American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-05-04


at the ladies 1 saw on board; not that
cared to do so very often, because il
seemed to make me sad, for the faces
looked on seemed to be so different to
mine that felt as If I was another kind
of being, and it used to set me wonder
ing and make me think; and at such
times Two leaned against the tiller and
dreamed and dreamed in n waking fash
ion of how I would like to read and
write and work, as had seen ladies sit
ting and reading and working, on the
decks of the big ships, under the avn
ing; and then l had to set my dreams
aside and have pull at the sheet OF
take a reef in the sail, because the wind
freshened and my dreams all passed
away.
don't think poor father meant it un-
kindly, but he seemed TO grow more
and more broken and helpless every
day, and this frightened me, and made
me work to keep the barge clean and
ship-shape, lest the owners should come
on board and see things slovenly, and
find fault with father and dismiss him,
and that knew would break his heart.
So worked on, and in a dull heavy
way father used to thank me; and the
time glided on, till one day, as we were
lying off Southend, with the sea CLASSY
and not wind enough to fill the sails, L
felt my cheeks begin to burn as leaned
back against the tiller, and would not
turn my head, because 1 could hear a
boat being sculled along towards us,
and 1 knew it was coming from the great
leeboard barge lying astern.,
s'He's coming to see father" 1 said
to myself at last in choking voice; and
as hail came was obliged to turn,
and there stood up in the little boat he
was sculling with an oar over the stern
John Grove, in his dark trousers, blue
jersey and scarlet cap; and as l saw
his sunburnt face and brown arms and
hands felt my heart beating fast, and
knew he was not coming to see father,
but to see me.
We had hardly ever spoken, but I had
known John Grove for years now, and
we had nodded and waved hands to one
another often and often as we passed up
and down the river.
"Heave us rope, my lass" he said
as he came close in; and did it dream
lily, and as soon as 1 had done so be-
gan to pull it back, but it was too late;
he had hitched it round the thwart of his
boat, and was up and over the side be-
fore 1 could stir; and then he stood
looking down upon me. while I felt
sometimes hot and sometimes cold, and
as if could not speak.
"Do you want to see father!" 1 said
at last.
"No, my lass" he said quietly, 81
want to see you"
'Me!" faltered, with my face burn
ing.
"Yes, you, my lass" he said; and
his handsome brown face lit up, and he
looked so manly as he laid his hand on
my arm.
prudence, my gall he said, "we're
both young yet, for I'm not six-and-
twenty, but l thought it was time spoke
to you"
"Spokc to met" said, with my face
burning still.
eyes, my lass, spoke to you, for
we've been counting now matter of
four years.
sob, John," cried, bursting out
laughing and feeling more at my ease,
'why, we've never hardly spoken to one
another"
"That's NICE" he said, drawing a
long breath. "Over again"
"Over again? What?" said.
"Call me JOHN he replied.
"Well then, john" I cried hastily.
"That's right, Prudence; but, as
was going to say, not spoken to one an
other! Well, how could we, always
taking our turns at the tiller as we
were? But all the same, my lass, I've
been always counting of you, night and
day, these four years, and looking out
and longing for the time when the Pru-
dence would come in sight and 1 could
give you hail and get wave of the
hand back"
1 could feel the color coming into my
checks again as I heard him speak, and
knew how anxiously had looked out
for his barge coming up or down the
river; and then I began wondering what
it all meant, and soon knew.
Prudence, my lass,' he said, "I've
saved up f10, all my own, and our own
er has just given me the command of a
new barge, with as pretty cabin in as
you'd wish to see; and SO, my lass, 1
thought I'd ask you if so be as now
we've been counting four years, you
wouldn't come to me and be my wife P''
"No," said, "no,', and shook my
head. belong to father, and could
never leave him-never.
"But you'll have to some day, Pru-
dence," he said, looking dreadfully
and miserable.
+ "No," 1 said, 81 shall never leave
him; he wants me more and more every
day, and must stay" t--..
Prudence, {" he said sharply, "you
amt playing with me, are youP'
Playing with you?'' 9i
Yes; mean you amt going to take
up with any one else, and 60 aboard any
other barge-no, no." he cried, "I
won't be so mean as to ask you that.
But, Prudence. dear, some day you may
have to leave him, and when you do,
will you please recollect as JohE Grove
owes you better than aught else in the