The daily gazette., 1879-07-05
-. =. ~ u NJ. 7lTTTl 0l'F-I
When the Ship Comes in.

4o0 SA&V sS04P VVWOo 4Qs
A sweet-faced woman and q sweet-fac-
ed child are wandering among the ship
ping docks Of the great city. The wo-
man is plainly dressed, but evidently in
her best attire, and there is touch Of
gehtility in her finery, in her real lace
collar, relics Of better days. perhaps the
pearl earrings and the neat gloves. The
child Is neatly dressed, too, and as she
clasps the w6Inan's hand, looks love at
her guardian. But the woman's face is
not at its best now; a care-worn look,
and q faint wrinkle upon the fair fore
head that ages her and lessensthe charms
Of her features. -i.
She is inquiring Of the dockmen, of
the stevedores, Of the lolngers about the
wharves, whether the brig Good Luck
has come In. She always receives the
the same reply To her eager questions,
for the brig Good Duck 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. -
II they told her she wouldn't believe
them for the woman and the child have
supreme faith that the brig Good Luck
will come in with cargo and crew, though
they have been asking the same question
and praying the same prayer for many
and many a day, - 80 . ,''.' '' 1' ~ ~.
Then she goes across the street and
winds her way along the bales and
boxes and passing carts, and through all
the hubbub and hustle OF the warf, 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 sig
nificantly at one another, as much as to
say: "Poor Thing; she's mad. No wonder!
no wonder.w ~ ''4 ''' "''' '' "''.' -.a
Mad? yes, she is mad with "hope de-
ferred," with anxiety to meet her hus-
band, Caleb Shelter, master Of the brig
Good Luck, to meet the master of the
brig, her husband and the father of her
child. Why does he stay away so long?
a1s the Good Luck in yet9" she asks Of
q clerk. 20 y -'i' - '. '"" -..''
tNot yet ma'am.' .. " '-.'' r. i''.'
ashe @ Is expected, Of course, to-dayP''
."There is q vessel coming in now. I
see the tall lnasts.- Look look ~ point
ing out of the Office window to the river
front. s'Maybe that's it! Ellie, dear,
lock there's re- fathers vessel with father
The child clasps her lite hands at the
sight. ,". -- ~. ... ''.'' w. ''I'a ''''
ssSorry to say that aln't it, ma'am,"
says the clerk, relapsing into his calcu-
lations and paying no more attention to
the woman. ''''''l ."' f.' 't-' -'-'
She stares out Of the open window at
the approaching vessel drawn by a
tug, and then with a blank look upon
her face, and moan that Is heart-rend-
ing, says: ,.f...,... '- '-.'' ~ ''''
HNo, Ellie, no! That is not the Good
Luck. / see the flg,lre-head. The fig
ure-head Of the Good Luck is an angel !;
q white and gold angel. No, no! that
isn't it, '' '--
"But papa will soon come home,
won't he, mammal" whispered the
ehlld. '"'
Old Mr.. Tawman, who is the head Of
the establishment here, now comes from
behind the desk, and, approaching the
woman, says, in kindly tone:
"Mrs. Shelter, sit down, make your
self as comfortable as you can in dingy
Office like this. Here, little one, come
here; give kiss. A bright, pretty little
dear, Mrs. Shelter"
"She looks pale,n 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'll tell my papa to come soon,
won't you P" -l y
eyes dear"
1t was the habit of the firm to pay a
sort of pension monthly to the widows
Of captains lost in their services. Itwas
not much Of stipend, being only half
pay, but it was certainly a blessing in
very many cases. Mrs. Shelter had al
ways received her husbands money
here, while he was at sea, or 1t was sent
to her when she was sick or the weather
was bad. 'l ''''-' -'.I
"Ah, Mr.. Tawman, T'm sure the Good
Luck will be in today"
"Certainly it will. What's to hinder
it?" '. Il"
He puts the child down and goes over
to his desk, and unlocking his drawer he
takes out an account book and begins
writing q receipt. Then goes over to the
cashiers room. While he is there the
telegraph clerk calls him over.
Click, clickity, click goes the magic
instrument, repeating its dot and dash
message. t'"
"It's like message from God," says
Mr.. Tawman, rcverently. II must not
tell her," ''i''i" W., gi'o'--'-
He comes back to where the woman is
sitting his face is flushed with emotion !;
some strange excitement. He throws in
to her lap bundle of bank notes. l
There, Mrs. Shelter, now 60 home.
Take q car ut the door" -.I ~
I "Oh, Pm not tired. And should
like TO bs here when the brig comes in.
But thank you 30 much, SO much"
"Here, little one, says the good-heart-
ed Tawman, "here's something for you
to buy candies with" He puts into her
tiny outstretched hand bright quarter
Of . dollar, and laughs at the wonder and
delight Of the little recipient.
, 'I'fl keep this for my papa" 80
Poor little thing, she Is weary unto
sleep. She cuddles herself in the big
chair, and sinks into slumber In an in-
slant. l'-'r'i''-- III o.
"Now, Mrs. Shelter, you've had no din
ner," says Tawman. 5. ~ y '...'-'''
"Oh yes, sIr." '''' ''' ''' .'i. '"-''i
"Yesterday, perhaps, but / mean to-
dsy. Go down with Mr.. Pelton there,
our young man, and get something to
a n