The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-06-27
Edward Brown, Stoker.
{ How He Made . Good Fight for 1t.


We were very quiet, Mary and ], as
we strolled out OF Inc churchyard, down
one of the lanes, and then crossing
stiie, we went through couple OF he4as,
and sat down on another stile, with the
high hedge on either side of us, and the
meadow that they were beginning to
NOW at the other end, one glorious bed
OF flowers, and soft, feathery grass.
"Polly," says at last, breaking the
silence, faint this heavenly"
"And you feel betterp she says, lay
| ing her hand on mine.
"Better!" says, taking long draught
of the soft, sweet-scented air, and filling
my chest, 'better, old grill 1 feel as
if 1 was growing backward into a boy"
| "And you fifty last weekW she says.
| "Yes," l says smiling, "andyou forty
seven next week." And then we sat
| thinking for a bits .r
| "Polly," l at says last, as l sat there
| drinking in that soft breeze, and feeling
it give me strength, sits worth being Ill
| only to teel as do now"
For you see I'd been very bad, else 1
dare say Pm not the man TO go hanging
about the churchyards and watching
funerals. Pm a 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 seriously and
made me SO quiet. Not that was ever a
noisy sort of man. as any one who knows
me will say. And now, after getting
better, the doctor had said L must 60
into the country to get strong; 80,
as there was no more Voy-
aging until 1 was strong, there
was nothing for it but TO leave the
youngsters under the care Of the eldest
girl and neiyhbor, and come and take
lodgings out in this quiet Surrey village.
: Polly never thought should get bet
ter, and one time no more did l; tor
about a month before this time, as lay
hollow-eyed and yellow on the bed,
knowing, too, how bad looked, for L
used TO make young Dick bring me the
looking-glass every morning, the doctor
came as usual, and, like blunt English
man, putt to HIM fiat.
"DocLor," 1 says, "you don't think l
shall get better?' anu l looked him
straight in the face.
"On, come, come, my mani" he says,
smiling, 1--WE never look ut the black SIDE
like that"
"None of that, DOCTOR" l says. "Out
with it like a man. can stand it.. Pye
been expecting to be drowned or blown
, up halt my lie, 80 shan't be scared at
what you say"
"WeIl, my man." he says, "Your symp-
toms are Of IL very grave nature. You
, see the fever had undermined you before
you came home, and, unless ="
'All right, DOCTOR" says, Il under
stand. You mean Jhat, unless you can
get new plate in the boiler, she won't
, stand another voyage"
"Oh, comel we won't look upon it as a
, hopeless case," he says. ''There's al
: ways hope" After little more talk, he
shook hands and went away.
Next day, when he came, / had been
, thinking it all over, and was ready for
,, him, l don't believe was bit better.
In fact, know 1 was drifting fast, and
, saw it in his eyes as well.
waited till he had asked me his diff
, terent questions, and then, just as he
. was getting up to 60, asked him to sit
down again.
Polly, my DEAR" says, 81 just want
few words with the doctors" and sue
put her apron up to her eyes and went
out, closing The door after her very soft
ly, while the doctor looked at me curious
like, and waited for me to speak.
: "Doctor," says, you've about given
me up, There, don't shake your mead,
for know. Now, donG you think Pm
, afraid to die, for 1 don't believe am;
but look here. There's seven children
down stars, and if l leave my wife 8
: widow, with the few pounds have beer
O able to save, what's to become of them,
i Can't you pull me throughT
"My dear fellow" he says honestly
r ''rve done everything l can for YOU
o case"
d "That's what you think, DOCTOR"
q says. "But look here. Pve been at SCI
% thirty years, and in seven wrecks. 1T
Is been like dOdging death with me a scor
Is of times. Why, 1 pulled my vile ther
:, regularly out OF the hands OF death, an
:. Pm not going to give up now. Pv
81 been'
IH "Stop, stop" he says gently; ssyou'r
i, exciting yourselt.'
- mot bit," / says, though my voic
S' was quite whisper. "pye had thi
al over all night, and come to think mus
m be up and doing my duty"
ssBut my good man-" he began.
u "Listen TO me, DOCTOR" L says. 81
a. core of times / might have given u
and been drowned, but 1 made fgu
NJ for 1t and WAS saved. Now, L mean
H make fight Tor it right here, for til
Or sake OF the wife and BARNS. dom
is mean to die, doctor, without u struggle
r. believe this here, that life is given
us all as q treasure to keep. We Nigh
az throw it away by our own folly any time
DuU VI tilhOb w ACh w
le might preserve it, and we never kno
90 when we can save it I'LL We try. Give
drink of that Water."
o. He held the glass to my lips and
1e took a big draught, and went on, h
m seeming all the time to De stopping /
:. humor me in my madness.
~. "Thats better, doctor," says. SNOW
al look here, sir, speaking as one who ha
at sailed the seas, it's terrible storm
10 time with me. There's a lee shore clos
az hand, the fires are drowned out, anc
ne unless we can get up q bit OF sail, there
to no chance Tor me. Now then, docto
TX can you get up a bit OF sail p
81 will go and send you somethiu
that will quiet you," he said, rising.
"Thankey, DOCTOR" l says, smiling
'lee myself Sand now, look mere. Pm M
- going 10 give up till the last, and whe
~ that last comes, and the ships goin
" down, why, L shall have try 1t can
y swim to safety. Ii that fails, and ca
W really feel that it is to be, why, L hope
~ shall 20 down into the great dee
ie calmly, like hopeful man, praying thu
~ Somebody above will forgive me all T.,
done amiss, and stretch out his fatherl
st hand to my little ones"
Ln He went away and l dropped to sleel
a. ......