, 1876-06-18
EDWARD BROWN, STOKER.

1 NNA A@AAb" ~ 10y A4AIFNAAEAA5 E1H1G1tG3. I'll
happy.
EDWARD BROWN, ST0KER.
We we're very quiet, Mary aud I, as We stroll
ed out Of the churchyard. down one of th
lanes, aud then crossing stile, VIC wen
through couple OF fields, and sat down O,
another stile, with the high hedge on efthe
| side OF us, aud the meadow that they were be
ginning to NOV at the other end, ono gloriou
bed Of flowers, and soft, fcathery grass.
"Polly," says at last, breaking the silence
faint this heaycn1y!''
"And you feel better!" she says, laying be-
hand on mine.
"Bettert" says, taking long draught O.
the soft, sweet-scente1 air, and filling nv chest
"hetter, old girlt I feel as II + was growing
backward into boy"
"And you 50 last week!" she says.
."Yes," says, smiling, f'and you ~ nex1
week" And then VIC sat thinking for bit.
"Po1ly," says at last, as sat there drink
ing in that soft breeze, and feeling It give me
strength, it's worth being III only to feel as
do now."
For you see I'd been very bad, else dare say
AAA N0o h4e AANA W. 81 AuOuk
yards and watching funerals. Una stoker, and
my work lies in steamers trading to the East.
I'd come home from my last voyage bad with
fever, and been carried home to die, as my
mates thought, and it was being like this and
getting better that had set me thinking so seri-
ously and made me SO quiet. Not that / was
ever noisy sort OF man, as any one who knows
me will say. And NOW, after getting better, the
doctor had said must 60 into the country to
get strong; SO, as there was no more voynging
till was strong, there was nothing for 1t but to
eldest girl and q neighbor, and come and take
lodgings out in this quiet Surrey village
Polly never thought should gct better, and
one time no more did I; for about month be-
fore this time, as lay hollow-cycd and yellow
on the bed, knowing, too, how bad I looked, for
ing-glass every morning, the doctor came as
usual, aud, like blunt Englishman, I put 1t to
him fiat
sfDoctor," / says, "you don't think shall
get bcttcr!" aud looked him strnight in the
face.
"Oh, come, come, MY man II he says, smiling,
"wc never look at the black side like that.'' .
9Nonc Of that, DOCTOR" says. Out with it
like man. can stand 1t. rvebeen expecting
to be drowned or blown~np half my Life, SO !
shan't be scared at what you may say"
aWell my man," he says, "Tour symptoms
are Of . very grave nature: Yoa SEQ tic fever
had undermined you before YOU came home,
sAll right, doctor," says, stI understand.
You mean that, unless you can get new
plate, in the boiler, she won't stand another voy
"Oh, come swc won't look upon 1t as hope
less case,' he says. "Therc's always hopet
After little more talk, he shook hands and
went away.
fuSr all and 1Vas rhn6u $nr h}r, r
believe I was bit better. In fact, I know
was drifting fast, and saw 1t in bis eyes as
well.
waited till he had asked me his different
questions, and then, just as be was getting up
to 60, I asked him to sit down again,
"Polly, my DEAR" I says, II 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 nrious.like, and waited for me to speak.
- "DpStoE," s ssayf, y, "you've, ,as about given me
Now, don't you think. I'm afraid to die, for I
don't believe am; but look here. There's
seven children down stairs, and If leave my
wife widow, with the few pounds have been
uble to save, what's to become Of thcms Can't
you pull me- through!'
"Sfy dear fellow,'' he says honestly, tive
done everything can fo1 your case."
"That's what you think, DOCTOR" I says.
Il But look here. I've been at sea thirty years,
md in seven wrecks. It's been like 1odging
death ,witlrme score Of times. Why, pulled
leath' and I'm not going to give up now. I've
,,.;;:t ,..;s.op, stopf,, be says gently: "Eoure er
mot a bit," SAYS, though my voice was
lultc whisper. s'i've had fhis over ali night,
ind come to think must be up and doing my
luty."
.sBut my good man. he begun.
"Listcn to me, DOCTOR" says: "a score Of
as st st sfse 5 n sns ssye nssa SeT
mean TO make fight for it right here, for the |
AXE OF the wife and BARNS. I don't mean to |
lie, doctor, without struggle. 1 believe this ]
ere, that life is given TO us NIL rs treasure to
ccp. We might throw it away BY our own folly
t any time, but there's hundreds OF times when
&C might preserve it, and We never know when |
&c can Save it till VIC try. Gives drink OF that
'atcr.".
He held the glass to my lips and took big
raught, and went on, be seeming all the time
"That's better, DOCTOR" / says. "Now,
,ok here, sir, speaking US one who has sailed
le sees, it's q terrible stormy time with me-.
here's q Ice shore close at hand, the fires are
roW-ned out, and, unless We can get up bit Of
M there's s I'M no @ shanse an If tor IF mi mia, 10" nen
II will GO and send you something that will
aiet You," be said, rising.
'"Thankey, doctor,"' says, smiling to my
If. "And now, look here. I'm not going to
We up till the last, and when that last comes,
ID the ships going down, why, ]. shall lave q
= if can't swim to safety. II that fails, and
can really feel that 1t is to be, why, hope l
alf go down into the great deep calmly, lfkc q.
,pefl1l man, praying that Somebody above will
rgive ME all I've done anfss, and stretch out |
is fatherly hand to my little ones"
He went away and dropped to sleep, worn
It with my excrtion.
When woke, Polly was standing by the bed
le watching me, with a bottle and glass on
G little table.
As soon as she saw my eyes open, she shook
the stuff and poured It into a wine-glass.
Es Is that what the doctor sent!'' says.
's Yes, dear; you were to take it, directfy.n