Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-07-25
MisfelIantous. g
The Stone-CutteY's Story.

lie Was ~histling over his work. care
less, from long custom. o. the solemn sig
uiiicance OF the letters be WAS cutting I'm
the white marble. Tne June sun was near
ly AZ the end OF the days journey. sinking
slowly 10 rest upon the bosom of the broad
Atlantic, whose waves washed the shore
OF the little seaport town of Monkton. A
iarge' iustf6us 'broxii eyes. Came To III III c e
fence that WAS around the yard where the
stone-cuuer worked, and read the letter
ing, almost completed. upon the tomb
Stone
HIRAM GOLDBl,
Aged 35.
LOST AT SEA, JANUARY, 1896.
The last six was nearly completed. 4
strange pallor gathered for 4 moment upon
the strangers face, and then he drew long
deep breath. and said
is not ten years q long time 10 be cut
ting letters on tombstone, friend.'
.Eh, sir:'
The stoDe-cutter looked. shaded his eyes
with his brown hand, rs he turned his face
to the setting sun.
This is ls.G, was the grave reply, land
Hiram Goldby must have been ten years
under the waves"
~ ell, sir, that's the question-is he
there:''
lis he there! Your stone tells us he is
and has been for ten years"
"le es, sir, so IL does-so il does. And yet
she has ordered Il. She came over week
or so hack with q worried look upon hel
sweet face that have never seen anything
| but patient In ten loug years. and she said
10 me ou may cut a stone, Davy,' she
says, and put it up In the churchyard, AND
| don't want TO see IL. I'll pay you what
ever you choose to ask. Dsvy.' she says,
but he's not dead, and don't want q tomb
stone 'Lor, num- says l, he'd turned
! up all these years II he was not dead Bnl
she shook her pretty head. the prettiest
ever seen. sir, and said she: MY hear
never told me that he was dead. Davy, and
| III never believe il till my heart tells me
So"
His sweetheart: questioned the strang
| er.
His wife. sir.-his loving. faithful wife
that's had poverty, and loneliness and mis-
cry, her full share, and might hs' betteret
| herself
How was thatl'
"Mr. Miles, sir, the richest shop owner
hereabouts, be waited patiently for sever
long years, trying TO win her. Then b.
said that she was free even IL Hiram cam,
back
'Enoch Arden" muttered the stranger
| "what did you say, sir?'
Nothing, nothing. What answer dl.
the widow make Mr.. Milesl
"'If Hiram's dead said she, I'm hi,
faithful wife, Maybe you are from tn,
city. sir. and have heard the story of ou
Pearly'
What story is that7"
| "well, sir. it's been told many times
more particularly In the last year, bn
| you're welcome TO Whist | know Of IL
There, that 6 is done. and III leave III,
Scripture text till morning. lf you'll CON,
to the gateway and take seat on some o
the stones. I'll tell you, that is, if you car,
to hear it,
IL do care" was the grave reply; :"
want very much to hear the story"
Maybe you're some kin to the Pearl o
MOnktOn-thst's what they call Mrs. Gold
by heresbsuts. It's matter OF thirty .thre,
years back, sir, that there was = wreck OF
Mohkton rocks, that you can see frou
here, sir. now tides low. Cruel rocks the!
are. aud many a wreck they've seen, tn
more the pity. You see them, sir:'
II See them
We'll. sir. this one wreck. thirty-thre
years ago. there was nothing washed ashor
but bit Of girl-baby three or four year
old, with skin like lily leaf, and gYea
black eyes. Hiram Goldby found her o.
the rocks. He was Q boy Of twelve years
strong and tall, and he carried the child i
his arms TO his mother. You may see III
cottage. sir. the second white one on tn
side Of the hill"
81 see it,
well, Hiram took the baby there. an
Mrs Colby WAS the same ss q mother {
her-a good woman. God bless her soul
the widow Colby"
..Is she dead, then?''
AYE. sir. six years agone. The baby
; was telling you Of, sir. talked . foreig
lingo, aud was dressed beautiful In ric
clothes. that must have cost Q power {
money But never would Hiram or I'll
widow sell them. putting them up CAREFUL
In case the child was ever looked for. St
. was that pretty. sir, aud that dainty, tn,
: everybody called her Pearl. though ST
Was not like our girls, but afraid. alway
deadly afraid of the sea. have seen h'
clench her mite Of hand and strike ct
for she had . bit OF temper in her. thous
. nothing to harm.
when Hiram made his first voyage. {,
they were oil seafaring men herea6out
and there was nothing for lad 10 do b.
ship. the Pearl was just like little wash.
o0t lily, . fretting until he came home aga