The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1870-05-05
From the Atlantic Monthly.l
CAPTAIN BEN'S CHOICE.


with fisherman's blue boat rocking on
the bay, and two white sails glistening
far over the water. Above, the blue,
shining sky; and below, the blue, shin
ing sea.
at seems clever to have a pleasant
day." said Mrs. Davids, signing
Mrs. Davids said everything with a
sigh, and now she wiped her eyes also
on her calico apron. She was woman
with complexion like faded sea- weed
who seemed always pitying herself,
II tell them," said she, 81 have had
real hard luck. My husband is buried
away off in California, and my son died
in the army, and he is buried away
down South. Neither one of them is
buried together"
Then she sighed again. Twice, this
time.
"And so," she continued, taking out
a pinch of bayberry snuff, 81 am left
alone in the world, Alone, l say! why,
I've got a daughter, but she is away
out West. She is married to an en-
gineerman. And I've got two grand
children"
Mrs. Davids took the pinch Of bay
berry and shook her head, looking as
though that was the "hardest luck" of
all. ... .....
"Well, everybody has to have their
posters, and you'll have to have yours, 4"
reioined Miss Psrsis Tame, taking a
pinch of snuff-the real MaccahOy-
twice as large, with twice as fierce an
action. 81 don't know what it is to
bury children, nor to lose husband
| s'pose l don't; but / know what it is
to be iammed round the world and not
have ruff to stick my head under. l
wish l had all the money ever spent
traveling,-a that's twelve dollars, -
she continued regretfully,
"Why in the world don't you marry
and have a home your owni" sighed
Mrs. Dayids.
''Wel, don't ezpect to marry. |
don't know as do, at my time of life,"
responded the spinster. l rather guess
my day for chances is gone by"
"You amt such dreadful sight old
er than am, though" replied Mrs
Davids rehsetively.
'Not so old by two full years." re-
turned Miss Tame, taking another
smart pinch of snuff, as though it
touched an empty spot in her heart and
did it good, "But yOu amt looking
out for opportunities yet, l suppose"
Mrs. Davis sighed evasively "We
can't tell what is before us. There is
more than one man in want ola wife,"
AS though to point her words, Cap
tain Ben Lundy came in sight on the
beach, his head long way forward and
his shambling feet trying in vain to
keep up.
"iThirteen months and a half since
Liddy was buried" continued Mrs.
Davlds, accepting this application to
her words, "and there is Captain Ben
taking up with just what housekeepeI
he can get and no housekeeper at all
1t would be an excellent home for you
Persis. Captain Ben always had The
name of being a good husband"
She sighed again, whether from re-
gret for the bereaved man, or for the
multitude of women berefb of such 6
husband.
BY this time Captain Ben's head was
at the door.
"Morning!" said he, while his feet
were coming up. "Quite an accident
down here below the lighthouse last
night Schooner ran ashore in the
blow and broke all up into kindling
wood in less than no time. Captain
Tisdalc's been out looking for deaG
bodies since daylight.
81 knowed it," sighed Mrs, Davids
II heard rushing sound some timt
about the break of day that walked mt
out of sound sleep, and | knowed ther
there was a spirit leaving its body.
heard it the night Davids went, or
expect | did. 1t must have been verj
nearly at that time"
"Wel, Iguess it was MT a spirit, las
night" said Captain Ben; "for as
was going on to say, after searching
back aud forth, Captain Tisdale came
upon the folks, man and boy, rolled
up in their wet blankets asleep behin(
the life-boat house. He said he felt like
he could shake them for staying out il
the wet. Wrecks always make for th'
lighthouse, so he s'posed those one'
were drowned to death, sure enough.
90, then it couldn't have been then
was warned Oft" returned Mrs. Dav
ids, looking as though she regretted it
at was right over my head, and
walked upjust as the the thing was rush
ing past. You hav MT heard, have you,
she continued, "whether or no ther
was any other damage done by th,
gale r.
II don't know whether you woulC
call it damage exactly" returned Cap
tain Ben; shut Loizah Mullers got s,
scared she left me and went home