River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-10-11
When the Ship Comes In.

hhen the snip comes In.
A sweet-faced woman and a sweet
faced child are wandering among the
shipping docks OF the great city The
woman Is plainly dressed, but evidently
in her best attire, and there is a touch of
gentility in her iinery, in the real lace
collar, relic Of better days perhaps, the
pearl earrings and the neat gloves. The
child is neatly dressed, too, and as she
clasps the woman's hand, looks love at
her guardian. But the woman's face is
not at its best now; there Is an anguished
expression upon il, a care-wOrn look, and
a faint wrinkle upon the pale forehead
that ages her and lessons the charm of
her features.
She Is inguiring of the dock men, of
Il stevedOTes, of the lOungers about the
wharves, whether the brig "GOod Luck"
has come in. She always receives the
same reply to her eager questions. and
that reply is, that the brig Good Luck"
has been lost month ago, dashed on a
lee shore and ground to pieces by the sea,
and Will never core in-never-never
more
If they told her, she wouldn't believe
them, for this woman and her child have
supreme faith-feel as sure as God rules.
that the brig "GOOd Luck" will come in
soon with cargo and crew, though they
have been asking the same question and
breathing the same prayer for many and
many day.
Then she goes across the street and
winds her way among the bales and
boxes and passing carts, and through all
the hubbub and hustle of the wharf. and
climbs a flight of stairs to where The
briggs owners have their office. They are
used to zeeing her They smile sadly
when she enters with the child, and look
Significantly at one another, as much as
to say, poor thing, she's mad. No
wonder
Mad, Yes, she is mad with - hope de
fcrred, with anxiety to meet her husband,
Caleb Setter, master Of the brig Good
Luck, her husband and the father of this
child. God of heaven why does he stay
away so longl
Sc Is the Good Luck in yet:" she asks of
a clerk
Not yet, masm.'
She's,expected, OF course. to day."
OF course
There's a vessel coming in now
see the tall masts Look, look" point
ing out Of the office window to the river
front. Maybe that is il, Ellie dear,
look. there is fathers vessel, with father
on board.
The child clasps her little hands at the
sight
Sorry to say that is not it, maam, ''
says the clerk, relaxing into his Calcula-
Uons, and paving no more attention to the
woman.
she-stares out Of tie open window at
the approaching vessel drawn 10y a tug,
and then with blank look upon her face
and Il moan that is heart -rending says:
No, Ellie, no, That is not the Good
Luck | see the figUrehead: the figure
head o. the Good Luck is an angel; a
white and gold angel. No, no! that Is
not it.
But papa will come home soon, won't
he, mammal" whispers the child.
'' Yes, yes, YES. To-day, my darling.
today
Old Mr. Tawman, who is the head Of
the establishment here, now comes from
behind his desk, and approaching the
woman, SAYS in kindly tone;
Mrs. Setter, sit down; make yourself
as comfortable as you can in a dingy of
fce like this Here little one come here
give me kiss. A bright, pretty little
dear, Mrs. Setter"
She looks pale said the mother
" She Is tired; she has been walking toe
much"
Mamma, / don't mind walking &c
end father. I'm not tired
The old gentleman sits down and lifts
4. 4 L. L
She winds her arm about his neck and
exclaims:
You'll tell my papa to come soon
won't yCui"
ayes, dear"
Ii was the habit of this firm to pay d
sort Of pension monthly to the widows
of captains who were lost in their service
1t was not much of a stiTend, being only
half pay, but it was certainly a blessing
in very many eases. Mrs Setter had al
wavs received her husbands money here,
while he was at sea, or il was sent to heI
when she was sick or the weather bad.
"Ah. Mr.. Tawman, I'm sure the Good
Luck will be in today
Certainly II will. What's To hinder
itt~ he answers.
He puts the child down and goes over
"a his desk. and unlocking a drawer he
takes ont an account book and begins
writing a receipt Then goes over into
the cashiers room. While he is there
the telegraph clerk calls him over.
Click. clickety click. goes the magic
instrument repeating its dot and dasl
message.
Hear that" says the operator. That,
news for you, - the proprietor could read
every word 10y its sound.
1t 'slike q message from God" say!
Mr. Tawman. revercntiy. | must not tel
her
lie comes back To- where The woman j
sitting, his face flushed v ii emotion
some strange excitement. lie throws in
70 her lap a bundle of bank notes.
There Mrs. Setter, now go home
Take a car at the door"
"Oh. I'm not tired And | shout,
like To be here when the brig comes in
But | thank you So much. so much"
Here little one. SAYS the goodies
,d Tawman there's something for YOU I
Luv candies with" He puts into he
tinv. outstretched palm bright quartz
or n dollar. and laughs at the wonder AM
delight of the little recipient
~I'n keep this for my papa.
Poor little thing. she Is weary INT
seen. She cuddles herself in the bi
chair and goes 70 sleep in an instant.
Vow, Mrs. Setter you've had no dir
ner." SAYS Tawman-
"Oh, YES, sir
Yesterday, perhaps; but | mean Il
dsv. Go down with Mr.. Pelton here, GU
Young man. and get something TO ca
You see We have arrangements here tC
the comfort OF our clerks. egive theI
hot dinner, and a good dinner, to-
There's nobody there now. Everybody
dined"
Go down there, and ask the waite