The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-07-27
BILL WALKERS WIFE,

| -EINOF uTuy. tH august Itt0nftt.
|
BILL WALKERS WIFE.
SOME one knocked at the door.
was wild night-the snow fallin
drearlly around, the air dying ava
and then coming in swift twirls dow
the chimney, bringing with it bun
4 den of snow which Kissed as it touche
the roaring fire. Quietness within. /
comely matron was sitting alone b
the hearth, mending child's frock
The three little pairs of shoes lying +
dry before the flame told that the quie
was only Il temporary peace, to b
broken after the little brains were re
cuperated by sleep. Sitting ther
alone, the woman heard a knock at tn
door. Hurriedly rising, she unlocked
the door and opened it. a man
voice said:
"Do Bill Walkers wife live here 2
"les,' she answered. Il am she
What do you want with me ?"
Lass, may come in? Ihaye new
from Bill"
'From Bill. Come in. sailor, fo
the love of Heaven, and tell me wha
you know
Out of the wintry darkness, into The
light and heat of the pungent wooC
fire, stepped a big, brawny fellow
dressed in the rough garb of Il common
sailor. He shook the snow from him
and looked down into the little woman'S
face in close inquiry. She returned
the look with a startled expression. as
of one bewildered: and then new
look came into her face as of c0mpre.
heESion.
"Sit by the fire, you must be chilled, -
she said to him.
81 am that, Bill Walkers wife. Are
ye all alone?'
"No" she said, pointing to the
three pairs of little shoes.
TIE man looked at them, and drew
his hand roughly across his eyes.
"Now, sailor,' said she, ''what' 5
your news?'
"Bill Walkers wife, | can't tell We
much just now. Ge must bear wi
me. I'm but rough sailor, and don't
know hardly how to commence my
yarn
ooh, it's a yarU,.~iS. it 2.v WeII areit
commence" She suited the action to
the word, sat down on low stool in
the red light from the blazing fire, and
took up her work. "Now am ready, y
said she.
The man seemed a little confused.
'Arn't you a little nervOus?' he
asked.
Il was little afraid before you
came in. Now I'm steady like
Bill Walker wife, I've that to tel
ye which'll not make ys easy in yen
mind-Bilrs been gone three year
When did ye hear from him last?'
Five months ago. He was sailing
by Madagascar, and hadn't time tC
write much"
Lass" said the man, solemnly
'ye'll not hear from Bill in hurr,
again"
Il expect not. There amt mucl
use of his writing, seeing as l car
never answer his letters, as l dom
know if they will find him
class, he'll never write to y,
again.
"That's pity, for Bill likes me,
know"
The man looked at her in astonish
ment.
"Bill Walkers wife, now I'll com
mence my yarn"
"Ye know five months ago Bill
sailed around Madagascar. | wa
along O Bill. Him and me was fas
chums. Whatsomever he done, tina
done |. Wheresomever he went, ther
went l. When he writ to ye, | say
that ere letter. When he thought G
We, / knew that ere thought. Blu
there's storms at sea, lass. There
storms as make We think o home, an
all that's near and dear, while Heave
seems to be tightin' wi the sea, whic
uprises to buffet it wi mad waves
There's storms as makes aNif:n a @ sni
VI nearJ quiet, while MS lips Gus
and cuss at the work he's tryin' to dc
Who knew more about storms nor Bi
and me? We follered the sea for mig
twenty year, and never separated
can't tell ye all, for yen feel bad"
mo, | won't, sailor. l like to hea
YOU talk. 1t sounds like old times
"Old times, lass ~
Eyes, when Bill used to sit thel
and tell his awful yarns and try
make me swallow them. You see
never believe all hear"
eye don't think I'm deceivln' y
do YEP
"Of course not, sailor. / don
think anything like that. Coon now.
We'll. there come a storm one da
The skipper comes to us and says II
Lads, it's all up WI us unless we g
out in ten minutes But, says Bi
"where will we go?'
". Anywhere we can,' says the ski
per, says he.'
"Ye see can't talk like a book, al
| list tell We how it were. The sll
had sprung leak. In fact, the who
side were stove in on rock, and t
pumps was no use, and we was gol
> down, and oh.-Bill Walkers wife
! yer husband wouldn't forsake I'll
shipv'
. "That's right in him" she said,
5 wouldn't have man who would fl
sake his work when it got troub
a some"
"Well-but lass, Bill was aboa
till the very last. He wouldn't go.
: got all the others off, and there
staid looking toward home, and thu
o in O. ye and the babies
Good tor Billn' her pleasant e
sparkling with tears.
It "But why don't ye get excite
Didn't ye care for Billy'