The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-09-15
WHEN The SHIP COMES IN.

sweet-f faced woman and 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 tinery, 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 angilished
expression upon 1t, q care-w0rn look, and
q faGt wrinkle upon the pale forehead
that ages her and lessons the charm of
her features.
She is inquring of the dock men, of
the stevedores, Of the loungers about the
waryes, 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 lee shore and ground to pieces by
the sea, and will never come 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 flight of stairs to where the
briggs owners have their office. They are
used to seeing 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
deferred" with anxiety to meet her bus
band, Caleb Setter, master of the brig
Good Luck, her husband and the father
of this child. God of heaven! why
does he stay away 50 long?
"Is the Good Luck in yet?' she asks
of clerk.
- Not yet, maam."
She expected, of course, to-day"
OF course"
"There's vessel coming in now. l
see the tall masts. Look! Iook" point
ing out of the office window to the river
front Maybe that is it, Ellie dear,
look! there is fathers vessel, with father
on board
The child clasps her little hands at the
sight.
I" Sorry to say that is not it, ma am, ;"
says the clerk, relaxing into his calcula-
tions, and paying no more attention to
the woman.
She stares out of 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-rending,
says: e
No, Ellie, no. That is not the Good
Luck. l see the fgurehead; the figure
head of the Good Luck is an angel; a
white and gold angel. No, no. that is
not it,"
"B Ut 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, and approaching the
woman, says in a kindly tone:
Mrs. Setter, sit down; make yourself
as comfortable as YOU can in a dingy
office like this. Here little one, come
here; give me a kiss 4 bright. pretty
little dear, Mrs. Setter"
She looks pale" said the mother
She is tired; she has been walking too
much.
Mamma, l don't mind walking to
find father. I'm not tired
The old gentleman sits down and lifts
the little girl on his knee and kisses her.
She winds her arm about his neck and
exclaims:
You'll tell my papa to come soon,
won't YOU"
Yes, dear"
1t was the habit Of this firm to pay a
sort of a pension monthly to the widows
OF captains vino were lost in their service.
Ii was not much of stipend, being only
halt pay, but it was certainly blessing
IN very many eases. Mrs. Setter had
always received her husbands money
here, while he was at sea, or it was sent
10 her when she was sick or the weather
bad.
All, Mr.. Tawman, I'm sure the Good
Luck viii be in to-day"
Certainly it will, What's TO hinder
it," he answers. aHsa
He puts the child down and goes ovel
to his desk, and unlocking a drawer h,
takes out an account book and begin
writing receipt. Then goes over int,
the cashiers room. While he is there tn
telegraph clerk calls him over.
Click, clickety click goes the magi'
instrument repeating its dot and dasl
message.
Hear that" says the operator
That's news for you" The proprietor
could read every word by its sound.
It's like message from God, says
Mr.. Tawman, reyerently. | must not
tell her."
He comes back to where the woman is
sitting, his face flushed with emotion
some strange excitement He throws into
her lap bundle of bank notes.