Daily Republican., 1879-10-17
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 evident.
ly in her best attire, and there is 9
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, and, as she clasps the
woman's hand looks love at her guar.
dian. But the woman's face is not al
its best now; she has careworn look,
and faint wrinkle upon the pale fore.
head that ages her and lessons the
charm Of her features.
She is inquiring of the dockmen, Of
the stevedores, of the loungers about
the wharves, whether the brig Good
Luck has come in. She always re.
ceives the same reply to her eager
questions, for the brig Good Luck has
been lost month ago, dashed on lee
shore and ground to pieces by the sea,
and will never come in-never--nevel
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 a day.
Then she goes across the street and
winds her way along the bales and
boxes and passing carts, and through
all the hubbub ana hustle of the wharf,
and climbs a hight of stairs to where
the brig owL-rs have their office. They
are used to seeing her. They smile
sadly when she enters with the child,
aud look significantly at one another,
d. much as to say: "Poor thing she's
mad. No wonder, no wonder -
Mad Yes, she is mad with d" hope
deferred" with anxiety to meet her
husband, 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
from her so long?
/" Is the Good Luck in yet ?" she asks
of clerk.
"Not yet, ma 'am.'
She is expected, of course, to-day"
"Of course"
"There's a vessel coming in now. |
see the tall masts. Look Look" point
ing ont Of the window to the river
front. " Maybe that's it Ellie, dear,
look! there's fathers vessel, with faith
er on board!'
The child claps her little hands at
the sight.
"Sorry to say that amt it, ma a'am,"
says the clerk, relapsing into his calcu-
lations and paying no more attention
to the woman.
She stares out of an open window at
the approaching vessel drawn by tug,
and then with blank look upon her
face, and moan that is heartrending,
says:
"No, Nellie, no! That is not the
Good Luck. ! see the fgure-head. The
figure-head of the Good Luck is an an
gel-a white and gold angel. No, no!
that isn't it,
"But papa will soon come home,
won't he, mamma 7" whispered the
child.
Old Mr.. Tawman, who is the head of
the establishment here, now comes
from behind the desk, and, approach
ing the woman, says in kindly tone:
"Mrs. Shelter, sit down; make your
self as comfortable as possible in a
dingy Office like this. Here, little one,
come here, give me 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 sat down and took
the little girl on his knee and kissed
her.
She wound her arms about his neck
and exclaimed
"You'll tell my papa to come soon,
won't you ?"
"Yes, dear"
1t was the habit of this firm to pay a
sort of pension monthly to the widows
of captains who were lost in their SER
vice. II was not much of stipend, be-
ing only half pay, but it was certainly
blessing in very many cases. Mrs.
Shelter had always received her hus-
bands money here, while he was at
sea, or it was sent to her when she was
sick or the weather was bad.
"Ah, Mr.. Tawman, I'm sure the
Good Luck will be in to-day"
"Certainly it will. What's to hinder
it % he answers.
He puts the child down and goes oyer
to his desk, and unlocks his drawer,
he takes out an account book and be-
gins writing receipt; then goes over
into the cashiers room. While he is |