Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-04-15
From the Atlantic Monthly for March
CAPTAIN BEN,S CHOlCE.

An old red house on rocky shore, with
u tishermans blue boat rocking on the bay,
and TWO VIII tr sails glislening far away over
the waller. Above, the blue shining sky :;
and below. the blhe, shining sea.
''It seems clever to have pleasant DAY."
said MIS-. Davids, sighing.
Mrs D.sds said everything with sigh,
and now she wiped her eyes also on her
calico apron. She was woman with a
complexion like faded seaweed, who seem.
ed always plying herself.
IL tel. ther..' said she, II have had real
hard luck. My husband is buried away off
in California, and my son died in the army,
AID he's buried away down South. Neither
enc OF them is buried together
Then she sighed again. Twice, this
time.
And so,' she continued, taking out a
pinch of bayberry snuff, Il am Iei; alone
in tie world. Alone, | say why, I've got
a daughter, but she is away out West. She
is married TO an engineer. Aud I've got
two grandchildren
Mrs. Davids took the pinch Of bayberry
aud shock her head, looking as though
that was the ''hardes, luck of all.
"Well, every ody has their posters, and
you'll have to have yours" rejoined Miss
Persis Tame, taking a pinch of snuff
the real Maccaboy-t"ice as large, with
twice as fierce action. III don't know what
it is to bury children, nor to lose hus-
band s'pose | don't; but l know what
it is to be iammed around the world and
not have ruff to stick my head under.
wish had all the m ney ever spent trav-
cling and that's twelve dollars" she con.
tinued regrettuily.
"Wny in the world don't you marry and
have a home Of your own?" sighed Mrs.
Dayils.
"Well, don't crpect 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 n dreadful sight older
than am, though replied Mrs. Dayids,
reflactivey,
"Not 50 old by two full years." returned
Miss Tame, taking another smart pinch of
snuff, rs though it touched the empty spot
in her heart and did her good. tBut you
amt looking out for opportunities yet,
suppose"
Mrs. Davids sighed evasively. ave
can't tell what is before us. There is more
than one man in want of wife,"
As though 10 point her words, Captain
Ben Lundy came in sight on the beach,
his head long way forward and his sham
bling feet trying in vain to keep up.
"Thirteen months and half since Lydy
was buried" continued Mrs. Davids, ac
cepting this application to her words, sand
there is Captain Ben taking up with just
what housr keeper he can get, and no house
keeper at ALL 1t would be an excellent
home for you, Perss. Captain Ben always
had the name of making a kind husband" !"
She sighed again, whether from regret
for the bereaved II an, or for the multitude
of women bereft of such husband.
BY this time Captain Ben's head was at
the door.
"Morning!' said he, while his feet were
coming up. "Qnite an accident down here
below the lighthouse last night. Schooner
ran ashore in the blow and broke all up in
to kndlingwood in less than no time. Cap
tain Tisdale's been out looking for dead
bodies ever since daylight.
II knowed it !" sighed Mrs. Davids. 81
heard Il rushing sound some time about the
break of day tha, walked me out Of a sound
sleep. and knowed then there was spirit
leaving its body. heard it the night Da-
vids went, or expect did. 1t must have
been very nearly at that time.
"Well, guess it wasn't spirit, last
night" said Captain Ben; for as ! was go,
ing on to say, after searching back and
forth, Captain Tisdale came upon the folks,
man and boy, rolled up in their wet
blankets asleep behind the life-hoat house.
He sad he felt like he could shake them
for staying out in the wet. Wrecks always
make for the lighthouse, and he s'posed
those ones were drowned to death, sure
enough
80, then it couldn't have been them !
was warned of" retur' ed Mrs. Davids,
looking as though she regretted it. 81,
was right over my head, and I walked up
Just as the thing was rushing past. You
haven't heard, have you," she continued
whether or no there was any other damage
dore by the gale?'
81 don't know whether you would call i,
damage exactly" returned Captain Ben
"but Lonizah Mullers got so scared she left
me and went home. She said she couldn't
stay and run the chance of another of oul
coas, blows. and off she ,rapsed''
Mrs. Davids sighed like November IS,
you have some hard luck. as well as myself
don't suppose you can get housekccpel
~ -. H. lnuy u.,i .Ja 1;u,,,fl.,