Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-02-13
PRUDENCE GRAY.

PRUDENCE GRAY.
That's my name, for father said there
wasn't a better barge on the river thar
he Prudence, and if I was called the
same he was sure there would never he {
better girl.
Poor father! He was always very fonC
of me, and my earliest remembrances art
of sitting on the tiller and having a ride
when he stood there of an evening steer
ing the barge, with the great cinnamon
red sail filed out by the wind, and TIN
water foaming and bubbling by us as w
ran up the river toward the big city
where the ships lay close together in tn,
dock, and against the wharves, empty
ing their loads or waiting for others be
fore gong away across the seas.
used to think our barge, which was
small billy-boy, if you know what tina
is-if you don't then must tell you tina
it is barge built with rounded ends anG
low bulwarks, meant for carrying load!
up rivers, but built also to be able to g
out to sea little while, running along
the COAST used to think our barge,
say, very, very large ship, till l grew
old enough to compare it with those tina
passed us going up and down the river
and then it used to seem to me that il
would be wonderfully fine to go on board
one of those great shi ps and go sailing
away-far away-across the ocean, in
stead Of just coasting along to Sheernes:
and up the Midway, as we used to &C
year after year, loading deep down into
the water
can't tell you how my child-life slip
ped away, living with mother and father
on board that barge, q little bit OF a cab
in with tiny stove; all that I know is
that l was happy, and that never hard
~ went ashore, and when [ did l was
frightened and wanted to 20 back; and
at last I seemed to have grown all Il,
once into great girl, and father and
were alone.
Yes, quite alone, for mother had left
us very suddenly, and we had been
ashore at Sheerness, father and I, AID
came back from the funeral and were
sitting on the cabin hatch, before
could believe it was anything but ter
rible dream, and that should not wake
and find that she was alive once more
as blithe and cherry as ever, ready &C
take the tiller or pull at rope, the
same as I did when father wanted any
help.
Father was changed man after that
and as couple of years slipped by the
work on the barge tell more and more
into my hands, and l used to smile tc
myself as I saw how big and strong they
had grown. For father grew quiet and
dull day by day, and used to have Il
stone bottle filled, whenever he went
ashore, and then sit with it IN the cabin
all alone till l called HIM to come and
hel p with the sail.
Not that I wanted much help. for ours
was only small barge and once started,
with fair wind, could manage her we'll
enough; while when we mad to tack back
wards and forwards across the river
mouth, l could always lock the tiller by
the rope that hung on to the Delaying
pin, and give it hitch Oh this side or
that side, till l had taken pull at the
sheet and brought the barge round on the
other tack.
Unjust have passed half my lite in
those days, leaning back against that til
| Ter, with its end carved to look like a
| great acorn, and the name of the old
barge, Prudence, cut deep in the side.
There I'D stand looking out ahead as we
| glided along over the smooth sea, pass
Ing buoy here and light there, giving
other barges aud smacks a wide berth,
and listening to the strange, squealing
noise OF the gulls as they wheeled and
lowered and swept by me, so closely
sometimes that I could almost touch
them with my hand.
Our barge was we'll known all about
the mouth of the river and far up beyond
the bridge; and somehow, don't know
why it was, the men on the different
boats we passed had always a kind word
| or wave of the hand for us, If we were
too far off for the friendly shout to reach
us.
Sometimes Id run the barge pretty
near to the great ships and steamers in
ward or outward bound, so as to look at
| the ladies I saw on board; not that
| cared to do so very often, because it seem
ed to make me sad, tor the faces look
ed on seemed to be 50 different from niue
! that felt as if as another kind of be-
ing, and it USED to set me wondering and
make me think; and at such times I've
leaned against the tiller, and dreamed in
a waking fashion Of how would like to
read and write and work, as had seen
ladies sitting and reading and working,
On the decks Of the big ships, under the
awning; and then l had to set my dreams
aside and have pull at the sheet or take
a reef in the sail, because the wind
treshened, and my dreams all passed
away.
Idoqt think poor father meant it un-
kindly, but he seemed to grow more and
more broken and helpless everyday: and
thi, frightened me, and made me work
to keep the barge clean and ship-shapc.
| lest the owners should come on board
| and see things slovenly, and find fault
know would break bis heart. So I worked
Ion, and in q dull, heavy way father used
to thank me; and the time glided On, till
one day, as we were lying off Southend
with the sea CLASSY and not wind enough
! to I'll the sails, I felt my cheeks begin
to burn as leaned back against the till
er and would not turn my head because
could hear a boat being sculled along
toward us, and knew it was coming
from the great leeboard lying astern.
"He's coming to see father said to
myself at last in choking voice; and as
q hail came was obliged to turn, and
there stood up in the little boat he was
| sculling, with an oar over the stern, John
Grove, in. his. dark trowsers, blue Jersey
and scarlet cap, and as saw bis sun
burnt face and brown arms and hands, 1
felt my heart beating fast, ard knew he
was not coming to see father but to SEE
me. . z 81 = g.
1--WE had hardly ever spoken, but / had
known John Grove fol years now, and
wehave nodded and waved to one another
often as we had passed up and down the
river. - ~ 2 ., - &&>zv5.Ss
''Heave us rope, my lass" he SAID, as
he came close in; and I did it dreaming
", and as soon as I had done SO began
to pullit back, but it was too late; he
had hitched it around the thwa1t of his
boat. and was up over the side before l
could STIR; and be stood looking down
upon me, while felt sometimes hot and
sometimes cold, and as if / could not
speak. e
90 you want 10 see father2' I said at
hast.
mo, my lass,' he said quietly, q want
to see you. - 5
aMe RI faltered, with my face burn