The weekly Butte record., 1866-11-03
The Little Red House

try seat, was little red eottage-quite
common, vulgar place, you know. low
down by the sea shore. 1t spelled the
elegant effects of the lawn and trees,
and the broad gateway of the Wharton
villa-especially when at the door sat
in the Summer twilight, with his pipe
the old man who was its master-old
John Bowling.
He had been sailor once, and salt
as the sea, rough in dress and mein, and
altogether unpleasant to fastidious Mrs.
Wharton; but there he would stay, and
there he meant to die-so he said
"God willing"
Gas it." said little Mrs. Wharton,
"any vulgar place wouldn't suit him,
instead of the very gate of our villa. y
10 fact, the lady had grown quite Sc
rious 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; but Van Klout had
answered: .
"Vell, veil. l should sell de grount,
but dare is mine good friend, John Bow
ling-you would turn him off,
Exactly my object" said the lady.
"So?' replied the German. "Nell,
veil; but den John Bowling wants to
live dare
And the ground was not to be had.
So, in her anger at his refusal, and
at John BowGng's determination not to
be paid for his cottage, and move, Mrs.
Wharton hardly answered the sailors.
"Sarvice, NUM-" always uttered when
she passed, and from the window of
the home she loved stared angrily upon
the home another loved as well. Even
little Nellie Wharton had learned to
talk with her baby lips of that "ugly
red house," and the ''nasty old sailor. I"
And now, when the lady had begun
to despair of her object, who should
die but old Van Klout, and who should
come into his property but a rapacoias
young beast who was willing enough to
sacrifice any number of homes for lit
tie money, and who elegantly promised
Mrs. Wharton to sell her the gore lot,
and elf 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 he was in consequence.
When the lady went to take her walk
by the shore, watching the little pleas
ure boat in which servant was sailing
with her child, with a 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 p
''To ask a favor num- said he
''Do not send me off. The wally O. the
house amt to be had in money. Hove
it SO dearly. 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.
'To you, mebbe-not to me. What
does my house hurt? | never annoy
nobody. If | do, tell me, and whatev-
er it is it 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 my way"
The sailor looked at her.
whats that in the Bible, our chap
lain used to read US about the poor
mans eve lamb :" he said. do you
remember hearing of it!'
''Don't preach, John Bowling" said
the lady. Il have no more to say; YOU
had better go.''
''They say women have tender
hearts," said the old sailor. IF that's
true, you can't think what YOU arc
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 white winged bird. But
there was something unusual in its
movement. The sailor paused in his
speech and stood still. The lady clasp
ed her hands.
"What is the matter - she cried.
'.Am wrong, John Bowling! Is
there really no danger p
''There's fool Of land builder on
board" said John. "rhe boat is cap
sizing"
And as he spoke the sail kissed the
water, and there came TO the shore the
scream of a child and the cry Of man
In terror.
'William cannot SWIM" cried the
lady. ''Oh, my child, my childr'
And she fang 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 plunged into the water