The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-11-13
WHEN MY SHIP COMES IN.
II DLEASE, Miss Carleton, your ship
has come in -

has come in ~
The speaker was bright little fellow,
perhaps eight years old, and he made the
announcement with wonderfully eager
and important air, as he entered the
schoolroom where his teacher and fel-
low-pupils were assembled, one lovely
summer morning. 1t was not yet quite
nine o'clock, and the children had been
gathered in little groups chattering away
like magpies, but at Charlie Gray's
speech they stood for a moment in
silence, then all burst forth with a tor
rent of eXclamations.
80 Miss Carleton ! Isn't that good!
Now you'll get the new maps you prom
ised us, cried one.
Yes, and flower seeds for the gar
den, said another.
"And my new kite" chimed in q
third.
"And string for our kites !" chorussed
several.
"And L hope, Miss Carleton, you
wont forget the curtain, so the sun need
liOU lldhO JOul llCSlh stClC 81
said gentle Annie Evans, one of the
Oldest scholars.
Miss Carleton heard this last remark
even amidst the general hubbub, and her
bewilderment at its cause
"Thank you, ANNIE" she said, CRATE
fully; "but let us first find out what all
this is about. What makes you think
my ship has come in, Charlie?" she
asked, drawing the little fellow towards
her.
cause saw it," was the proud re-
ply.
"You saw it But where and how
did you know it was mine ?"
"'Cause your name is on it in big
gold letters. 1 was coming along the
beach and saw her lying right off there
pointing towards the coast. "She is a
real beauty, too,'' said the boy, with the
nautical enthusiasm inherited from a
long line of seafaring ancestors. "She
is all black and gold, and her sails are as
white! Guess they're new ,ain It they ?"
he inquired, excitedly.
&C / really don't know" laughed Mrs.
Carleton; "but you are sure it was my
name, Charlie ? Can you remember
how to spell it ?''
Yes ma'am!" responded Charlie,
emphatically; "just like this.' And
picking up bit of chalk, he laborious-
ly inscribed on the blackboard, @ Grace
C-a-r-l-e-t-o-n." "Therel" he exclaim-
ed, in triumph, aint that your name
1 knew twas, cause it's on your book
that you let me carry home for you
sometimes, and L remembered just as
soon as saw it on the ship"
Miss Carleton looked both puzzled and
amused; but just then the little wheezy
old clock fastened to the wall began to
strike nine. With slight sigh, she
rang the little bell on her desk the chill
dren subsided into their seats, and the
business of the day began.
Only Annie Evans noted the restless
faraway look in She face that had grown
so dear to her, or the expression of pain
that crossed it when at the noon inter-
mission, as she tried to soothe a little
one whose doll had come to grief, she
unconsciously began her usual phrase,
" When my Ship" and Charlie, with
wide open eyes, interrupted, "Why,
Miss Carleton, it has comel''
The teacher and most of the scholars
lived too far from the schoolhouse to go
home at noon, consequently it was not
until four O'Clock that Grace Carleton
found herself free. Locking the door of
the schoolhouse, she turned her steps
towards the beach.
Fortunately, Charles mother had
given him an errand in an opposite di-
rection, for she did not feel inclined just
now to listen to his ceaseless talk. His
announcement, made in all good faith,
had reused host of sad memories, and
she longed to be alone, and think them
all down.
Clear before her rose the time, not yet