The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-03-29

shake hands with Jessie, and in a week
had shipped on board vessel for In
dia.
1t was the life / liked; but even tn e
sea could not drive the face of Jessie
Jessup out of my mind. sailed it
for years and years; first before the
mast; then second-mate; then first
mate; at last, captain. But there new
or was a night ia all that time that
looking down into the waves, could
not see there, in the moonlight, pic
ture of the old Jessup farmhouse, and
of Jessie standing in the freight with
her sparkling face bright with her own
gay smile-or the great apple-orchard
where / had picked the best fruit for
her; or the green meadow through
which the little stream ran, where
when q little child, l had taught her
to fish / could not forget her, and
when l was man of forty she was
just as dear to me as ever, though
thought she must be some other man s
wife long, long ago; though l fancied,
as Lamb says, that: cher children
called another fathet"
was well off by this time, and
might have chosen some pretty woman
for my wife knew. They did not
seem to dislike me, and l had firted;a
bit with no great harm done to any
one-just a whisper and stolen kiss,
you know. But 'wife" was in no ones
face for me; felt sure / should die MS
| had iyed-quite alone. SO, as my
ship was all the bride l ever should
have, l stuck to her, and made up my
mind to be buried in the sea | had
sailed SO long.
1t was twenty years since had left
the farm. Twenty l was then, and no
one would have known me with my
long black beard, and tanned skin /;
and one day l took fancy, being
ashore after a long voyage, to run
down to Oakhill and see whether the
old man was living. If 1 did not
choose, felt sure 10 one need know
the Will. Wait who had lived among
them when he was slim, Unlocking
boy, in the stout, heavy, brown, black
CthANAth eco dllbhlIl VI
walked out to Oakhill, and there
was the old house just as it had been /;
the old farm green as ever; the orch
ard, renewed, | suppose, but seeming
like the same trees | had picked APP
pies from long ago.
went round to the porch, and
there sat an old, old white-headed man.
For a moment l doubpte chat it was
Grand'ther Jessup but / knew him
the next. He was ninety by that time,
and bent, and shrivelled, and with
cred
| touched my cap TO him.
"Who's that p said he.
"a man who has walked long way
and would like to rest a bit, sad |.
"Sit down." said he And 1 sat
down.
cts pleasant day." said 1.
Yes" said he, very pleasant, but
I'm tired of it all somehow. 1t looks
pleasanter over there" and he pointed
to the church-yard, plainly to be seen
from the porch.
"Aye," said 1--we all cast anchor
there at last, or somewhere where we
sleep as well. I'd like the sea my
self
"Why ?" said he.
sob, I'm a sailor" said I.
"a sailor ?" said he. 81 brought up
a 10y who went for sailor"
Did you?" said l.
"a rare good boy" he said, in his
old mans way, chuckling and nodding.
Il loved him like son; but he left
me. She's gone too-Jessie.
Married ?" said l.
mo, neither of en- married both
dead" said he.
Dead Not Jessie p
Eyes" he said Il think it's ten
years ago. It's in the Bible. l was
reading it just now. That tall white
stone under the willow near the
church, that's hers. She died and /
used to cry about it, don't know
only I'm so tired. Yes, yes--but Will
Waif should have stayed"
Did you want him p said l, the
tears in my eyes. do you want him
now p
II suppose he is dead too" said the
old man; under the sea somewhere.
| did want him. I'd made up my
mind he should marry Jessie. He had
nothing--not a penny; But / was
agoin' to give him the farm and live
along with 'em. couldn't offer my
gal, and he didn't ask / thought he
would, you know. so he went. Yes,
yes-I used to dream of seeing the
two man and wife and dancing their
babies on my knee"
'Is that true ?" L gasped
Eyes, yes" said the old man; 81
liked him, you know, but / never knew
Jessie did until the day she died"
was on my feet then. 1 felt half
mad.
"Knew that Jessie liked him ?"
cried.
eyes, said he. "She never married.
She stayed with me until she died.
And that day she put her arms about
my neck.
"I'm going, Grand'ther,' said she;
Il don't want to leave you, said she, in
her pretty voice, 'Lut l must
ooh, said /, can't part with you,
my dear-I can't
"And she kissed me again.
, Il, 9 a, L