The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-04-29
A WIFE WORTH HAVING.
BY SYLVANUS COBB, JR.

.ill-fate. James Marshall, young ma
from Newport, r. l., had been her car
tain for five years, and during that tim
she had been twice "knocked down,
once had she carried away her foremost
and, at the time of which we write, thu
old ship was locked at Liverpool, under
going repairs from serious damage sh,
bad received during heavy gale in st
Georges Channel But, in all these
mishaps, the owners had been forced tc
acknowledge that the young captain
was entirely free from blame, while, OF
the other hand, he had made better
time" in his trips than any other mas
Ter had ever been able to get out of her
The last damage which the Vincent
received proved to be the occasion Of
the dawning Of a new era in the life OF
Captain Marshall, for, while waiting in
Liverpool for his ship to be repaired,
he fell in with a blooming New England
girl, named Emma Ramsay, the eldest
daughter of the agent who did the
business for the Nincent's" owners,
and ere long they discovered that be-
tween them there existed a peculiar
feeling of mutual love.
Captain Marshall popped the delicate
question, Emma consulted with her
papa, and at length she consented to
become Mrs Marshall 1t was 4 happy
day for all parties when the marriage
took place, for, from the known charac-
tiers of the bridegroom and his beauti-
ful bride, all felt sure that the match
would prove one of peace and content
The " Vincent ," was once more ready
for sea. Her cargo was all on board
and shipped for Boston, and Emma
had resolved to accompany her husband
TO the United States.
For a number of days the weather
was pleasant and the wind was fair
while Captain Marshall felt himself
supremely happy in the delightful COM
pany of his wife The old sailors shook
their heads as they saw the gentle
Emma pacing the deck, and they very
mysteriously asserted that such pleas
ore couldn't always last"
And so, indeed, it proved, for, at the
close Of n pleasant day, when they wert
within three or four DAYS sail of their
destined port, things began to look any
thing but agreeable Away to tie
sonth'rd and east'rd he horizon began
30 assume sort of inky hlackncss. with
here and there a ghost-like. livid spot.
while on all hands the heavens had
changed their ethereal blue for Il cast
Of deeper and more fearful import
Captain Marshall felt as he had never
felt before on the approach of storm.
For himself, for his ship. he had no
thought then. There was one on board
who engrosscd his every sympithy:
for his young wife he felt "A degree of
intense anxiety that was painful but he
forgot not his duty and with compare
tive caImness he set about it,
The courses We're hauled up and
$snugly furlcd, the lighter sails taken in,
and the lofty yards and topgalIant
masts sent on deck, and the three top
sails close reefcd.
Long before the sun went down. the
undulating ocean had assumed almost
che blackness Of night, and not many
moments elapsed after the spars had
been secured upon the deck ere he
storm burst upon the ship. 1t was
regular southeaster, and those who have
encountered one Of these storms in the
Gulf, know something of their power
Higher and higher rose the mighty
tempest, until at length it was found
necessary to take in the topsails, and
arnst to the fore and main storm-stavsaIs
AMI halance-reefed spanker, and in
ihis way the ship Iay-to till morning,
abe gale increasing every hour
Captain Marshall had trusted that
when the sun rose on the next day the
storm would abate, but in this he was
disappointed, for part Of the after
0oon he was actually obliged to scud
before it. 1t was not until two stay
sails had been torn from their holi-ropes
that he broke his fears to his wife.
Emma" said he, Il wish | had not
taken you with me-
why so - she asked, as she gazed
.p into her husbands face with appar-
eat establishment
why SO. Do you not comprehend
aar danger?''
" But the ship does not leak, does
1t z? returned Emma, with remarkable
caolnrss
80"
'i'hcn let US not fear the storm |
was horn upon the Atlantic, and feel
'hat can yet trust to my native cle-
ment'
The captain was astonishcd at this
trait in his wife's character, and clasp
ing her in his arms he felt his own soul
swelling with new life.
Emma" he said, as he gazed more
ai!eCtionately than ever into her face,
my heaviest fears are passed. For
you alone have | feared the most; but
Gow can calmly tell You wherein lies
$ur danger. This storm has driven US
far out Of our course, and twice have
we been scudding before it, fear that
The coast of Maine cannot be far to the
Reward, and Of that coast | know moth
ing, save what ! may gather from my
chart. For us to lay-to is next to i'm
possible. The rising sea has rendered
ear staySais useless, and / have been
obliged to set the close-reefcd main-top-
sail, but she cannot hold it long"
Ny husband" returned Emma.
though you may know nothing of the
coast Of Maine, yet there are but few
spots aloGs her rugged shores that are
not as play grounds to me. My father
vas for many years surveyor of her
islands and harbors. and | was his con
slant companion To me her cliffs and
'n!ets present nothing that can alarm
sic"
Hardy had she ceased speaking when
sharp crack, like the report of a pistol,
sounded from aloft followed bv tear
'ng and crashing that started the cap
sain to his feet
The main-topsail has gomez he ex-
r!aimed, and Immediately he sprang
upon the deck