The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-01-02
WHEN THE SHIP COMES IN

| l.. MARIA CHILD.
WHEN THE SHIP COMES IN
A sweet faced woman and a sweet
faced child are wandering among ship
ping docks of the great city. The wo,
man is plainly dressed, but evidentl in
her best attire, and there is a tou CHI Of
gentility in her finery, in the real lace
collar, relic of better days perhaps; the
pearl ear rings and the neat gloves. The
child is neatly dressed, too, and as she
clasps the woman's hand, looks love al
her guardian. But the woman's face is
not at its best now there is an anguished
expression upon it, a careworn look, and
a faint wrinkle upon the pale forehead
that ages her and lessons the charm of
her features.
She is inquiring of the dockmen, of
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 been lost month ago, dashed on a
lee shore and ground to pieces by the
nevermore.
If they told her she wouldn't believe
them, for this woman and her child have
supreme faith-feel as sure rs God rules,
that the brig &c 9od Luck" will come in
soon with cargo and crew, though they
have been asking the same question and
breathing the same prayer for many
day.
Then she goes across the street and
wends her way among the bales and
boxes and passing carts, and through all
the hubbub and hustle of the wharf, and
climbs flight of stairs to where the
briggs owners have their office. They
are used to seeing her. They smile sad
ly when she enters with the child, and
looking significantly at one another, as
to say ''POor thing! she's mad. No
wonder, no wonder!"
Mad Yes, she is mad with "hope de-
ferrred," with anxiety to meet her hus-
band, Caleb Setter, master of the brig
Good Luck; to meet the master of the
brig, her husband, and the father of this
child. God of Heaven why does he
stay away from her so long?
''Is the Good Luck in YETI" she asks
of clerk
'Not yet, ma'am."
"She's expected, of course to-day"
"Of course"
''There's vessel coming in now. 1
see the tall masts. Look look!" look
ing out the office window to the river
front. "Maybe that's it! Ellie, dear,
look there's fathers vessel, with father
on board ~
The child clasps her little hands at the
sight.
s'Sorry to say that amt it ma'am, :"
says the clerk, relaxing into his calcula-
tions, and paying no more attention to
the woman.
She stares out of the open window at
the approaching vessel drawn by a tug,
and then with a blank look upon her
face and a moan that is heart rending,
says:
emo, Ellie, no; that is not the Good
Luck. see the figure-head the figure
head of the Good Luck is an angel; a
white and gold angel. No, no; that isn't
it."
"But papa will come home soon, won't
ne, mammal" whispers the child.
eyes, yes, yes. To day, my darling,
to day"
Old Mr. Tawman, who is the head of
the establishment here, now comes from
behind his desk, and, approaching the
woman, says in kindly tone:
'Mrs. Setter, sit down; make your
self as comfortable as you can in dingy
office like this. Here, little one, come
here; give me kiss. A bright, pretty
little dear, Mrs. Setter"
''She looks pale" said the mother.
''She is tired; she has been walking too
much"
Mamma, 1 don't mind walking to
find father. I'm not tired"
The old gentleman sits down and
lifts the little girl on his knee and kisses
her.
She winds her arms about his neck
and exclaims:
"You1l tell my papa to come soon,
won't your"
Eyes, dear"
1t was the habit of this firm to pay a
sort of pension monthly to the widows of
captains who were lost in their service.
1t was not much of stipend, being only
half-pay, but it was certainly a blessing
in very many cases. Mrs. Setter had
always received her husbands money
here, while he was at sea, or it was sent
to her when she was sick or the weather
bad.
"Ah, Mr.. Tawman, I'm sure the Good
Luck will be in to-dayw
Certainly it will What's to hinder
it" he answers.
He puts the child down and goes over
to his desk, and unlocking a drawer he
takes out an account-book and begins
writing a receipt. Then he goes over to
the cashiers room. While he is there
the telegraph calls him over.
Click, clickerty click goes the magic
instrument, repeating its dot and dash
message.
clear thatl" says the operator.
That's news for you'll" The proprietor
could read every word by its sound.
'tIt's like message from God" says
Mr.. Tawman, reverently. 81 must not
tell her."
He comes back to where the woman is
sitting, his face flushed with emotion
some strange excitement. He throws
into her lap bundle of bank-notes.
"There, Mrs. Setter, now go home.
Take car at the door"
"Oh, I'm not tired. And / should
like to be here when the brig comes in.
But / thank you 80 much, SO much"
"Here, little one," says the good
hearted Tawman, ''here's something fol
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