The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1877-12-27

"Christmm morning was very clear,
and ! remember how the sunlight danced
in our little kitchen. II fell like a bless
ing on Minnie's pretty hair, making IT
sparkle like gold, and reflected on the
picture of Charles ship-n0t the lost
one, but the dear old Pepita-w which
hung on the wall.
"Iho table WIS spread, and we sat
down ~ our sad rcpast. Minnie folded
her hands 10 ray grace, when-oh, maSm,
/ can hardly tell you about II, even alter
ALI these years--Pepita sceamed like one
mad with Joy, | sprung to my feet. !
couldn't tell what had happened 10 me.
saw looking in at the window Charlie
Charlie alive and well!
al don't know how IL all was; | know
| couldn't move. ! saw ~ in Il dream
Charlie in the room and Pepila's arms
around his neck; then ! fell on his
shoulder like one dead.
"There are no words TO tell you ma'am,
Of the joy and happiness we knew in our
little cottage that Christmas day, We
couldn't realize it ourselves, ! didn't
dare TO take my eyes from Charlie for a
moment, lest | should look back and find
him gone. Minnie and Pepita both IA,
clinging 10 him. He had a long story to
tell VA Of shipwreck upon shipwreck, of
long waiting upon lonely islands, watch
ing month after month for sails which
seemed never 10 c0me--adyehtures
through which many a poor sailor has
passed, and from which many a one has
never come back TO tell the story AZ
Charlie did.
"That night, sitting by the fire after
the children had left w alone, ] made
Charlie promise me that he would never
leave me again, but would give up the
sea and stay with us in the cottage.
al didn't realize till long a%lterward
how hard it had been for him to promise
me that. lhad come TO have such aterror
of the yea that | conldn't realize how a
sailors heart delighted in it. When years
had passed, and Minnie and Pepita had
both married and left us alone, | began
TO feel how hungry Charlie was for the
life he had loved no much. He used to
spend his time wandering about the docks
and going on board the shipsin from for
eign ports; and sometimes'hc would st on
The cliff Tor hours with his spyglass, watch
ing the passing vessels, and more than
once ! heard him sigh az if his heart was
busting; but | would never listen when he
spoke of going 10 sea again, until at last
his health began to fail, and it seemed
there was nothing for him but to return
to his old life or die. But | couldn't
bear TO let him go alone, and he couldn't
bear to leave me behind. We were both
too old to begin life over in the long
trading voyages; and ~ Charlie had the
offer of the place of first mate on this
ship--the captain is an old friend of his,
mn'am--I got the situation as stewardess'
and for three years Charlie and have
been travelling back and forth together,
and we will continue to do 80 AZ long AZ
God gives Us health and strength to bear
the journey"
The old lady stopped and looked hest
tatingly at me and at some other passen.
gers who had gathered near to listen, az
if she feared we were wearied by her
long family history.
hastened to rea4sure her by thanks for
the pleasant way she had entertained us
during the long Christmas eve at sea.
"And 10 Charlie is really on board
with your | said.
con, yes, ma'am," she replied, smil-
ing. C" would not be here without
him. Did you mind The man who was
speaking TO me at the cabin door tonight
tho tall, stout man with n gray bCard7
Yea, you saw him. did you? That was
Charlie"