Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-01-12
An Angel on Board.

Two hours tO wait at junction depot on
midsummer day That irrepressible boy
came around This time lac had tempting
fruit, aud begged Of him 10 find my hus-
band. a lady at my side said
Excuse me; but do you not carry a
purse when you travel y
Never, when with my husband.
Let me tell you story
"ThSnks"
And this is what she told ne, aid DO not
doubt its truth
MY husband was thirty-fye, aud "a
country girl of seventeen when we were mar
ried. Our bridal tour was TO end in Christ
mas at his fathers, in Boston. We took a
boat from New York The steamer was ele-
CANT, aud. having shown me my state-room,
he stepped ont. went back to the cabin,
read little, watched my travelling compan-
ions a great deal wondered what friend he
had found on the boat, until suppar-time
came, AID he did not. The cabin maid
asked if ! we've going to supper. J said,
8 When my husband comes for me- She
went to the office Inquiry was made; there
was no such man on the boat. Then came
the captains request that ! would show my
ticket had nouel Would | please pay
my fare 2 ! had not one cent Farther
inquiry lltIt WIS certainty no Hutli man
on the boat ! began to cry.
"'Thai won't do, my little girl (She
was very .mall) We have seen too much
of that Pay your fare. or I'll pat you off.
81 had bright thought My trunk is here
Is" Show it to me, If you please Aud he
went with me to the baggage. pointed it
to him, tiiumphantly Your key, if you
please.
"s My husband locked it and has the key I
but you may break the lock-
"'The owner Of the trunk may object
"s Il Is mine p
"'Look here, little girl, you are not
married. ! shall put you ashore at the first
landing. Go home, and behave yourself in
future
Every drop Of blood in my veins boiled,
and vet must bear it because | had not a
five dollar bill by me never before
dreamed OF the degradation of poverty lie
turned away, and sat down on my trunk.
1t was my own. lt would tell Of my inno-
cence and TRUTH if he would but let it. So,
too, would all the presents we had so care
fully selected for the dear ones at home !
could have put my arms around it and kissed
it. only asked 10 b. allowed TO sit upon il
all night. Wouldn't he just let me do that =
at was the worst question ! could have
asked. / presume you'd like to be left
here Go straight to the ladies' cabin, and
don't you leave it until put you off the boat
81 rose proudly aud walked TO the cabin
without glance at him. | would not cry
until could get to my state-room. But
when ! came TO the door it flashed upon me
I I hare no sidie-rOom. had no spot Of my
own, no baggage, no friend, no character
even the black cabin maid was whispering
about iue-no husband d--where was he
where could he be ? He must have faller
overheard never should see him again
/ and | should be put off IN the night, in /
/ strange place, without a cent of money t.
l buy a lodging-or even a sheet of paper anC
( a three-cent stamp Aud Christmas morn
| ing, when all would be watching for th'
| happy bridal party, where should we be
Where irGs hcy grew frantic. ! believe
now, ! was on ths verge oi insanity. re
member feeling sure he had fallen overboarC
and was drowned, and that, ii left on
wharf, | would 60 and spend Christmas will
I him | often shudder, even now, when
I think what ] might have been driven to.
only knew the dark fright and horror of tina
/ hour.
"One Of those little ones. whose angel
| do always behold the face of the Father,
came and put her hand on mine, and asked
why do YOU cry so hard 2 told her Sh
said, He's dead, Just as my mamma is, an'
/ ri tell papa. And she went TO him. and
/ could not doubt but, softened by his owl
great sorrow and his sweet child's pleadings
he would help me, But saw him shake hi
| wordly.wise head and heard him say, Sh
is crying too hard; too publicly and
rushed into the state-room; mine or not
must hide the sohs | could not check
Then came a thought-one there was
even on that awful boat, who knew all; AM
| dropped on my knees, and simply said
Pity Inc. pity me, dear Saviour. Save, o
I | perish p | said those words over and oyel
The loving little girl had not been convinced
and came and peered through the glass, an
made her father look, and then she came i
and put her arms around my neck, and said
40 Here is five dollar bill papa gave IN
for you, because bad girls dou't pray
"When the steamer touched the whar
my husband and his father rushed upon it
My husband had stepped back to speak to
friend on the wharf, and but for their seizin
him, he would have tried to jump on boar
lie telegraphed, to his father took the nigh
express. and was there before the boat a
rived.
" lie had an elegant picture painted {
the little girl, and every Christmas we dre'
it with flowers, and call Title Christine
1p1eL"