Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-12-19

manner of queer things. Charlie was
never tired of bringing me new and
curious trinkets, and | made my little
cabin as fancy as Chinese toyshop.
"When we came home from that
voyage, my little Minnie was born. She
was darling blue-eyed baby, and Char
was so anxious for her comfort that
persuaded me to stay at home with
Il Their, and he went on the next voyage
alone
"But I couldn't bear it SO when he
came home again, [ begged him to let
me 60 back to- my home in the little
cabin. He found it desolate enough
without me, so he said, and we went
together.
"This voyage we lay a long time in
the Brazilian port, and before we sailed
for home, another baby was in my
arms. We called her Pepita, after our
dear old ship, and it was hard to say
which the sailors petted the most. the
ship or the baby.
All went well with us until we we're
within three days sail of New York,
and then terrible storm came on. 1t
was in the winter, and for eight long
days we tossed at the mercy of the
tempest. It was an awful time, mann.
Charlie didn't laugh then; and although
he tried to speak cheerful words, l
could see ne was almost wild with anxi-
ETY.. I'll never forget that time, when |
sat day and night on the cabin floor,
Minnie clinging to my dress and poor
little Pepita in my arms, listening to
the wave crashing against the ship as if
every moment must be our last. The
sailors would come down now and then
for a drop of hot coffee and to warm
their frozen fingers, for everything on
deck was covered with ice. They
hadn't the heart, poor fellows, to speak
to the children, and saw more than
one tear on their rough cheeks when
they looked at them, and Pepita would
smile and stretch out her little hands
in her unconscious baby way.
But God saved us. after ALL In the
evening of the eighth day the wind
changed, and we drifted into calmer
waters. If it hadn't been for the east
wind blowing, we might just as well
have drifted the other way. for the
ship was almost helpless. 1t was about
two in the morning when Charlie rushed
into the cabin and almost carried me
in his arms to the door. There | saw,
cleaning through the fog, two great
shining lights They were like angels
eyes looking from heaven to me. I've
passed those Highland lights many a
time since. mann. I've seen them in
soft summer evenings and clear spring
mornings, but never see them with
out my whole heart going out in thanks
giving and praise. No one to whom
they have not snone as they did to me
that night can know what they really
mean, standing there on the headland
and pointing to heaven.
"Well. we saw the lights from other
vessels all around us, and at daybreak a
tug was alongside taking our forlorn,
nearly wrecked ship up the harbor and
before night I laid Pepita in my moth
er's arms.
after that, Charlie wouldn't hear to
my going to sea again. He said he
could bear anything if the children
were not suffering too; SO, for the sake
of my little ones, consented to stay
behind. Charlie bought little cottage
on the Jersey coast, where could over
look the sea, and [ settled down quiet
ly to take care Of the children while he
went on his voyage.
"He kept on going to Brazil and back
for long time Twice l left the chill
dren with mother-for she had come to
live with US in the cottage-and went
with him, for it hurt me to pass all my
life away from Charles side. So every
thing went well with us. We owned
our cottage and a bit Of garden, where
mother and Minnie used to pass long
summer days wedding and watering and
tending the beds of peoples and mari
Colds and astors-old fashioned flowers
such as mother loved Pepita was her
fathers own girl She loved the sea,
and would leave Minnie to take care of
the garden, and go and sit for hours on
the beach watching the waves tumble
in among the stones and beat against
the foot Of the cliff. When Charley
came home she was always the first to
see him far down the road. and I'll
never forget how her pretty face used
to look as she would come dancing up
the garden path pulling him with both
her hands, and he laughing and calling
her all manner of tender names.
"Those were sunny days, mann, and
Pm sure there never was a happier
family than the one gathered round
our little table while Charlie was at
home.
1--WE mad saved good bit Of money,
too, for Charlie wasn't like some sailors,
who throw everything about when they
are on shore. Every penny we could
spare he laid by for the little girls; for
they were always little girls to hi n, and
always will be.
"But our day of anxiety was to
come. An opportunity was offered
Charlie to 60 on long voyage to the
East Indies. The chance, as we looked
at it, was too good to be thrown away;
SO he sold the Pepita, which was getting
to be an old ship, and went off as half
owner of another bark, the Arago. 1t
was hard to let him 60 for so long a
time. South America seemed like
home, but the East Indies was an I'M
known world. He was so full of hope
that he tried to go off in his usual jolly
way, kissing Minnie and telling her she
would bo q little uyop,an ubo,, b1 no ~, =,