The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-12-14

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 che
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 1 lay down to sleep
that night felt that, except must live
for the children's sake, it would be such
q blessing to die.
"Christmas morning was very clear.
and I remember how the sunlight
danced in our little kitchen. 1t fell
like O blessing ON Minnies pretty hair,
making it sparkle like gold, and reflect
ed on the picture of Charities 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,
a'an, can hardly tell you about it,
even after all these yenrs-Pepita
| eClcuulttl liAS Oi1O llttSt Wlph jOJs
sprung to my feet. 1 couldn't tell what
had happened to me. I saw looking in
at the -Charlie-Charlie alive
and we'll
ct don't know how it all was; know
[ couldn't move. l saw as in dream
Charlie in the room and Pepita's arms
around his neck; then fell on his
shoulder like one dead.
| "There are no words to tell you,
na'am, of the Joy and happiness we
knew in our little cottage that Christ
mas day. We couldn't realize it cur
selves. I didn't dare to take my eyes
from Oh nrlie for moment, lest should
look back and find him gone. Minnie
and Pepita both sat clinging 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 r one has never
come back to tell the story as Charlie
did.
"That night, sitting by the fire after
the children had left us alone, 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. 1 had come to have such O
terror of the sea that l 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
Charlie was for the life he had loved so
much. He ueed to spend his time wan
dering about the docks and going on
board the ships il from foreign ports
and sometimes he would sit on tho cliff
for hours with his spyglass, watching
the passing vessels, and more than once
heard him sigh as ii his heart was
bursting but I 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
couldn't bear to let him go al ne, and
he couldn't bear to leave me behind.
We We're 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
| iIIChIt Va liS, Lila dLl-I SOb lue SlbttHllOu
IS stewardess, and for three years Char
lie and have besn travelling back and
forth together, and we will continue TO
10 it as long as God gives us health and
strength to bear the Journey"
The 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 weari ed
| by her long family history.
l hastened to reassure her by thanks
for the pleasant way she had entertained
US during the long Christmas eve at sea.
"Aud so Charlie is really on board
with you Z" said.
ooh, yes, pa'am," she replied, smiI-
ing. 81 would not be here without
him. Did you mind the man who was
speaking to me at the cabin door to-
nisht-the tall, stout man with gray
beard Yes, you saw him, did You
That was Charlie"