The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-10-01
THE PILOTS STORY.

We had grown up together, as Il
| were, Mollie and /, our parents beins
near neighbors, and-which does moi
always follow-frm friends as well
They were poor, and | suspect that fact
| had much to do with their friendship
for opportunities were always turning
up for helping one another; and have
| often noticed that, when near neiPhbors
are well off and have no need for mutual
help, there is very seldom any friend.
ship between them-there is more api
to be jealousy and competition between
them.
Our parents being such good friends,
it naturally resulted that Mollie and
followed their example. We went to
school together, read together, played
together; and somehow, when Mollie
was eighteen ard | twenty, we agreed
to travel together all our lives, and were
very happy in that arrangement; in
| fact, no other would have seemed right
or natural, either to us or to our par
ents.
From the earliest days of my boyhood
had q fondness for the water, haunt
ing the palatial steamboats, that fioated
on the great Mississippi river, on whose
banks nestled the city in which we
dwelt, and, at the period to which am
about TO refer, had just secured posi-
tion as pilot on q small freight steamer.
1t was not much of position, to be
sure, nor was there much of salary
attached to it; but small as it was,
Mollie and decided that we could make
it answer for two people, neither OF
them extravagapt or unreasonable; be-
sides which, Ihad hopes of better times
to come, as i had received words of
commendation from my employers and
promises of speedy promotion.
So, early one bright morning, having
obtained days leave of absence, Mollie
and i were married, and, stepping into
carriage had hired for the occasion,
we started of, having decided on days
excursion to celebrated cave near by,
this being all the wedding trip we could
allow ourselves; not that we cared in
the least, however-we were too happy
to be disturbed by any shortcomings OF
some or purse.
We had scarcely driven beyond our
own street, however, when we were
brought to a halt.
A messenger, whom / recognized as
belonging TO our steamboat company,
hailed me.
Here is note for you from the su-
perintendent."
Thus 1T ran:
"Am sorry to have to recall your
leave for to-day, but you must immedi-
htely go on board the Mobila, which is
ready to start up the river. The pilot
Is too i'll to attend to duty, and you are
appointed to take his place for the
present"
There goes our wedding trip all to
emash!" said l, MS MOllie read the Or
der.
why 500" she asked.
"You see | must 90 into the pilot
house of the Mobilia."
Very WELL" she replied. eve will
Just go up the river instead CT to the
cave. Drive on. Rob; let us go down to
the wharf in state"
but you can't go in the pilot-house
with me, little goose"
"Cf course not; but can sit on the
deck outside" laughed Mollie, land we
can cast languishing glances at each
And SO it came to pass that took pos
session OF the Mobilia's pilot house, my
heart glowing with love and pride
with love, for there, just below me, on
the little forward deck, sat my sweet
bride; with pride, because the Mobjlia
was one of the finest of the beautiful
fioating palaces of the Mississippi, and
topilot such one had for years been the
height of my ambition.
The steamer was fitted up with
double cabin, one above the other, the
upper one opening upon small deck,
reaching out toward the bow, near the
center Of which, on raised platform,
was placed the pilot-house.
This deck was always occupied by
"a 10 n,.,,sv,
ticularly crowded; for the boat was
heavily laden with people, taking ad-
vantage of the beautiful weather to
make an excursion up the river.
Some rough fellows jostled rudely
against Mollie's chair. after awhile. and
she rose and passed down into the lower
cabin, to get drink of water" she
whispered to me, rs she passed; but ]
suspect it was really to prevent the
bursting of the thunder-cloud she saw
gathering on my brow.
i saw that the insolent fellows made
no attempt to follow my dear one. so
gave myself up to my own happy
thoughts; and, looking out on the far
distant, peaceful shores CT the great
river. over whose placid bottom we
were moving so swiftly, there rose from
my heart a glad, silent hymn of rejoic-
ing.
But suddenly cry broke forth from
the cabin behind me, that efiectually
changed the current of my thoughts:
8 Firel fire! firer
A horrible cry Mt all times, but most
horrible of all when it rings forth in
the midst of gay, unsuspicious hun
dreds, noating in fancied security in the
midst of the waters.
An instant's awe-struck silence 49,
reeded that awful cry, and then three
hundred voices, of men, women and
children, united in fearful, heartrendine
shricks for help.
"Firei fire! firel"
Aye! there was no mistake about it,
nor false alarm. No one could tell how
IL had commenced, but there ii was,
creeping along the roof of the upper
cabin, with the deadly flames greedily
tapping up every scrap of awning and
curtain they could find upon their way,
ever and anon darling long tongues OF
flame down to the floor, To clasp the
light chairs, and tables, and settees in
their fiery embrace.
As well seek with a sieve to scoop up
the waters of the great river on which
the hobilia floated rs try to subdue the
roaring, devouring enemy that had
seized upon the ill-iated steamer.
The people darted down from the
blazing upper cabin to the forward deck
below, where as yet the foe had made
but little headway. and there our brave
captain-who was that rara avis, the
Fright man in the right place "-suc-
ceeded in partially quelling the panic.
keep quietW he ordered" keep
quiet, and stay just where you are, or
will not answer for the lives of any OF