Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-04-06

on the fourth, and in the centre a steam ra
! diaior with a marble top, two comfortable
chairs, a sewing machine, work table, and
faded carpet. On the walls few prints, d
sailors cap, and small case of books
lace curtains before the berths, and beneath
4 a set of drawers.
The stranger took the other child in her
I lap and gazed round the room In evident
surprise.
"rhs is my home" said the captain :
wife
Its very pretty; and you live here?"
! "Ycs. We live on tire Jane. It's my hus-
bands boat. Are you going to Englandy
| Yes, that is my home lived 10 Ran
/ sas before my husband died"
| And have you just come from there;"
"les; We were fity-siX hours on the
/ road
at was long ride. I've never been
/ West, New York, or rather North River,
/ is my home. I've never been away from
/ the coast. On. wouldn't you like some
tea: The kettles on. now"
The woman gave n look of unmistakable
pleasure.
Yes. thank you. We have had nothing
to cat since-Ah, what Is that:"
''Oh, that's nothing; it's only tn" engine
in the next room. We are starting"
The jar aud tremor OF the boat seemed to
frighteu the mother.
Never fear; 1t always tremoles."
The steamer Is anchored just ontsidc
the Narrows. must 20 and see If John
wants anything. Make Yourself cOmforta-
bic til they come for you"
Til" iug came alongside the steamship,
and was preparing To put n line 10 her.
ihc storm seemed 10 rage In wilder fury
here. Zlluge waves rolled In from the sea.
aud the Jane seemed mere cockle-shell
a. She reelcd and pitched over them. The
steamship lay quiet on the water. her vast
er bulk making her indifferent 10 those
comparatively moderate seas. 4 ladder
with plank ia-hcl L. II was run out from
The steamers d"cN. and fell on the top %
the house. Another ladder was put up
from the deck, aud one At a time, the steer
age passengers were handed up. The wife
with steady nerves held the wheel. she
started her engine and huns the wheel
around with vigorous strokes The boat
churuci up the sea. aud with staggering
plunge struck uii from the steamship. \
sudden calm fell on the boat. and there
"A- ouly the wash ofthc -ca. aud the throb
ct the engine.
The captain entered the whcel-house
bcam!ug with delight.
capital. Jane. You handle her bcautl-
fully" She smiled a. She gave up the
wheel. and with wifely ki... saii,
"oi cpur.r. dear. IT. our boat. aud my
husband vas my teacher. say, john, DID
you SEQ the widow with the baby: 1t was
such ll9.rly babe II made my heart ache
10 think oi them with all those Steerase.
gave her lunch and She seemed very
grateful. Think Of IL. They came all the
way ir, m leavsuworth. Kansas. alone"
The vile opened the door and stepped
oGt ON the deck over the house. For mo
mcut she gazed after the retreating steam
ship, aLI thcn Went slowly down the steps
10 her -tatc-room. In an instant after. n"
came lying up again ~ frantic haste. VITA
tear-nlled eyes and quivcring voice. she
opened the wheel-hou,c door and cried
ION, John. the baby, They have len
the baby
''Good heavens. Wha, do you mean =
They have lcft the child ia our room.
L. asleep "a my bed. The woman must
have leii Il lea the confusion. and
The rest OF the sentence was lost 10 the
the speaking tube, and shouted to the en-
gIuecr:
Give il To her wide
The wheel went round with a rush, and
the boat kceled over in the water.
''t all Jack. Jane. Tell him To get out
nag and run her up. L uion down"
The siokcr, in their cave shovcled their
glowing cayerus full. The feed pump clat-
tered Ia angry fury. The rusty boiler
seemed to strain and hiss with pent up
frenzy. The engine roared. The quiyering
hand of the steam gauge rose among the
high figures. On deck the men ran hithcr
aud thlthcr in hot haste. The wife stood
with f.uttering dress and hair streaming in
the wind, ciinsins to the rail OF the vessel.
Haul in the line."
Aye. ave. sir.
The engine throbbed with ceasecss en-
ergy. The boat rceled aud plunged over
the sea, aud the lamps ,wayed in the mo-
tion.
we must be out Ia the bay. | wonder
where the steamer Is.
She rose and opened the upper half OF
the door, and gazed long and anxio"sly AZ
the steamship 80 far ahead.
"Ah, they see u. They are blowing oil
steam"
A faint cloud Of white hung over the
steamship, and the wife noticed on the
wave that the white waters had dI>ap-
peared
Where l. the child:" said the ca plain,
as he appeared AT the door.
Come in and see"
They both entered the chamber and stood
watching the pretty one asleep.
.lt l. fortunate YOU iound il. What
could We have done with it,"
1T isn't that. John, | was thinking Of
I the poor mother
Hearing the voice the babe awoke and
ealed with blue-eyed wonder at the stran-
gers. Then il began TO cry softly. and the
woman took il to her breast and comforted
IL with mOtherlv tenderness.
Hush, my baby. Mother will come to
You soon
The engine made strange lullaby and the
child slept.
The giant steamship lay rolling lazily on
the huge waves that marched in from the
Atlantic. Every available spot on the
deck was occupied Ny an eager multitude.
gazing down on the towboat that with
! bursting safety valve struggled up along
! side.
\ red-faced officer stood on the bridge
angry and impatient.
what in -'s the matter?f
The captain of the Jane touched his hat
| respectfully and shouted back his reply
above the roar of the storm and engines
Passenger left. sir"
.'Send him aboard quick, now.'
AYE. ave, sir"
| The wheel-house door opened, aud the
wife stepped out, with, the baby wrapped
! in a shawl In her arms.
! 'Give her ladder there"
There was murmur of excitement Ou
the steamer. Why did this woman detain
the ship? Why was she so stupid as to be
left? The towboat man was fool to stop
the steamer for one passenger. Let the
woman wait. .---...
The wife held out the child as if she
wished TO put it on board, The officer
shook his head.
Come aboard with it, s-t..-.
The Jane rose on the crest of wave and
for a moment the frail bridge was level
The wife darted across, but at that instant
the ladder broke, and she was thrown for
ward upon the deck Of the steamer sense
| less. . ...t 5,4. ..s.-s... .
''Was it your chld?'
mo sir; but 1t was somebody's child.
She looked about the bare cabin. and ex
amined the hard wooden berth on which
she lay, in kind of dazed surprise. There
| were two men. officers of the steamship
one young man, who seemed to be the
ships surgeon, and the steerage steward
] ha fol he oh in, NJ