Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-10-06
WHEN THE SHIP COMES IN.

\ sweet faced woman and a sweet-f4ceI
child are wandering among the shipaing
docks Of the city. Tla wotn1n is plainly
dressed, but evidently in her be>t attire AMI
there rs touch OF genIitIty in her finery, in
the real lace collar. relic OF better Il avs Dor-
haps, the pearl earrings and Tn. neat gloves
The child l. neatly dressed tDp, and as she
clasps tue Wouat - hant looks love at her
guardian. But The wpmaH'S face is not az
It's best now there IS an angutShet express
sion upon AZ, a care worn look. and a faint
wrinkle upon the pale forehead that ages her
and lessons the charm of her features.
She is inquiring of the dock men. of the
stevedOres, OF the lnuugErs about the
wharveS, whether the brig Good Luck has
cOmein- she always receives the same re-
ply to her eager question, aud that reply is,
that the brig Good Luck has been lost a
month ago, dashed on n lee shore and ground
to pieces by the sea, and will never come in
neveT-nevermOre.
When they tell her she will not believe
Them, for this woman and her child have SUI
preme faith-feel as sure as God rules that
The brig GOOD Luck will come in, and
come In soon with cargo aud crew though
they have been asking the Samequestion 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 pass
ing 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 10 seeing her. They
smile sadly when she enters with the child,
and look significantly at one another, as
much as TO say: Poor thing! sne's mad! No
wonder, no wOnderi"
Mad, Yes, she is mad with hope deferred
with anxiety TO meet her husband, Caleb
Setter, master Of the brig Good Luck" II
meet the master of the brig, her husband aud
the father of this child. God OF Heaven, way
does he stay away from her so long,
SIS the Good Luck in YETI" she ASKS of a
clerk.
ssNot yet, ma'ams"
'She's expected, of course, to-day?''
''Of course"
'sThere's a vessel coming in now. I see
the tall masts. Look, look" pointing out OF
the Office window 10 tue river front. MAYBE
that's IL Ellie, dear, look, there's fathers
vessel, with father on bOard!''
The child claps her little hand at the sight.
"SOrry TO say that ain't IL, man, says
the clerk, relaxing into his calculations, and
paying nOmOre attention To the woman.
She stares out at the open window at the
approaching vessel drawn by a tug, and then
with blank LOOK upon her face and a moan
that is heart Tending, says:
mo, Ellie. BOi That is not the Good
Luck. / See The fgure-head; the figure heal
of the Good Lnck is an angel; white and
gold angel. No, no. that isn't It."
'But papa will come home soon, won't he
mammal" whispers the child.
"Yes, yes, yes! To day, my darling, to-
day"
Old Mr.. Tawman, who is the head of the
establishment here. now comes from behind
his desk, ana approaching the woman, says
Mrs. Setter, sit down; make yourself as
comfortable a. you can in dingy OH .e like
This. Here, little one, come here; give me a
kiss. bright, pretty little dear, Mrs. Sell
ter"
"She looks pale" sad the mother. "She
is tired; she has been wal King too much"
Mamma, don't mind walking 10 fad
father. I'm rot tired
The old gentleman sits down and lifts the
little girl on mis- knee, and kisses her
She winds her arm about his Beck and eX-
Claims.
You'll tell my papa TO come soo1, won't
you?''
.sNaS deor-3
IL was the habit of this firm II pay sort
of pension monthly TO the willows OF captains
who were lost In their service. IL was not
much of a stipend, being only halfpay, but
II was certainly blessing in very many
cases. Mrs. Setter had always receive her
husbands money here, while he was at sea,
or II was sent 10 her when she was SICK, or
the weather bal.
''Ah, Mr. Tawman. I'm sure the Good
Luck will be- in TO day"
Certainly II Will! WHAT'S to hinder IT,
he answers
He puts the child down and goes over to
his desk, and unlocking "A drawer he takes
Out an account book and begins writing re-
Ceipt. THIN he goes over into the cashiers
room. While he is there the telegraph clerk
Click. cIlckity. click, goes the magic in
strument. repeating its dot and dash mes
sage
sHear that saws the operator. That's
news for yOu!'' The proprietor could read
every wOr! by its sound.
It's like "a message from God" says Mr..
N.
He comes back 10 where the woman Is Sit
ting, his face flushed with emotion; some
strange excitement. He throws into her lap
q bundleOf bank notes
''Ihere, Mrs. Setter, now go home. Taxes
car al the door"
ssOh. Inn not tired. And / should like.
lie here " hen the brig comes In. But itnahA
you so much, so much"
"Here, LILLE one" says the gooi-heartei
Tswman, here's something for you To pay
candies with" he puts into her tiny out
stretched palm a bright quarter OF doIlar,
and laughs at the wonder and delight OF tae
little recipient
Poor little tning, she Is weary unto steep.
She cuddIss herself in the big chair and sin Is
Into slumber in an instant. ,,,
Now, Mrs. Setter, you've had nodinner,"
says Iawman.
'.Oh, yes, sir"
Go down with Mr.. PelCon here, our young
man, and get something 10 eat You see We
have Arrangements here Tor the comfort .!
our clerks We give them q hot dinner, ana
good dinner, TOO. There's nobody there
now Every ody's dined. Go down there,
and ask the waiter. George" addressing M.
Pelton whom he hal summoned, "tO give
This good lady a cup OF tea and . piece Of
toast, some chicken and all thaL Inen,
pausing a moment, as II Propriety ana ph, III.
anthropy are struggling for mastery 10 MS
mo. no. George. Tell Henderson to send
The dinner up into my Ioon me, ne room Tssn
Mr.. Tawman enters the ONCE again ana con-
suits the telegraph operator
"Send this message at once, Mr.. Ltndlsy,
III you please" He writes something ehu
the operator clicks IL of at once. lts long
message a very long message inoeeu, pu'
the Presidents message itself Is not so I'M
portant, go Interesting, to those whom IL
concerns. .
Then, by the time the message Is sent the
dinner Is ready in Mr.. Tawmaus private
Office, when Mrs. Setter par;akes OF II, put
does not think proper to waken the weary
child, that she may eat also
Then Mr. TawmsD says: Now, you had
better go. III see TO the child, I'll bring the
little girl mp with me tonight"
mo, no." exclaims the mother. al must
have my Lille with me always, sir! You are