Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-06-28


it's end carved to look like great acron,
and 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. passing buoy here and a
light there, giving other barges and smacks
a wide berth, and listening to the squeal-
ing noise of the gulls as they wheeled and
lowered and swept by me, so closely, some
times, that I could almost touch them
with my hand.
Our barge was we'll 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 hail or wave of
the hand for us as we glided by, if 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, in
ward or outward bound, so as to look at
the ladies on board; not that cared to do
so very often, because it seemed to make
me sad, for the faces I looked on seemed
to be so different to mine that felt as if
l was another kind of being, and it used
to set me wondering and make me think;
and at such times I've leaned against the
tiller and dreamed and dreamed in a wa
king fashion of how I would like to sit and
read and work, as had seen ladies sit
ting and reading and working on the decks
Of the big ships, under the awning; and
then J had to set my dreams aside and
have pull at the sheet, or take reef in
the sail, because the wind freshened, and
all my dreams passed away.
l don't think poor father meant it I'M
kindly, but he seemed to grow more and
more helpless every day; and this fright
ened me, and m ade me work to keep the
barge clean and ship-shape, lest the own
ers should come on board and see things
slovenly and find fault with father and
dismiss him. 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
the sails, when felt my cheeks begin to
burn as I leaned back against the tiller,
and would not turn my head Because [
could hear boat being sculled along to-
ward us, and 1 knew it was coming from
the great lee-board barge lying astern.
HES coming to see father" 1 Said to
myself at last, in choking voice; and as
hail came 1 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 trowsers. 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 to see father, but to see me.
We had hardly ever spoken, but 1 had
known John Grove for years now, and we
had nodded and waved hands to one an
other often and often, as we had passed
up and down the river.
s'Heave us rope, my lass,'' he said, as
he came close in: and l did it dreamily,
and as soon as 1 had done so began to
pull 1t back, but it was too late; he had
hitched it around 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 sometimes hot and
sometimes cold, and as if could not
speak.
ssDo YOU want to see father?" I said at
last.
s'No. my lass,' he said quietly II want
to see you"
"Me % 1 faltered, with my face burn
ing.
Eyes, you, my lass,' he said; and his
handsome brown face lit up, and he look
ed so handsome as he laid his hand on my
arm.
prudence, my gal, he said; re both
young yet. for Pm not six and twenty,
but I thought it was time spoke to
you."
'Spoke to me?" 1 said, with my face
burning. still more.
''Yes, my lass, spoke to you, for we've
been counting now matter OF four
years.
20, John!' I cried, bursting out laugh
ing, and feeling more at ease, why, we
have never hardly spoken to one another"
s'That's nice,'' he said, drawing a long
breath 'Over again."
again? WHAT" I said.
''Call me John,' he replied.
"Well, then, John,'' I cried, hastily.
''That is right, Prudence; but as l was
going to say, not spoken to one another?
Well, how could we, always taking our
turns at the tiller as we have? BY all
means, my lass, I've been always courtln'
of you, night and day these four years,
and looking out for the time when the
Prudence would come in sight, and l
could give you hail and get wave of the
hand back.''
1 could feel the color coming into my
cheeks again as heard him speak, and
knew how anxiously had looked out for
his barge coming up or down the river,
and then began wondering what it all
meant, and soon knew.
''Prudence, my Iass,' he said, Il have
saved up ten pounds, all my own, and our
owner has just given me the command OF
a new barge, with as pretty cabin as
you'd wish to see; and so, my lass, 1
thought I would ask you if so be as how
we've been counting four years, you
wouldn't come to me and be my wife?"
''No, no,' I said, and shook my head.
81 belong to my father, and l could never
leave him-never."
''But you'll have to some day, Pru-
dence,' he said, looking dreadfully down
hearted and miserable.
"No,'' said, II shall never leave him;