Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-03-23

From the Atlantic Monthly
Captain Ben's Choice.

An old red house on a rocky shore, with
fsherman's blue boat rocking on the bay, and
two white sails glistening far away over the
water. Above, the blue, shining sky and
below, the blue shining sea.
1t seems clever to have a pleasant day
said Mrs Davids, sighing
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 pity
ing herself
81 tell them" said She 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 pinch
Of bayberry snuff, Il am left alone in the
world Alone, say! why, I've got a daugh-
ter, but she is away out West. She is mar
ried to an eugneerman. And I've got two
grandchildren"
Mrs. Davids took the pinch of bayberry
and shook her head, looking as though that
was the hardest luck of all.
"Well, everybody has to have their pes-
ters, and you'll have to have yours" rejoined
Miss Percis Tame, taking pinch of snuff
the real Maccaboy--twce as large, with twice
as fierce action % don't know what it is to
bury children, nor to lose husband s'pose
| don't; but know what it is to be jammed
round the world and not have a ruff to stick
my head under. | wish had all the money
ever spent travelling, that's twelve
dollars she continued, regretfully.
Why in the world don't you marry and
have home Of your own2 sighed Mrs.
Dayids.
"Well don't expect to marry | don't
know as | do at my time of life" responded
the spinster. 81 rather guess my day for
chances is gone by
"You amt such a dreadful sight older than |,
am though, replied Mrs. Dayids refectively.
Not so old by two full years returned
Miss Tame, taking another smart pinch of
snuff, as though it touched the empty spot in
her heart and did it good " But you amt
looking out for opportunities yet, suppose"
Mrs. Dayids sighed eyasiyely. We can't
tell what is before us. There is moro than
one man in want of wife"
As though to point her words, Captain Ber
Lundy came in sight on the beach, his head
long way forward and his shambling feet
trying in vain to keep up.
Thirteen months and half since Lyddy
was buried" continued Mrs. Davids, accept
ing this application to her words, and there
is Captain Ben taking up with just what
housckeeper he can get, and 10 housekeepei
at ALL 1t would be an excellent home ioi
you, Persis. Captain Ben always had tn,
name Of making kind husband
She sighed again, whether from regret fo
the bereaved man, or for the multitude o
women bereft of such husband
BY this time Captain Ben's head was a
the door
" Morning" said he, while his feet wer,
coming up. "Quite an accident down her,
below the lighthouse last night. Schoone
ran ashore in the blow and broke all up int
kindling- wood in less than no time. Captain
Tisdale's been out looking for dead bodie
ever since daylight"
" | knowed it," sighed Mrs. Dayids.
heard a rushing sound some time about tn
break of day that walked me out of soun,
; sleep, and | knowed then there was a spiri
! leaving its body. | heard it the night David
; went or | expect did. IL must have bee
, very nearly at that time"
We'll, guess it wasn't spirit, las
night" said Captain Ben +" for as | was 60
, ing on TO say, after searching back and forth
Captain Tisdalc came upon the folks, ma
and boy, rolled up in their wet blanket
asleep behind the ife-boat house He sal
he felt like he could shake them for stayn
out in the wet. Wrecks always make for tn
lighthouse, so he s'posed those ones wer
drowned to DEATH sure enough"
80, then it couldn't have been them
was warned Of! returned Mrs. Dayids, look
I ing as though she regretted it, 1t wa
right over my head, and | walked up just a
the thing was rushing past. You haven
heard, have YOU" she continued, "whether @
no there was any other damage done by tn
! gale 2"
" don't know whether you would call
: damage exactly" returned Captain Ben
'' but Loizah Mullers got so scared she lei
: me and went home. She said she couldn
stay and run the chance of another Of on
coast blows, and off she trapsed."
Mrs. Dayds sighed like November. rs
you have some hard luck, as well as myself
don't suppose you can get housekeepe
/, to, keep her long" said she, dismally.
"ADe Grimes tells me it is enough sigh
I easier getting wives than housekeepers, an
: I'm some of mind to try that tack," !" reptile
: Captain Ben, smiling grimly.
Mrs. Dayids put up her hand to feel Of he
!, back hair, aud smoothed down her apron
o while Miss Persis Tame blushed like with
3 cred rose, and turned her eyes modesty GU
of the window.