The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-05-24
WHEN THE SHIP CONES IN.
BY CHARLES NOEL.

BY CHARLES NOEL.
A sweet-saced woman and a 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 touch of
gentility in her fnery, 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 ather
guardian. But the woman's face is not
at its best now-thereis an anguished ex-
preston upon it, 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, o
the stevedores, of the loungers about the
wharves, whether the brig Good Luck"
has come in. She always receives the
same reply to her eager question, and
that reply is-that the brig "Good
Luck" has not come in but they have
too much humanity to tell her that this
same brig "Good Luck" has been lest
month ago, dashed on a lee shore and
ground to pieces by the sea, and will
never come in-never-neYermor
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 GOMEZ in,
and come in soon, with cargo and crew,
though they have been asking the same
question, and praying 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 fight 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 sig
nifcantly at one another as much as to
say, " Poor thing she's mad. No won
der, no wonderp
Madl Yes, she is mad with "hope de-
ferred," with anxiety to meet her hus-
band, Caleb Setter, master of the brig
"Good Luck Ito meet the master Of
the brig, her husband and the father of
this child. God of Heaven, why does he
stay away from her so long?
els the Good Luck in yet 7" she
asks of clerk.
"Not yet, ma'am."
"She's expected, Of course, to-day~
"Of course"
"There's vessel coming in now.
see the tall masts. Lookl look !" point
ing out ofthe office window to the rive
front. "Maybe that's It'll Ellie, dear
look there's fathers vessel, with fathe
on bosrd!"
The child clasps her little hands at tn
sight.
"Sorry to say that amt it, ma'am,
says the clerk relaxing into his calcula
tions, and paying no more attention tt
the woman.
She stares out of the window at tn
approaching vessel drawn by a tug, an
hen with blank look upon her face an
"a moan that is heart-rending says:
"No, Ellie, ne! That is net the Goo
Luck see the figure head the fgur
head of the Good Luck is an angel
white and gold angel. Nol no! this
isn't it."
=" But papa will come home soon, won
he, mammal" whispers the child.
eyes, yes, yesl To-day, my darlin!
to-day"
Old Mr.. Tawman, who is the head I
the establishment here, now comes frol
behind his desk and approaching tn
woman, says in kindly tone:
"Mrs. Setter, sit down; make yourse
as comfortable as you can in dingy o
fee like this. Here, little one, CON
here; give me kiss. A bright, prett
little dear, Mrs. Setter"
"She looks pale," said the mothe
"She is tired-she has been walking tc
much"
"Mamma, L don't mind walking to fir
father. 1 am not tired"
The old gentleman sits down and lif
the little girl on his knee and kisses he
She winds her arms about his neck al
exclaims:
You'll tell my papa to come 500
won't you7"
eyes, dear"
1t was the habit of this firm to pay
sort of pension monthly to the widows
captains who were lost in their servic
1t was not much of a stipend, being on
half pay, but it was certainly blessil
in very many cases. Mrs. Setter had
ways received her husbands money he
while he was at sea, or it was sent to b
when she was sick or the weather bad.
"Ah, Mr.. Tawman, I'm sure the Go
Luck will be in to-dayT
"Certainly it will What's to hint
itT' he answers.