Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-05-02
selefted MisfrlIaup,
A THRILLING STORY.

jun 10 ohO VI pioV OdSJ -SoihB ooio VI
men who take all things for granted, and
ever mindful for the welfare of others In
preference to that of self. I'll relate one
incident of Jim's life it was sad one,
and brought him to where he is now-the
Bloomingdale Insane Asylum.
He was my fireman on one Of the day
boats that ran between Albany and New
York. His little pit, away down out of
sight of the blue sky, except that little
patch that came like CLEAN Of gladness
though the grim widow, was made into a
little paradise when his merry voice filled
each nook and corner Of it as be sang the
hymns he'd learnt at Sunday-school.
You see Jim was Christian in every
sense of the word, and he tried to make
that baby faced wife of bis believe as he
did. l don't mean he'd ask her to go to
the same church, kneel at the same shrine,
and pray the same prayers. jim wasn't
quito as selfish as all that. He'd be
satisfied if she'd 60 anywhere to church ;
but would you believe it T? she wouldn't
do even that much for him.
How Jim ever came to marry such a
weak, puny-minded woman never could
see. I suppose he fell in love with her
ana married her before he knew "of what
stuff she was"
Jim's best thought, when he was put
ting in the great Jumps of coal through
the furnace door, was of his little girl.
You see he'd long been wondering why
his wife didn't seem to be glad when he'd
come at night, all black and grimy with
coal-dust, from q trip down the river,
and at last the poor fellow had partly
made up his mind that she didn't love
him. After the baby came he turned
his thoughts from his wife to her. He
noticed how his wife would stop the little
one when she would caress her as chill
dren will. 1t panied the poor fellow,
though, you can believe and at last,
from thinking this and that, he made up
his mind that his wife didn't love the
little one because it was partly of his flesh
and blood.
One morning jim came down to the
landing. could see there was trouble
in the poor fellows heart, so | up and
asked him what was the matter. He
knew that was we'll acquainted with
the doings of his Eighty wife. and so he
told me how she left the baby with
neighbour and went 10 a picnic with
young fellow the day before, when Jim
wac on the river. Now | think great deal
of woman folks. I know there is a pile
of honor in the general class of them. /
know, too, there is little devil in some
of them, and it fred my blood at once to
see the waya great big, kind-hcarted fell
low like jim was being treated by such a
baby-faced woman with that little devil
in her.
| blurted right out. "Wby in the
thunder don't you leave her to whittle
her own sticks !"
Jim's face got pale in a second, and in
low voice he said. Captain, what'll
become of the baby?"
That was puzzler, for you know it
was little sucking thing yet, and they
90 with the woman whenever the man
and wife dissolve partnership. Icouldn't
say a~word; but | didn't hear single
hymn that day from the coalpit. looked
down three or four times, though, and
every time be was standing by the little
window, looking up at the sky. Why
il made me so mad at the--I beg pardon,
| came very near swearing. But I felt
as if / could pitch that woman into the
Hudson, il only had her near mo.
Well, VIC made the trip down and
when jim and parted, be 10 60 TO his
lodgings and to mine, took his hand
aud said: Jim, old boy, don't take it
too hard it'll all turn out all right yet T"
The poor fellow gave my hand grip as
he said: Captain, can't help feeling
hard over il for | love her-and once
thought she loved me-"
| amt much Of talker on love, so |
couldn't say anything more but with
another shake we parted for the night.
| met him again about nine o'clock
drunk
tell you il struck me all into heap,
though, when ] saw bin coming out Of
a gin shop % Caual street. lie was