The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1877-01-08
THE RIVER WAlF.
A STORY OF THE THAMES.


It was d c,lIln, still evening. The
bruEl bosom of. the Thames was scarcely
ruifled by the little breeze, thut stirred
the dropping sails Of some Of the river
craft. Over the city and over the forest
of mnsts, the round full moon WIS rising.
Touching the dome of st. PaIl's, il
glanced down over roofs and under
bridges till it-lny broad path Of light
on the sleeping river. The gas lamps
h;ckered and looked pale before its Light,
aad mnly weary pedestrian, hllrfsing
a:roas tic crowded bridges which span
the river, pnused n moment to gnze Mt
the full-orbctl globe which even to weary
eyes was II wondrOus revelation of
beauty. 49,. .=
Itwas dark under the bridges, and the
watcrlapping against tle,.piera Ind some
thing mourrful in its sound. One Of the
slow river burgess wls Just pAssiMg into
tho shadow. John Briggs, her owner,
leaned against tic tillcr, guarding his
clumsy crnft carefully through tllonrches.
Near the bow his nephew Ben was seat
el, pulling ono long oar.
"Steaily, Ben! !" called out the master,
war1lingly. al
"Steady it is. md Ben drew in his
oar little. -rs.
Out into the light again the boat
came slowly creeping, eagerly watched
by little figure standing on one of the
water stairs. As they came closer, he
sent out to them feeble piping hail.
John Briggs shaded his eyes with his
hnltt. "Why, bless my soul ~ Pop
pets :. Bring her near, Ben, 80 he enu
come aboard"
Then IL strong hearty shout war sent
hck in answer, while the bOOts. head
slowly turned toward the stair.
JOHN Briggs took his pipe out nfNhiS
mouth: to welcome the new conner.
"Why, Poppets, We wns gettn' oncasy
bout yon, mo an Ben. We thought
you'd got lost, inehbc."
enc lost! Why, dnll!"s.aml they both
laughed heartily III huge enjoyment Of the
joke, the thin treble Of the one ringing
pleasantly through thd grntr bass Of the
other.
"Well, Poppets," and john Briggs
resumed his pipe, "wot haS you bought
fur us, fur t won't be long Hfore We
wants our supper" -,N-r.
The little. hoy kuclt down l,esitle his
basket which lie Ind set with great care in
corner, md touching each pArcel aS he
took it ont with careSsing little pat, he
went rapidly over his list. E
"There'S the tobacco, illul, and the tea
md sugar, and bacon and herrin sand
oh, dad! I got some crosses. They looked
so green and pretty, like the fields; l got
'em cos of that"
Ho! lO!" laughed Ben, who was list
clliug; but his uncle fruwned him into
sudden gravity, tlieHs nodded kindly Rt
the flushed, eager fNce:
cts all right, my Ind. Crosses is
very good for the health, as my old
mother used to say"
"They're too pretty to eat most, said
The boy, :ollcling them tendcrlr,
"Well, Poppct's, what'll VIZ llave for
supper, 40 lrcin' it's yOurwatcll?"
"Oh, dad, herrin's! They're 80 good,
and I'm awful hungry. IN
EVERY good, my lad. Here, stew.
ard, ;" to Ben, who grinned in appreciation
Of the never failing Joke, "you hear the
cap'in. He says herrin's for supper, and
consequently lierrin's it H."
snow, cap'in," said john Briggs,
gravely, "if so be as you'll mind the
tillcr IL bit, I'll take the oar, m ly the
time Ben's got supper we'll he ready to
anchor"
Higher aud higher rose tho moon,
silvering the masts ind Spars Of the
many vessels crowded in the docks. The
bargeswps anchored now; ind Ben, Ills
lab0rs ended, was stretched sound asleep
on the deck. Further ait, John Briggs
and Poppets were seated on II coil Of
rope, talking in low tores-tlle child
holding clasped in both lis the, Iaril,
rodgl hand Of the other. .I % z!
"Now, dad, tell,hie bout that night, :"
howas saying aud iad, " drawing him
little closer, commenced the often told,
yet never tired Of, story. l-..,.,, ID. >,
Well, PoppetS, III was Il a,niglit Just
like this, clear full moon an n light
breeze not much more'n Tonight, for 1
remembers Ethe sails o the vessels 'rotultl
lung Just hkerags. Well, We WIS kind
o':lriitin. along. Ben was at the tiller,