleness, they speak
of his anxiety to see his mother.
lie is so hopeIessIy i'll that his heart is
now where the worn spirit ever turns in
its hour OF bitterest or its approach to
the unseen land-to God and mother
Faintly as his heart beats, it still throbs
with earnest desire for life. Dim as his
keen eye has become he fancies it world
brighten once more at the sight Of moth.
er and ais failing mind become cleared
could he lean on her breast.
With folded hands the young sailor
prays; his words are confused and inds.
tinct to those who listen, but all clear
and earnest are they to the Great Listen.
er above. And when the ship had reach
ell her distant port, and mingling voices
are all around the sick sailor. his com.
radcs bear him comfortably to . home
a miserable home but better to him than
the rocking vessel in the midst Of the
sounding sea. Now if | could see moth.
er, he murmured to the strangers around
him.
She is sitting by the vine covered win
dow, patiently reading the shipping jour-
nal and thinking it was time for him to
return, and hoping that he will never 60
to sea again. How quick the words cat h
her eye-Arrival, ship Banner, Lowell.
And it was week ago he could have
been home by this time; he will come
tonight, she said. joyiuiy. as she went
to communicate the good news to her hus.
band.
They watched for him in vain that
night, and then Mrs. Heath suggested
that no mother ever failed to suggest,
when the long absence Of child was un.
accounted for-hc must be sick; when
night after night passed. and they neither
saw nor heard anything Of Alfred her
anxiety would let her rest no longer.
We will so for him or at least 60
where we may hear of him." said Mr..
Heath, who now, as we'll as his wife,
readily assented.
Their simple preparations for the jour
ney were soon made, aid with heavy
hearts they proceeded in search of their
son, with little hopes Of gaining anything
more satisfactory than definite intelligence
OF his death.
1t Was dark and rainy evening when
,hey entered the city, and after an hour
o. truitless enquinies, they found the
place where Alfred had been carried
Little care had he received in the crowd.
ed boarding house. There was mona of
the neatness and order that shows better
in a sick room than anywhere else
Rough hands had roughly tended him,
and pale and death-likc as he looked it
seemed as if it mattered little what care
he bad now. In the agony with which
the parents bent over the unconscious
sleeper, and marked the sunken cheeks
and wasted form, there was but one ray
Of comfort they could watch over him,
they should not hear Of his death with
the sad thoughts that none but a stranger
had smoothed his dying pillow.
The sufferer awoke from \ troubled
dream, to find his aching head supported
by his father, and see his mothers eye
resting on him with look of unutterabic
tenderness. So faint was the smile Of
recognition with which he greeted tbom,
that only parents eye could have seen
the futtering expression.
Can't live, can't live." said the doc.
tor with professional carelcs,ness, as lie
entered the house next morning "But
his mother has comet" said the landlady
That alters the case he may get up
again." answered the doctor, whom none