Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-09-29


" All right, DOCTOR" says; " under
stand: you mean that unless you can get a
new plate in the boiler, she won't stand
another voyage
:" Oh, come! we won't look upon it rs 4
hopeless case" he says; " there is always
hope;' and after n little more talk he
shook hands and went away.
Next day when he came, l had been
thinking it all overland was rea y for Kim.
| don't believe | was bit better; in fact,
l know l was drifting fast, and saw it in
his eyes us well.
l waited till he had asked me his differ
cnt questions. and then just rs he was get
ting up TO go. l asked him to sit down
again.
Polly, my dear" says. s. just want
Il 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 lookei at me curious like, and
waited for me 10 speak.
I" Doctor" | 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 am, but
look here; there's seven children down
stairs, and if leave my wifca widow with
the few pounds I've been able to save,
|
me through"
My dear fellow" he says honestly,
1--WE done everything l can for. your
case
That's what You think, DOCTOR" says
:" but look here; I've been at sea thirty
years, and in seven wrecks It's been like
dohging death with me a score of times.
Why, pulled my wife there regularly
out Of the hands of death. and I'm not GO
ing to give up now. I've been--"
stop, stop he says gently. You're
exciting Yourself"
d" Not L Bit | says, though my voice
was quite 4 whisper. i've had this over
all night. and I've come to think ! must
be up and doing my duty"
But my good man - " he begun.
- Listen to me DOCTOR" l saws. "A
score of times | might have given UP and
been drowned, but | made i fight for it.
and was saved. Now | mean to make a
fight for it here. for the sake of the wife
and BARNS. don't mean to die. doctor,
without Il struggle. | believe this here,
that life's given to us all as Il treasure to
keep; we might throw it away by our own
folly ut any time. but there's hundreds Of
times when We may preserve it, and We
never know whether we can save ii till we
try. Give me Il drink Of that water"
He held the glass to my lips. and l took
4 biz draught and went on. he seeming all
the time to be stopping TO humor my mad
ness.
" That's better DOCTOR" saws. :. Now
look here, sir, speaking rs one who has
sailed the sea, it u terrible stormy time
with me; there's a lee shore close NJ hand
the fires are drowned ont, and unless We
...1
for me. Now then, doctor.can You get up
4 bit of sail?'
:" I'll 90 and send You something that
will quiet you" he said rising
" Thankev. doctor,' l say, smiling to
myself. And now look here" l says.
" I'm not going to give up til thr last ;
and when that last comes. and the ships
going down, why. shall have a try if
can II swim to safety If that fails. and
can really feel that it IS to be. why,
hope that shall 90 down into the great
deep calmly, like i hopcful man. praying
that Somebody above will forgive me all
I've dpue ami.s. ar! stretch out His father
lv hand to my little ones"
He went away, and | dropped asleep
worn ont with my cxcrtion.
When | woke. Polly was standing bv
the bed side Watching me. with a bottle
and glass on the little table
As soon rs She saw my eyes open, she
shook up the stuff and poured it into a
winc-ri
:. l. that what the doctor scnt?-"
SAYS.
" Yes dear: you were TO take it direct
w."
Then l >han't take it." SAYS H,'s
give me up. and that stutTS only to keep
me quiet. ''Polly you go and make me
some betf-tea, and make il strong.'
She looked Mortified, poor old Girl, an
was about To beg me of to take hold Of the
rotten life belt he'd sent me, when he'll
ont my shaking hand for it. took the glass
and let it tilt over-there was only about a
couple of tcaspooniuls in it, and the stuff
fell on the carpet.
saw the tears come in her ewes. but she
said nothiny-onlv put down the glass and
ran ont to make the beeftea.
The doctor didn't come till next day.
and was lying still and drowsv, half
asleep like. but | was awake enough to
hear him whisper to Polly. Sinking Fast"
ana heard her give such 4 heart-broken
sob, that rs the next great wave came on
the sea where was floating | struck out
with all my mi yht, rose over ii. and tloated
gently down the other side.
For the next four davs-putting it rs Il
drowning man striving for his life like n
: true-heartcd fellow it was like great
foaming waves coming to wash over me.
but the shore still in light, and me trying
hard To reach it.
And it was a grim, hard fight Il dozen
times could have given up, folded my
arms. and said Sool-byc to The dear old
watc inc face safe on shore; bat "A look ut
that always chcered me. and fought on
again and again. till at last the sc:, SEEM
el to 90 down. and. in utter wcarinesS
turned on nv back to float res;fuliy with
the tile ArtrlnT me shorewardS. till
| touched the 5 IN Is, crrpt up them. and fell
: down worn out to sleep i'll the warm sun
1 safe
That's u curiols way of putting it. You
may say, but it seems natural to me to
: mix it up with the things of sea- going life
: and the manner in which I've seen so many
fight hard for their lives. 1t was just lik,
e striving in the midst of II storm to me
IL and when at last did fall into 4 deer
/ sleep felt surprised-like to find mvsel
lying in my own bed, with Polly watching
e by me; and when stretched out nv hand
II and took hers. she let loose what She h.
II kept hidden from me before, and. falling
= on her knees by my bedside, she sobbed fol
u very joy
e " As much bcef-tca and brandy as yol
n can Get him to take the doctor saws thai
> afternoon ami il wasn't long before go
L from slops to solids, and then was sent, Il.
5 | told you, into the country to get strong
IS while the doctor got no end of praise fol
e the cure he had made
+ | never said word though, even t,
81 Polly. for he did his best; but | don't thinl
e any medicine would have cured me
then.
d | was saving little while back that
1t pulled my wife regularly out of the hands
of death, and of course that was when W,
I. were both quite young. though for th'
matter of that don't feel much dflercn
v and can't seq the change. That was in one
. of the Cape steamers when | first took t.
,e stoking They were little ram >hachle sor