American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-05-04
PRUDENCE GRAY.

That's my name, for father said there
! wasn'ta better barge on the river than
the Prudence, and if was called the
same he was sure there would never be
better girl.
Poor father! He was always very
fond of me, and my EARLIEST remem-
brances are of sitting on the tiller and
having 4 ride, when he stood there of
an evening steering the barge, with the
great cinnarnon-red sail filed out by the
wind, and the water foaming and bub-
bling by US as we ran on up the river
toward the big city, where the ships lay
close together in dock and against the
wharves, emptying their loads or wait
ing for others before going away across
the seas.
fused to think our barge, which was
very small billy-boy, if you know
what that is-i you don't 1 must tell
you that it's a barge built with rounded
ends and low bulwarks, meant for car
rying loads mp rivers, but built also to
be able to 60 out to sea little while,
running along the coast used to think
our barge, I say, a very, very large
ship, till I grew old enough to compare
it with those that passed us going up or
down the river, and then it used to
seem to me that it would be wonderful
ly fine to go on board one of those great
ships and 60 sailing away-far away
across the ocean, instead of just coast
ing along to Sheerness and up the Med
way, as we used to do year after year,
loaded deep down in the water with pot
terry or hops, or even bricks.
I can't tell you how my child-life
slipped away, living with mother and
father on board that barge, in a little
bit of cabin with a tiny stove; all 1
know is that 1 was very happy, and that
never hlrdly went ashore, and when I
did / was frightened and wanted to get
back; and at last 1 seemed to have
grown all at once into great girl, and
father and were alone.
Yes, quite alone, for mother had left
us very suddenly, and we had been
ashore at Sheerness, father and I, and
came back from the funeral and were
sitting on the cabin hatch, before could
believe it was any thing but a terrible
dream, and that should not wake and
find that she was alive once more, as
blythe and CHEEKY as ever, ready to take
the filler or pull at the rope, the same
as did when father wanted any help.
Father was changed man after that,
and as q couple Of years slipped by the
work on the barge fell more and more
into my hands, and 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 stone bottle filed when
ever he went ashore, and then sit with
it in the cabin all alone till called him
to come and help with the sail.
Not that wanted much help, for ours
Was only . small barge, and once start
ed, with fair wind,. 1 could manage
her we'll enough; while when we had to
tack backwards and forwards across the |
river mouth, could always lock the TIL
er by the rope that lung on to the be-
laying pin, and give it a hitch on this |
side or that side, Till had taken a pull
at the sheet and brought the barge round
on the other tack
must. have passed half my life in
those days leaning back against that
tiller, with its end carved to look like a
green acorn, and the name of the old !
barge, Prudence, cut deep in the side. !
There I'd stand looking out ahead as we
glided over the smooth sea, passing a
buoy here and light there, giving 9TH
er- barges and s4,acks wide berth, and
to the strange squealing noise
of the gulls as they wheeled and hover !
ed and swept by me, so closely some
times that could almost have touched |
them with my hand.
Our barge was well known all about |
the mouth of the river and far up be- |
yond the. bridge; and, somehow, 1 |
don't know how it was, the men on the
different boats we passed had always a
kind hail or wave of the hand for us,