The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1880-12-31
The PILOT's STORY,

We had grown up together, as it were,
Mollie and ], our parents being, near
neighbors, and-which does not always
foliow-lirm friends as well. They were
moor. and / suspect that fact had much
ID do with their friendship, for oppor-
tunilies were always turning up for help
iug one another and have often
noticed that, when near neighbors are
well off and have no need for mutual
help there is very seldom any friend
ship between them there is more apt to
be jealousy and competition.
Our parents being such good friends,
Il naturallyresulted that Mollie and |
followed their example. We went to
school together, read together, played
together; and, somehow, when Mollie
was rs and l 20, we agreed to travel to-
gether all our lives, and were very happy
in that arrangement in fact, no other
would have seemed right or natural,
either to us or our parents.
From the earliest days of my boyhood
/ had fondness for the water, haunting
the palatial steamboats, that hoated on
the great Mississippi river, on whose
banks nestled the city in which we dwelt,
and, at the period to which I am about
to refer, / had Just secured position as
pilot on small freight steamer.
1t was not much Of position, to be
sure, nor was there much of a salary at
tached to it but, small as it was, Mollie
and decided that we could make it an.
swer for two people, neither of them ex
tfavagant or unreasonable; beside
which, ! had hopes Of better times tx
come, MS | had received words OF com
mendation from my employers, ans
promises Of speedy promotion.
So, early one bright morning, having
obtained days leave of absence, Mol
lie and were married, and, stepping
into carriage / had hired for the occa
sion, We started off, having decided on
days excursion to celebrated cav
near by, this being all the wedding tril
we could allow ourselves not that w
cared in the least, however; we were to-
happy to be disturbed by any shortcom
ings Of sum or purse.
We had scarcely driven beyond ou
own street, when we were brought to
halt. A messenger, whom / recognize
as belonging to our steamboat company
hailed me.
Here is a note for you from til
superintendent.
Thus it ram:
Am sorry to hnve TO recall your leave for Il
day. but you must Immediately 60 on boar
tile Mohiha, which is ready to start mp III
river The pilot is too i'll to attend to dut,
and you are appointed to take his place for I'll
present
"There goes our wedding trip all I
smash +" said I, as Mollie read the o.
der.
"Why SOP" she asked.
You see / must go into the pilo
house Of the Mobilia.n
Very well," she replied. "We wi
Just go up the river instead of to I'll
cave. Drive on, Rob let us go down
the wharf in state. "
But You can't go in the pilot-houi
with me, little goose
Of course not but can sit on Il
deck outside" laughed Mollie, car
we can cast languishing glances at eac
other.n
And SO it came to pass that / toe
possession of the Mobilia's pilot-hous
my heart glowing with love and pride
with love, for there, just below me, {
the little forward deck, sat my swe
bride with pride, because the Mobil
was one Of the finest of the beautif
floating palaces of the Mississippi, al
to pilot such one had for years be-
the height Of my ambition,
The steamer was fitted up with
HnUhin aolhtY, II, y1,o
upper one opening upon small dec
reaching out toward the bow, near Z
center of which, on a raised platforl
was placed the pilot-house. This de
was always occupied by passengers, a
TINS morning it was particularly crow
ed, Tor the boat was heavily laden wi
people taking advantage of the beau
Iul weather TO make an excursion up Il
river.
Some rough fellows jostled again
Mollie's chair after while, and she ro
and passed down into the lower cabi
to get drink Of water" she VIII
pered to me as she passed; but | 81
peetit was really to prevent the bur
ing Of the thunder-cloud she saw gal
erlng on my brow.
saw that the insolent fellows ms
no attempt to follow my dear one, 81
gave myself up to my own haE
thoughts, and, looking out on the
distant, peaceful shores Of the gr
river, over whose placid bosom we W
moving so swiftly, there rose from
heart glad, silent hymn of rejoicing
But suddenly cry broke forth fl
the cabin behind me that effectuI
changed the current Of my thoughts
Fire firel fire r A horrible or,
all times, but most horrible OF all W
II rings forth in the midst Of gay, UNI
plclous hundreds floating in fancied
elir1ty IN the midst of the waters.