The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-11-08
HOW TWENTY PRECIOUS YEARS
WE'RE WASTED.

WERE WASTED.
They had come, little group of
friendly faces to watch me off, With
waving handkerchiets and kindly
good-byes; and I stood on the stern
uodding and waving back, till the
steamer swept down the river out of
their sight.
I know should have their pray
ers that the great sea might be gen
tie with me; / knew they would
watch the weather and look for the
telegram of the arrival of our ship;
vet I knew l was taking nothing
from their lives and that they each
would go home hardly missing me /;
SO it was with no great wrench of
heart that saw the pilot put off
from us, and took the last look at
my native shores.
During most Of the passage was
just comfortably sea-sick-so I sat
ali the day long in reclining chair
on deck, watching the white caps on
the purple and green and blue
waves that mounted and fell, down
and up, up and down, away out to
the far horizon. l saw the shining
nautiluses float by, and now and
then a whale, or a shoal ofpOrpoise,
or sail, speeding white and full
across the water. L saw also a good
many other things nearer by; for !
didn't put my eyes in my pocket
along with my short sighted glasses;
and nobody was much likely to
mind q middle-aged woman in hood
and waterproof.
The first thing | saw was a young
girl with dark eyes and brown hair,
that rippled itself into a tangle OF
rough curls whenever she took of
her net. She wss not SO very pref
ty, nor so very brilliant. but there
was a piquant charm about her that
attracted half the passengers before
the first day was over. By the end
of the second day everybody, from
the captain to tho ships surgeon,
from the surgeon to tho cabin-bOy
was eager to show her attention
and every one was met by the same
genial smile and lively retort.
! She won her way at once into my
heart by the kindly thought that
led her to bring little relishes from
the table to tempt my sickly appe
tite. and to soothe my forehead
with bay water and gentle touches
of her shapely brown hands, where
a great emerald glittered encirclec
| by diamonds. Very soon she go
into the habit Of drawing her rug
beside my chair, and sitting on th'
deck leaning against me, so that
might "pet her." as she said.
This was how it happened tina
my quiet, Out-of the way corne
came to be the centre of the lifj
and gayiety and romance of tn,
whole shipboard.
1t seemed this young girl, RosI
Armour, was an only child, aud al
orphan, going to an uncle in Ger
many, her nearest kin.
Dear heart l hope her uncl
J will be wise as we'll as loving" sale
I to myself often; for she scenes
, too fragile bubble of humanity t,
drift on through life alone.
The tips of her brown curls wer
, lighter than the rest; and here ant
there were little bright touches al
! over her hair, as though the sun wa
shining in spots on 1t. One morn
ing I sat coiling these CLEANS of sun
shine around my fingers, and watch
ing a flock of Mother CareY's chick
ems skim restiessly over the restles
water, thinking these thoughts abou
Rosa, and having her soft presenc
alone to mvself for few moments
, Not many, however; soon, up came
/ New Zealander; of course there wa
, a New Zealander, or an Australia
: on our boat.
!, "You are very lowly, Miss Al
mour," said he. "Let me bring yO
q chair"
: "Thank you; prefer to sit hel
/ on nv rug, and have Miss Wells pc
8 me" replied Rosa, turning up be
+ eyes languidly. "The deck is m
: favorite seat, if can only have a
8 excuse to sit on it. y
e "But you need something owe
: vou," persisted the New Zealande
s going away and coming back direc
s " with his own heavy gray wral
. Then he seated himself on los
d camp-stool beside her, folding Il
/ wrap over the two never sa
: SO rough a sea as this all the wa
from Honolulu to San Francisco
u said he, looking out upon the gent
# swell of the lazy-mounting wave
l. "Rough!" cried Miss Armour.
Q am sure the ocean is as smooth as
mill-pond!"
;, "Oh but not as compared to Il
Pacihc-peaoelul; ii was nght
named. We have never such gal
s, on that as sweep the Atlantic b
e only tie gentlest westerly hreezes
The New Zealander shivered as
spoke, and drew his wrap closer oy
r his knees. I'VE have the me
n charming climate In New Zealand
ha VrhnA ON wa nra pHuaV- ton bt