Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1875-10-08
EDWARD BROWN, STOKER.

WE were very quiet, Mary and l. as we
strolled out of the churchyard, down one
of the lanes, and then crossing stile we
went through couple of fields and sal
down on another stile, with the high
hedge on either side of us and the meadow
that they were beginning to NOW at the
other end, one glorious bed of flowers and
soft, feathery grass.
"Polly," | says at last, breaking the
silence, faint this heavenly?"
"And you feel better?" she says, laying
her hand ON mine.
"Better!" I says, taking a long draught
of the soft, sweetscented air and filling my
chest" better, old girl! feel as was
growing backward into boy"
"And you fifty last weekp' she says.
eyes" I says, smiling, "and you forty
seven next week." and then we sat think
ing for bit.
"Polly," says at last, as 1 sat there
drinking in that soft breeze and feeling il
give me strength, "it's worth being i'll
only to feel as [ do now"
For you see I'd been very bad, else
dare say I'm not the man to go hanging
ABOUT churchyards and watching funer-
ais; I'nl stoker and my work lies in
steamers trading to the East. I'd come
home from my last voyage bad with
fever caught out in one of those nasty, hot,
bad-smelling ports-been carried home to
die, as my mates thought; and it was
being like this and getting better that had
set my thinking so seriously and made
me so quiet; not that | was ever a noisy
sort Of a man, as anyone who knows me
will say And now after getting better
the doctor had said [ must 90 into the
country to get strong; SO as there was no
more voyaging till was strong there was
nothing for it but to leave the youngsters
under the care of the eldest girl and a
neighbOr and come and take lodgings in
this quiet Surrey village.
Polly thought should never get better
and one time no more did /; for about a
month before this time, as [ lay hollow
eyed and yellow on the bed, knowing, too
how bad | looked-for / used to make
Young Dick bring me the looking glass
every morning-the doctor came as usual
and like blunt Englishman / put it to
him fiat:
doctor" says, you don't think I
shall get better?" and | looked him
straight in the face.
ooh, come, come, my man" he says
smiling, " we never look at the black side
like that"
"None of that, doctor,' I says; "out
with it like man. | can stand it.; I've
been expecting to be drowned or blown
up half my life, so shan't be scared at
what you say"
"Well, my man." he says, *yoursymp
toms are of very grave nature. You see
the fever had undermined you before you
came home, and unless -"
Gall right, DOCTOR" says; 81 under
stand; you mean that unless you can get
new plate in the boiler she won't stand
another voyage"
"Oh, come! we won't look upon it as
hopeless case,n he says; " there's always
hope" and after little more talk he
shook hands and went away.
Next day when he came | had been
thinking it all over, and was ready for
him. l don't believe was bit better
in fact, I know was drifting fast, and !
saw il IN his eyes as we'll
I waited till he had asked me his differ
ent questions, and then just as he was
getting up to go | asked him to sit down
again.
g Polly, my DEAR" says, IT just want
few words with the doctor;'' and she
put her apron up to her eyes and went out
closing the door after her very softly
while the doctor looked at me curious
like, and waited for me to speak
doctor" I says, you've about given
me up There, don't shake your head,
for know. Now, don't you think I'm
afraid to die, for don't believe I am, but
look here; there's seven children down
stairs, and if leave my wife widow with
the few pounds I've been able to save,
what's to become of them? Can't you
pull me through? P"
"My dear fellow" he says honestly
GIVE done everything I can for your
case"
"That's what you think, doctor,n /
says, sbut look here; I've been at sea
thirty wears, and in seven wrecks. It's
Teen like lodging death with me a score
of times. WHY, [ pulled my wife there
regularly out of the hands of death, and
I'm not going to give up now. I've
been--''
"Stop, STOP" he says, gently; "you're
exciting yourself"
"Nct Bit" says, though my voice
was quite whisper. I've had this over
all night and I've come to think I must be
up and doing my duty"
"But, my good man -" he began.
sSListen to me, DOCTOR" / says.
score of times might have gwen up and
been drowned, but | made fight for il
and was saved Now mean to make q
fight for 1t here for the sake of the wife
and BARNS. I don't mean to die, doctor
without a struggle I believe this here
that life's given to us all as treasure tc