Litchfield enquirer., 1876-08-31

woman, and about this time she began to exercise in meeting, mostly in the way o1 prayer. Friends found her very accepta. ble, and she got to be uncommonly use ful. especially among the young.
 Folks naturally coupled Susans name and mine together, and Uncle Jehiel thought he was going to get matters his own way. and crowed good deal about 1t. He found out his mistake some six months afterward, when I stood up in meeting with Lois Macey, whom had been waiting on for whole year. The old man was mad enough, but cared very little about that. didn't want any of his money.
 Of course, having wife to support, 1 couldn't afford to stay long at home, hoa ever 1 might have liked 1t; so, after two or three months, Uncle Jethro Macey gave me goo l berth on his whaler. The place was full of wha!ers in those days The big ships lay in the harbor as thick as clans in sand-bank, and the old red and gray warehouses and tryhouses, that are so empty and silent now, were full of business and bustle. There was plenty of fun, too. They used to give New Years balls in that warehouse you see yonder, and there my own father danced with poor Elizabeth Swayne not ten minutes before she was summoned home, in her pink brocade and with a mask on her face. to her aunt's deathbed." -e
 "Poor thing, she paid heavy price for her frolic, if all tales are true!' remarked Captain Burton; but go on, Asa. a''''.
 I'm afraid I'm making long yarn oi it." said Asa. ''So I'll hurry up a little. Of course I went down to Aunt Esther's to say goodbye, and Susan said she guessed she would walk back with me as far as old Huldah's. For Huldah was breaking up at last and Susan was as good as an angel to her. She heaped coals of fire on her head if any one ever did, but Huldah's skull was pretty thick, and l don't believe they burned her much after all. Just as we parted at the gate. l ventured to say something that had been on my mind all the evening. -e-~ -'.
 "Susan. .supposing l meet Ed. out there anywhere shall l say anything to him?'
 '"Thee may tell him how it was,' says she, ofter thinking a minute. T don't know as l ought to say any more than that
 "'That's more than he deserves, said I.
 "'We won't talk about deserts, Asa, says Susan. The best of us can't afford to do that. But thee can tell him just how it was, and Say that I asked thee to do so .,
 "Well, I sailed the next day, leaving Lois at homo with her mother. We had been out a year and little over, and by great gook luck we had had letters once during the time. Often a whaler would be out three or four years and never hear from home once in all that time"
 "Yes, I know," said I. "When first came here we had mail only every other day, but as sure as I said word about it, some old gentleman would tell me how he used to go out sailing, and not get a letter in five years.
 ''Just so. We'll, we had put into Callao for sdme repairs, and l had found long letter from my wife, so was feeling very nice, indeed. I was going along the street, whistling, when I stumbled on a Kanaka used to sail with, good heart ed, honest little fellow as ever lived, and a first rate sailor. So we naturally stop ped for bit of yarnin, and says he to me presently, There's man from your place in. the little hospital here, very sick. '.
 "sWho is it?" asked
 "'I don't know his name, says he 'He was picked up at sea in whaie-boat, the only one left alive sof the crew, and brought in here by Portuguese brig. The place isn't far off, if you like to go and see him. I heard say he wouldn't live long. -.. ,.' |.
 "Well. of course 1 wanted to go, and he took me to q hospital 4 comfortable place for the kind, not very large, and was under the care of some sisters or nuns. could speak the language enough to be understood, and the lady in charge was very polite, and took me at once to see the patient, only cautioning me that ward by himself on decent clean bed. He was fearfully worn and wasted, but the minute 1 set eyes on him knew it was Ed Swayne. I had been angry and toward him for good while, but the feeling all went away the minute I saw him. It is fearful sight, a man wasted to skin and bone by famine. There is no sickness which gives such a look" r
 "I know!" said I. "I saw the men from Andersonville. ..
 Just so. We'll, Ed. didn't seem to no- tice me at first. He was asleep or in a couldn't tell which, 50 I sat down by the bed and got out my wife's letter again. l, had read it over for the tenth time, trying to realize that had baby of my own, when poor Ed moaned and opened his eyes. s...g .....a.-- e.
 'Drink!" said he faintly. .=
 'There was a jug of cool stuff made of lemons or something standing by, and I raised his head and gave him drink. As [ laid him down he looked at me earnest ly. and 1 saw at once that he knew me.
 "'Asa!' said he in whisper, trying to put ont his hand to me, 'Is it Asa, or am I dreaming again? !. zauaa ,as ..
 ,..' 1t is Asa this time and no mistake, said I. trying to speak as cheerful as I could. How are you, old fellow?'' -5-a
 I'm not long for this world,' says he; five seen about the last of it. aud I don't know that I'm very sorry either"
 q didn't contradict him, for I never found much use in that, so l said was glad he had such a comfortable place, or words to that effect 1~' ,.
 "'Yes. they are very kind, he ans vered in dejected sort of. way; but it seems dreary to die without any one to make a prayer or say verse of Scripture ;o comfort one. The -ladies are very good, but they are not our sort, you know, and cant understand, nor they ne. Can't you stay with me. Asa? I shan keep you long. l knowI hayn t lsed you very we'll, hut'-and hee he. stopped for weakness, but he held my land with his wasted fingers and looked nto my face with great hollow hungry ,yes. That look went to my heart. I can ell you. I didn't answer for about I thought of more things than ,ne man often thinks of in an hour. Our 'hip was to sail next day on her home ward voyage. didn't know how soon I night get another chance, and there was ny wife expecting me, and the other 1oung woman that hadnt seen yet. But Lois was well of. with her mother, and lere was my old friend to all appearances lying, with not a soul near to care for Jim except strangers. I thought this all ,ver while I was dropping my wife's letter md picking it up again. Then l made ID my mind what my duty was.
 70. course I'll stay with you; that is, if can settle matters with Jethro, and I, guess I can, says I. Don't you worry 0adl T xhon,t 1na va vou -alnra anvhow