The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-12-21


sat huddled round the fire talking in low
tones about our lost; for we could bear
now to speak of him sometimes, and it
soothed me to hear the children talk and
to see how much they loved him. Pepita
tried that night to sing one Of the sailor
songs he had taught her, but she
couldn't do that. Her voice broke
down, and we couldn't one of Us speak
another word.
"It was q sad Christmas eve, ma'am
the first one when all hope had really
gone out, and when lay down to sleep
that night felt that, except I must live
for the children's sake, it would be such
blessing to die.
"Christmas morning was very clear,
and 1 remember how the sunlight
danced in our little kitchen. It fell
like blessing on Minnie's pretty hair,
making it sparkle like gold, and reflect
ed on The picture of Charles ship-not
the lost one, but the dear old Pepita
which hung on the wall.
"The table was spread, and we sat
down to our sad repast. Minnie folded
her hands to say grace, when-oh,
ma a'am, can hardly tell you about it,
even after all these years-Pepita
screamed like one mad with joy.
sprung to my feet. couldn't tell what
had happened to me. saw looking in
at the -Charlie-Charlie alive
and well
"I don't know how it all was; know
I couldn't move. saw as in dream
Charlie in the room and Pepita's arms
around his neck; then I fell on his
shoulder like one dead
"There are no words to tell you,
ma'am, of the Joy and happiness we
! knew in our little cottage that Christ
mas day. We couldn't realize ii our
selves. I didn't dare to take my eyes
from Oh arlie for moment, lest should
look back and find him gone. Minnie
and Pepita both sat clingine to him.
He had long story to tell us of ship
wreck upon shipwreck, of long waiting
upon lonely islands, watching month
! after month for sails which seemed
never to come---adventures through
which many poor sailor has passed,
and from which many a one has never
como back to tell the story as Charlie
| did.
"That night, sitting by the fire after
the children had left us alone, 1 made
Charlie promise me that he would never
leave me again, but would give up the
sea and stay with us in the cottage.
"I didn't realize till long afterward
how hard it had been for him to promise
me that. I had come to have such a
terror of the sea that 1 couldn't realize
how sailors heart delighted in it.
When years had passed, and Minnie
and Pepita had both married and left
us alone, began to feel how hungry
( ohurf wr.s for tfle life he had loved 30
much. He used to spend his time wan
dering about the docks and going on
board the ships in from foreign ports /;
and sometimes he would sit on the cliff
for hours with his spyglass, watching
the passing vessels, and more than once
| heard him sigh as if his heart was
bursting but l would never listen
| when he spoke of going to sea again,
until at last his health began to fail,
and it seemed there wasnothing for him
but to return to his old life or die. But
l couldn't bear to let him go alone, and
he couldn't bear to leave me behind,
We were both too old to begin life over
in the long trading voyages and as
Charlie had the offer of the place of first
mate on this ship-the captain is an old
friend of his, ma'am-I got the situation
as stewardess, and for three years Char
lie and have been travelling back and
forth together, and we will continue to
do it as long as God gives us health and
strength to bear the Journey"
Tho old lady stopped ard looked
hesitatingly at me and at some other
passengers who had gathered near to
listen, as if she feared we were wearied
by her long family history.
l fastened to reassure her by thanks
for the pleasant way she had entertained
us during the long Christmas eve at sea.
"And SO Charlie is really on board
with you Z" I said.
"Oh, yes, ma'am," she replied, smil-
ing. 81 would not be here without
him. Did you mind the man who was
speaking to me at the cabin door to-
night-the tall, stout man with gray
beard? Yes, you saw him, did you
That was Charlie"