Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-12
When the Ship Comes In.

A Sweet-faced woman and a sweet
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 touch of
gentility in her fnery, 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; a 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 month ago,
dashed on a 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 the same
question and same prayer for many and
many aday.
Then she goes across the street and
winds her way along the bales and boxes
and passing carts, and through all the
hubbub and buster of the wharf, and
climbs flight of stairs to where the brig
owners have their Office. They are used
to seeing her. They smile sadly when
she enters with the child, and look signifi-
cantly at one another, as much as to say
"Poor. thing! she's mad. No wonder, no
wonderr'
Mad? Yes, she is mad with "hope de-
ferred, with anxiety to meet her hus-
band. Caleb Shelter, master of the big
Good Luck; to meet the master of the
brig, her husband and the father of her
child. Why does he stay away from her
so long?
els the Good Luck in yet9" she asks of
of a clerk.
"Not yet ma'am."
"She is expected, of course, to-day?"
''Of course"
There's vessel coming in now. see
the tall masts. Looki Lookw pointing
Out-of the office window to the river front
'sMaybe that's it! Ellie, dear, look
there's fathers vessel, with father on
boardw
The child clasps her little hands at the
sight.
'Sorry to say that amt it ma'am, says
the clerk, relapsing into his calculations
and paying no more attention to the wo-
man.
She stares out of the open window al
the approaching vessel drawn by tug
and then with blank look upon her face
and moan that IS heart-rendering says
"No, Ellie, no! That is not the Coco
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
he mammal" whispered the child.
Old Mr.. Tawman, who is the head q
the establishment, here gave her kiss
"a br1ght,pretty little dear, Mrs. Shelter.
''She looks pale" said the mother
She is tired; she has been walking to-
much.n The old gentleman sits dow
and lifts the little girl on his knee an,
kisses her.
She winds her arms about his neck an,
exclaims:
"You tell my papa to come soon, won't
your"
Eyes, dear"
It was the habit of this firm to pay
sort of pension monthly to the widows G
captains who were lost in their service
1t was not much of stipend, being onl
half-pay, but it was certainly the bless
ing in very many cases. Mrs. Shelte
had always received her husbands none
here, while he was at sea, or it was sen
to her when she was sick or the weathe
was bad.
"Ah, Mr.. Tawman, I'm sure the Goo
Luck will be in to-day
"Certainly it will. What's to hindt
it?r he ans Eers
He puts the child down and goes owe
to his desk, and unlocking his drawer
takes out an account book and begir
writing receipt Then goes over into til
cashiers room. While he is there til
telegraph clerk calls him over.
Click, clickity cllckl goes the mag
instrument repeating its dot and messag