The Shasta courier., 1866-07-28
COURIER.
The Little Red House.

The one disagreeable object which me
Mrs. Wharton's eyes, when she glanced
from the window of her country seat, was &
little red cottage-quite common, vulgar
place, yo1 know-low down by the sea shore
1t spoiled the elegant effects of the lawn anc
trees, and the broad gateway of Wharton
Villa-especially when at the door sat IN the
Summer twilight, with his pipe-the ole
man who was its master-old John Bowling
He had been q sailor once, and salt as the
sea-rough in dress and mien, and altogeth
er unpleasant to fastidious Mrs. Wharton
but there he would stay, and there he meant
to desc be said" God willing"
AS it," said little Mrs. Wharton, @ any
vulgar place wouldn't suit him, instead OF the
very gate of our villa"
In fact, the lady had grown quite serious
on the subject, and was busy with plans and
plots to drive the old sailor from his home
Twice had she been to old Van Klout, who
owned the ground on which the little house
was built, to buy it from him; Van klout
had answered:
"Vell, veil. should sell de grount, but
dere is mine goot friend, John BowlIng-you
would turn him off, !"
Exactly my object" said the lady.
''So?" replied the German. "Vell, veil :;
but den John Bowling wants to live dere."
And the ground was not to be had.
So. in her anger at this refusal, and at
John Bowling's determination not to be paid
for his cottage and move Mrs. Wharton
/ hardly answered the sailors % Sarvice
mum ~ always uttered when she passed,
and from the window of the home she loved
stared angrily upon the home another loved
| so we'll. Even little Nellie Wharton had
| learned to talk with her baby lips Of that
"ugly red house," and the nasty old
sailor"
And now, when the lady had begun to de-
spair of her object. who should die but old
Van Klout, and who should come into his
property but a rapacious young beast who
was willing enough to sacrifice any number
of homes for little money, and who elegant
ly promised Mrs. Wharton to sell her the
gore lot, and =" if old Bowling didn't like it,
let him lump it,
So the red shanty was to come down as
soon as the papers were signed. Of course
they should pay the sailor the value, and
what more, in the name of goodness, could
they do?
Old Bowling had heard the news, and
wretched enough was he in consequence.
When the lady went to take her walk by the
shore, watching the little pleasure boat in
which a servant was sailing with her child,
with mothers eyes, the old man came to
her.
" Sarvice, num-" said he, pulling a lock
of hair
GOOD evening, John," said the lady,
What do you want?"
''To ask you favor, num-" said he.-
"Don't send me off. The wally o. the house
amt to be had in money love it so dear.
It's all I've got. You have husband and
child, and lots O. friends and fine things.
Let me keep my house,
"Any house will be as good," said the
lady.
ITO you, mebbe; not to me. What
does my house hurt? Inever annoy nobody.
If do, tell me, and whatever it is shan't be
done no more"
The lady shook her head.
There's no use talking" she said :" you
couldn't understand. The house is in NY
way"
The sailor looked at her
"What's that in the Bible, our Chaplain
used to read us about the poor mans eve
lamb?' he said. "Do you remember hear
ing of it p
s.Don't preach, John Bowling" said the
lady. 81 have no more to say you bet
ter CO."
"They say women has tender hearts," said
the old sailor IF that's true, you can't
think what you are doin The house is as
dear to me as that child is to you"
He pointed to the boat as he spoke, and
the lady looked.
The thing was fitting before the breeze
like a white winged bird But there was
something unusual in its movement. The
-, h;o cpooob opd Stood still =
The lady clasped her hands.
"What is the matter?'' she cried, !" Am
wrong. John Bowling-is there really no
danger? ?'
"There's fool Of land lubber aboard
said John. 50 The boat is capszng."
And as he spoke the sail kissed the water,
and there came to the shore the scream of a
child and the cry of a man in terror.
William cannot swim ~ cried the lady,
Oh, my child. my child ~
And she flung herself upon her knees and
raised her hands to Heaven.
But John Bowling lost no time in speech.
He flung off his jacket, his shoes, and even
his red shirt. Naked to the waist he plung-
ed into the water and swan toward the boat,
and the wretched lady saw him breasting the
waves. Saw him in moment more clasp
something in his strong old arm, and make
for the shore again.
The minutes seemed like hours, but they
passed, and she held her darling to her
breast again.
Somehow-perhaps he knew more of swim
ming than be thought-the servant had gain
ed the shore also. Bet he had never thought
of the child in his cowardly fear, and Mrs.
Wharton knew that.
To old Bowling, under Gods mercy, she
owed her darling's life, and the proud lady
knelt to the old sailor on the sand.
" Forgive me-" she said. g You have
saved my treasure. l will not rob YOU Of
yours. The little red house will be the
sweetest sight on earth to me hereafter
While live you shall never leave it. God
bless you'll | cannot thank you in words.n
And she could not. But all her life she
thanked him from her heart; and that nigh,
there lay upon the sailors table the title