The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-10-22

his lips cuss and cuss at the work he's trying
to do. Who knew more about storms than
Bill and me? We followed the sea for
nigh twenty year, and never separated. l
can't tell ye all, for yen feel bad.''
''No, | won't sailor, like to hear you
talk. 1t sounds like old times.''
cold times, lass? ?''
eyes; when Bill used to sit there and
tell bis awful yarns and try to make me
swallow them. You see, | never believe
all hear.''
YEP"
''Of course not, sailor | don't think
anything like that. Aud so you mustn't
have that in your noddle. Go on, now.''
''Well, there comes the storm one day.
The skipper came to us, and says says he,
Lads, it's all up WI us, unless we get out
in ten minutes But says Bill, 'where'll
we go" Anywhere We can,' says the skip
per, says lie. Ye see ] can't talk like a
book, and 1 jest tell ye this as it were.
The ship had sprung a leak In fact the
whole side were stove in on a rock, and the
pumps was no use and we was going
down, and oh .-Bill Walkers wife yer
husband wouldn't forsake that ere ship.'
''That's right in him. she said, .Twould
not have man who would forsake his
work when it got troublesome
"Well-but, lass, Bill was aboard till the
very last. He wouldn't go. He got all
the others off, aud there he stayed, looking
out toward home and thinking of We and
the babies.'
Good for Bill - she said, her pleasant
eyes sparkling with tears.
But, why don't ye get excited? Didn't
ye care for Bill? Why don't ye get ex-
cited -
''Oh, I'll get all that after awLile.''
But didn't ye care for Bil?"
''Now look here, sailor {, You knew Bill.
you say, so well, and you don't know that !?
Didn't Bill ever know of the many weary
times when | sat here all alone in the night
when the SHOW was falling and the wind
screaming, and the little ones tucked up in
bed? Didn't Bill ever know that at such
times my heart left these pretty things
and went far over the cruel sea hunting for
him? Didn't he know how l chung to
every hope-to every dream of him-to
every prayer for his good that | learned
over and over again? And how | used to
go to the little children's crib, when the
wind grew stronger, and stronger, and the
storm grew wild and awful, and how
have walked them up from their happy
sleep, crying Babies wake with nanny
and f,r 1aHIv 4
seas' And how | have fixed their little
hands together and we four kuelt down,
and, though they only knew the one prayer,
Our Father! yet they said it after me,
and knew that God understood that they
were praying for their poor, storm tossed
daddy far out az sea, and that He would
listen and have pity? Didn't Bill ever know
how | continued days, then weeks, then
months, and then years, longing for him,
waiting for him-always true to him, in
word and thought? And how | loved all
sailors, and pitied the lonely men who
camc to port here without friend in the
world bu. me? For Eve gone to them,
and I've said 'Ho, lads I'm Bill Walker
wife, and him a sailing far away. Let me
help you if | can. And if you're sick OF
lonesome, come to me- And how often
this little room has been filed with seafa.
ring men, who came for comfort and the
little kindnesses / could do for them I? And
how they kissed the chidren--for they saiG
they were a sailors babies, and they loved
them for the sake of their own little one.
many miles off? And how often I've go
tears from these men, and blessings, til
I've gone down to the wharf, and taken ah'
children with me, and we've stood anC
seen them off, and I've made the little one
wave their hands to the men. and the mel
have called: Three cheers for Bill Walk
er's wife " and God take care of her AN,
the babiesr I've done all this for love o
Bill! And don't you think he'd like &
know it?' And she wiped her eyes on tn
little frock she was mending.
The man looked at her, was silent for
moment, and then went on
eyes, he knew it, lass. lie thought
for truth. Aud now comes the awfu
part of my yarn ~
Eyes, sailor.''
''Well-now don't cry out, and don
flop down-Bill will never come HON
again ~
She never said word, but smiled up in
to his face.
"Why won't he come home again ?''
''Because he's drowned" he replied.
~ don't believe it, sailor p
''But l was with him all, all o th
time"
: ''Then why wasn't You drowned, too
If you were so much with him why WASH
you drowned 30
because / was washed ashore. Br
pooi Bill, he's gone p
: ''Well, if that's SO, might as well max
+ up my mind to be a widow
, .'Why don't you get excited, widder +?
asked the man, aghast.
ssI'll get all that after awhile >,