The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-05-24
WHEN THE SHIP COMES INV.
BY CHARLES NOEL.


A sweet-!aced 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 at her
guardian. But the woman's face is not
at its best nowhere is an anguished ex-
preston upon it, a care-worn look, and
faint wrinkle upon the pale forehead
that ages her and lessons the charm of
her features.
She is inquiring Of the dock men,
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 lost a
month ago, dashed on a lee shore and
ground to pieces by the sea, and will
never come n--never-nevermorel
II they told her, she wouldn't believe
them, for this woman and her child have
supreme faith-feel as sure a. God rules
that the brig "Good Luck will come 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 a day.
Tnen she goes across the street and
winds her way among the bales and boxe:
and passing carts, and through all the
hubbub and hustle of the wharf, and
climbs flight of stairs to where the brig's
owDcrs have their Office. They are used
to seeing her. They smile sadly when
sbe enters with the child, and look sig
ni6cantly at one another as much as tc
say, "Poor thingl she's mad. No won.
der, no wonderp
Mad Yes, she is mad with hope de
ferred," with anxiety to meet her hus
band, Caleb Setter, master of the bri.
"Good Luck ITO meet the master o
the brig, her husband and the father o
this child. God of Heaven, why does h,
stay away from her 50 long?
"Is the Good Luck in yet ?' sh
asks of clerk.
mot yet, ma'am."
"She's expected, of course, to-day? ?"
"Of course"
"There's vessel coming in now.
zee the tall masts. Lookl look I" point
ing out ofthe Office window to the rive
front. "Maybe that's it'll Ellie, deal
look! there's fathers vessel, with fathe
on boardp
The child clasps her little hands at tn
sight.
"Sorry to say that amt it, ma'am,
says the clerk relaxing into his calcul,
tions, and paying no more attention t
the woman.
She stares out of the window at th
approaching vessel drawn by a tug, an
then with blank look upon her face an
amoan that is heart-rending says:
No, Ellie, mel That is not the Goo
Luck see the figure head the fgur
head of the Good Luck is an angel
white and gold angel. No! no thi
isn't it."
But papa will come home soon, won
he, mamma ?" whispers the child.
"Yes, yes, yesl To-day, my darlin
to-day"
Old Mr.. Tawman, who is the head
the establishment here, now comes fro
behind his desk and approaching Il
woman, says in kindly tone:
"Mrs. Setter, sit down; make yourst
ms comfortable as you can in dingy {
fee like this. Here, little one, cor
here; give me kiss. A bright, pret
little dear, Mrs. Setter"
She looks pale" said the moth
"She is tired-she has been walking t
much"
"Mamma, don't mind walking to f
father. / am not tired"
The old gentleman sits down and Ii
the little girl on his knee and kisses b
She winds her arms about his neck a
exclaims:
You'll tell my papa to come so'
won't youT
"Yes, DEAR"
II was the habit of this firm to pay
sort of pension monthly to the widows
captains who were lost in their servi
II was not much of a stipend, being OIL
half pay, but it was certainly blessi
in very many cases. Mrs. Setter had
ways received her husbands money ne
while he was at sea, or it was sent to
when she was sick or the weather bad
"Ah, Mr.. Tawman, I'm sure the G'
Luck will be in to-day T'
Certainly it will What's to hin
itT' he answers.