The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-09-26
HIRAM GOLDB
Aged 35.
LOST AT SEA, JANUARY, 1866.

LOST AT SEA, JANUARY, 1866.
The last six was nearly completed. A
strange pallor gathered for a moment
upon the strangers face, and then he
drew long, deep breath, and said:
Is not ten years q long time to be
cutting letters on tombstone, friend ?"
Eh, sir?"
The stone-cutter looked, shaded his
eyes with his brown hand, as he turned
his face to the setting sun.
''This is 1876" was the grave reply,
"and Hiram Goldby has been ten years
under the waves"
Well, sir, that's the questions he
thereT'
''Is he there? Your stone tells us he
is and has been for ten years."
"Yes sir, so it does-so it does. And
yet she has ordered it. She came over
a week or so back with worried look
upon her sweet face that have never
seen any thing but patience in the ten
long years, and she said TO me: you
may cut stone, Davy,' she says, Fand
put it up in the churchyard, and l don't
want to see it. Pll pay you whatever
you choose to ask, Davy,' she says, but
he's not dead, and don't want tomb
stone Lor, num- says /, he'd a
turned up UP all these years if he was
not dead But she shook her pretty
head, the prettiest l ever seen, sir, and
said she: My heart never told me thai
he was dead, Davy, and I'll never be
lieve it till my heart tells me so.'"
"His sweetheartT' questioned tht
stranger.
His wife, sir-his loving, faithful
wife, that's had property, and lonelines
and misery, her full share, and nigh
ha' bettered herself"
How was thatY' -.---- --.-
"Mr. Miles, sir, the richest shopowne
hereabouts, he waited patiently for sever
long years, trying to win her. Then h
said that she was free even if Hiram
came back"
Enoch Arden" muttered the strar
ger.
What did you say, sirT' ~, e
Nothing, nothing. What answe
did the widow make, Mr.. Miles?'
" If Hiram's dead said she, Pm hi
faithful wife Maybe you are fror
the city, sir, and have heard the story I
our Pearl?"
"What story is that2'
"Well, sir, it's been told many time
more particularly in the last year, br
you're welcome to what | know of i
There, that six is done, and Pll leay
the Scripture text till morning.
you'll come to the gateway and take
seat on some of the stones, I'll tell yol
that is, if you care to hear it."
Il do care" was the grave reply; g
want very much'to hear the story"
MAYBE you're some kin TO IL
Pearl of Monkton-that's what they ca
Mrs. Goldby hereabouts. It's matt
of thirty-three years back, sir, tn
there was wreck off Monkton rock
that you can see from here, sir, no
tides low. Cruel rocks they are, al
many wreck they've seen, the mo
the pity. You see them, sir?"
see then." l..sl- .r
"Well, sir, with thisone wreck, thirt
three years ago, there was nothil
washed ashore but bit of a girl-bal
three or four years old, with skin Ii
ally leaf, and great black eyes. Hira
- Goldby found her on the rocks. He W
n boy Of twelve years, strong and ia
and he carried the child in his arms
his mother. You may see the 'cottae
sir, the second white one on the side
the hill" .....,
seeit." ...t .-.. ~ e.. ,g..
We'll, Hiram took the baby the
and Mrs. Goldby was the same as
mother to it---a good woman, God BIZ
her soul-the Widow Goldby."' f-
" Is she dead, then?' q,
Aye, sir, six years agone. The ba
/ was telling you of, sir, talked f
eign lingo, and was dressed beautiful
rich clothes, that must have cost
power of money. But never wou
Hiram or the widow sell them, putt
them up carefully in case the child v
ever looked for. She was that pref
sir, and that dainty, that eyerybo
called her Pearl, though she was !
like our girls, but afraid, always deat
afraid of the sea. / have seen
clench her mite of hand and strike
it, for she had bit Of temper in b
though nothing to harm. ..1,.
"When Hiram made his first voya
for they were all seafaring men ht
abouts, and there was nothing for
to do but ship, the Pearl was just
tie washed-out lily, fretting until
came home again. And it was so wi
ever he went, for they were sweethe