Daily globe., 1879-06-08
When the Shin Comes In.

faced child are wandering among the
shipping docks of the great city. The
woman is plainly dressed, but evidently
in her best attire, and there is a touch of
gentility in her finery, in the real lace
collar, relics OF better days, perhaps, the
pearl earrings and the neat gloves. The
child is neatly dressed, too, as she clasps
the woman's hand, looks love at her guar
dian But the woman's face is not at its |
best now; careworn look, and faint !
wrinkle upon the pale forehead that ages |
her and lessons the charm Of her features.
She is inquiring of the lockmen, 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, for the brig
Good Luck has been lost a, month ago,
dashed on lee shore, and ground to
pieces by the sea, and will never come in
--never-never more.
If they told her, she wouldn't believe
them, for the woman and her child have
supreme faith that the brig Good Luck
will come in soon with cargo and crew,
though they have been asking tire same
question and same prayer for many and
many day.
Then she goes across the street and
winds her way along the bales and boxes
and passing carts, and through all the
hubbub and bluster Of the wharf, and
climbs flight of stairs to where the brig
owners have their office. They arc used
to seeing her. They smile sadly when
she enters with the child, and look signif-
cantly at one another, as much as to say:
'Poor thing! she's mad. No wonder, no
wonder!"
Mad? Yes, she is mad with ''hopc de-
ferred,' with anxiety to meet her hus-
band Caleb Shelter, master of the b1ig
Good Luck; to meet the master Of the
brig, her husband and the father of her
child. Why does he stay away from her
80 long?
SIS the Good Luck in yet?" she asks of
Of clerk.
''Not yet ma'am.''
''She is expected, of course, to-day!"
'|Of course"
''There's vessel coming in now. l see
the tall masts. Look! Look" pointing
out of the Office window to the river front.
''Maybe that's it.! Ellie, dear, look!
there's fathers vessel, with father on
boardr'
The child clasps her little hands at the
sight.
''Sorry to say that amt it ma 'am,' says
the clerk, relapsing into his calculations
.nd paying no more attention to the wo
man.
She stares out of the open window at
the approaching vessel drawn by tug,
and then with blank look upon her face,
and moan that IS heart-rendering, says: !:
ssNo, Ellie, no! That is not the Good
Luck. see the figure head. The figure
head Of Good Luck is an angel; white
and gold angel. No, no that isn't"
"But papa will soon come home, won't
he mammal whispered the child
Old Mr.. Tawman, who is the head Of
the establishment, here gave her kiss.
"a bright, pretty little dear, Mrs. Shelter" !"
"She looks pale,'' said the mother.
'She is tired; she has been walking too
much" 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:
"You tell my papa to come oon,won't
you9"
eyes, dear" .
1t was the habit of this frm to pay a
sort of pension monthly to the widows Of
captains who were lost in their service
It was not much Of a stipend, being only
half-pay, but it was certainly the bless
ing in very many cases. Mrs. Shelter
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
was bad.
"Ah, MIR. Tawman, I'm sure the Good
buck will be in to-day"
"Certainly it will. What's to hinder
it," he ans Ners.
He puts the child down and goes ovel
to his desk, and unlocking his drawer he
takes out an account book and begins
writing receipt Then goes over into thu
cashiers room. While he is there tht
telegraph clerk calls him over.
Click, clickity click! goes the magic
instrument repeating its dot and mes
sage
news for you!' The proprietor coult
read every word by its sound,
'It's like message from God," say
Mr.. Tawman, reverently. II must no
tell her,
He comes back to where the woman i
sitting. his face Is flushed with emotion
some strange excitement. He throws in
to her lap bundle of bank notes.
"There, Mrs: Shelter, now 60 home
Take a car at the door,
"Oh, I'm not tired And I should lik
to be here when the brig comes in. Blu
I thank you so much, so much"
"Here, little one," says the good-hcart
ed Tawman, 'heres something for you t
buy candies with" He puts into he
tiny outstretched hand. bright quartz
of dollar, and laughs at the wonder an
delight of the little recipient.
sI'll keep this for my papa"
Poor little thing, she is weary unit
sleep. She cuddles herself in the bi
chair and sinks into slumber in an instan
"Now, Mrs. Shelter, you've had no dir
ner," says Tawmah.
"Oh, yes, sir"
yesterday, perhaps, but mean t.
day. Go down with Mr.. Pelton, ther'
our young man, and get something to ca
You sec we have arrangements for tn
comfort of our clerks. We give them
hot dinner, and good dinner too. There
nobody there"
''Go down there and ask the waite
George" addressing Mr. Pelton, whom b
had summoned, Ito give this good lad
cup of tea and piece of toast, som
chicken, and all that" Tnen, pausing
moment, as if propriety and philanthrt
ply are struggling for mastery in h
mind.