Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-04
PRTDENCE RAY.
rFrou Cassell.s Magazine ]

LFTO:l taSSeli'S Magazine.
That's my name, for father said there wasn't
a better bargain on the river than the Pfu-
dence, and II i was called the same he was
sure there would never be a better girl.
Poor father! He was always very fond OF
me, aid my earliest membranes are II Sit
ting on the tiller and having ride, when he
STOOD there of an evening steering the barge,
with the great cinndmOn-red sail filed out by
the wind. and the water fOaming and bub-
bling by us as We ran up the river toward the
big city, where the ships lay close together in
dock and against the wharyeS. emptying their
loads or waiting for others before going away
across the seas.
used to think our barge. which was a very
small billy boy. II YOU know what that l>-if
You don't must tel you that it s 4 barge built
with rounded ends and low bulwa"kS, meant
Tor carrying loads up rivers, but built also to
lie able 10 90 out to sea a little while, running
along the coast used To think our barge,
say, very. very large ship. till | grew old
enough to compare it with those that passed
Us going up or down the river, and then it
used TO seem TO ne that it would be wonder
fully hne To go on board one OF those great
ships and go sailing away-faT away-acrOSS
the ocean, instead of just COaSting along to
SheeTneSs and up the Midway. as we used to
go year after year loaded deep down in the
water with pottery or hops, or even bricks.
/ can't tell you how my chld-life slipped
away, living with mother and father on board
that barge in a little bit of cabin with
tiny stove :aIl know is that was very happy,
and that | never hardly went ashore, and
when did was frightened and wanted to get
back: and at last | seemed to have grown al
at once inIO great girl, and father and were
alone.
Yes. quite alone, for mother had left us very
suddenly. and We had been ashore ar Sheer
hess, father and !, and came back from the
. funeral and were sitting on The cabin hatch
before | could believe it was anything but Il
terrible dream, and tina should not wake and
find that she was alive once more, as bliEhe
and CHEEKY a. ever. ready 10 take the tile Or
q pull at a rope. the saline is | did when father
wanted any help
Father was changed man after that, and
as a couple OF years slipped by the work on the
barge fell more and more into my hands, and
i used TO smile to myself as saw how big and
red and strong they had grown. For father
grew quiet and dull day by day, and used to
have a-StOne bottle filled whenever he went
ashore, and then sit with il i'll the cabin all
alone till l called him TO come and help with
the sail.
Not that wanted much help. for ours Was
only a small barge, and once started, with a
fair wind, | could manage her well enough :;
while when We had to tack backwards and
forwards across the river mouth, could al
ways lock the tiiler by the rope that hung on
Ia the Delaying pin, and give it hitch on this
side OF that side, till | had taken pull at the
sheet and brought the barge round on the
other tack
must have passed half my life i'm those
days leaning back against that tiller, with its
end carved 10 look like great acorn, aud the
name OF the old barge, Prudence. cut deep in
the side. There I'd stand looking out ahead
as We glided along over the smooth sea, pass
ing buoy here and light there, giving other
barges ahd SmackS q wide berth. and listening
to the strange Squedling noise OF the gullS as
they wheeled and lowered and swept by me,
so closely sometimes that | could almost have
touched them with my hand.
Our barge was Well known all about the
mouth of the river and far up beyond the
bridge; and somehow, don't know how it
was, the men on the different boats we passed
had always kind hailsO wave OF the hand
for US, as We glided by, il We were too far off
for the friendly shout TO reach us.
Sometimes I'd run the barge pretty close to
the great ships and steamers, inward or out
ward bound, so as to look at the ladies saw
on board; not that i cared to do so very
often, because Ii seemed TO make me sad. for
the faces looked on seemed TO be so different
to mine that felt as II was another kind Of
being, and il used To set me wondering and
make me think and at such times I've leaned
against the tiller and dreamed and dreamed
in waking fashion of how would like to
read and write and work. as had seen ladies
sitting and reading and working, on the decks
of the big ships, under the awning; and then |
had to set my dreams aside and have pull az
the sheet or take reef in the sail, because the
wind freShened and my dreams all passed
away.
don't think poor father meant it unkindly
but he seemed To grow more and more broken
and helpless every day; and this frightened
NE, and made me work to keep the barge
clean and ship shape, les the owners should
come on board and see things SlOyenly, and
find fault with father and dismiss him. and
that i knew would break his heart. So [
worked on, and III dull heavy way father
used TO thank me; and the time gided on,
till one day, as We were lying off Southend,
with the sea CLASSY and not wind enough to
I'll the sails, felt my cheekS begin to burn as
4 leaned back against the tiller, and would not
turn my head, because could hear boat be
ing sculled along towards us, and i knew ii
was coming from the great leeboard barge ly-
ing astern. ,o,,r,so,s D..
self at last in a 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
saw his sunburnt face and brown arms and
hands i felt my heart beating fast, and knew
he was not coming 10 see father, but to see
We had hardly ever spoken, but had known
John Grove for years now, and We had nodded
and waved hands to one another often and
often as we had passed up and down the river
"Heave US rope, my lass, he said as he
came close in: and did it dreamily. and as
soon as had done So began to pull it back
but IL was too late; he had hitched il round
the thwart of his boat, and was up and Over
the side before could stir and then he stood
looking down upon me; while felt sometime:
hot and sometimes cold, and as If could mo-
do you want to see father" said at last
mo, my lass" he said quietly, Il want u
ME- faltered, with my face burning.
"Yes, you, my lass, ," he said and his hand
anv as Se laid ia'h his hand on my arm
Prudence, my gal" he said, we're boil
young yet, for I'm not six-and-twenty, but
thought il was time / spoke TO you
Spoke to me?' l said, with my face burn
ing still. x-.,
counting now a matter of four years"
"Oh. john" i cried, bursting out Laughing
and feeling more at my ease, why, we've
hardly spoken to one another"
That's nice" he said, drawing Ions
breath. over again"
Over aCain2 What2' 4 said.
Call me John" he replied.
We'll then, John, L cried hastily.
That's right, Prudence; but, as was goin!
to say, not spoken To one another! Well. how
could We, always tasking our turns at thu
tiller as We were? But all the same, my lass
I've been always counting of you, night ant
day, these four years, and looking out an(
longing for the time when the Prudence would
come in sight and could give you a hail anC
get wave of the hand back"
j could feel the color coming into my cheek:
again as heard him speak, and knew how
aAxiOusly had looked out for his barge com
ing up or down the river; and then / begaT
wondering what il all meant, and soon knew
Prudence, my lass" he said, I've saveC