The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-05-31
TOM BOLIvER'S WIFE.

such night as it was the snow and the
wind making it dreadful to think of, while
you sat beside q roaring fire, let alone
being out on this dismal fiat where the
little house braved the fury of the ele-
mental war. 1t was quiet inside, the
loudest ound being the moan of the wind
and the hiss of the feathery snow-fakes
falling down the wide-mouthed chimney
to the fla ring logs below.
A woman was sitting by those farings,
mending little child's frock. The six
little shoes, In various worn stages, placed
before the fire, told a story that often
times lou der noises than the moan of the
wind, and the Kissing of the now-fiakes
on the re disturbed the room. Sitting
there, sewing, and with a woman's mind
far away from what she was busy at, and
yet tied all the stronger here by reason
Of her " andering thoughts, the woman
started somebody knocked at the door.
She arose hurridly, suppressing cry,
and unlocked and flung the door OPEN
A mans voc, in the snowy darkness said
harshly
Where do Tom Boliver's wife live at
here ?"
Yes,T she answered, her hand upon
her heart, her ewes peering out in the
night. 8 | am Tom Boliver's wife What
do you want of me -
Lass, will you ask me in 2" I've news
of Tom
You have Come in, Sailor, and tell
me what you know"
Into the light and warmth stepped a
rough, bFawny fellow, dressed In the slip
shod ma hner of sailor upon shore. He
shook the snow from his shaggy coat and
beard. Slapping his slouch hat upon his
knee, he looked 6ercely down into the lit
tie won ans face all the time, as though
to intimidate her. She returned the look
with An odd expression-not frightened,
but startled and bewildered-the look
that had come in her face when she open
ed the door, and peered out at the man,
then fro N the bewildered look another
came, one of understanding comprehen-
sion, and she said to him calmly
"Sit BY the FIRE; you must be chilled
throug this gruesome night
The startled look seemed to have flown
from he IT face to his, bat he said more
harshly
81 am chilled through, Tom Boliver's
wife, an d that amt no lie, 'cording to
Scripterl Are you all alone, here, wo-
man p and he glanced about him
No, she said, pointing to the six
worn little shoes. The man looked at
them, and then turned his face away from
her an instant
Now, Sailor" she said, whats this
great ne ws o yours p
Ain 4 We afraid O. me, We, lone wo-
man -
Bos Tell me the newsr'
Tom Boliver's wife, We Illustrate me.
But. it's right We amt afeared, why should
We be? Il kinder thought We might be,
though. But I'm rough sailor, and
Oh, pshaw hurry up with the news. p
Il do Mt know how to commence the
yarn VII you sittin' there so unskeered y
Oh, it is yarn, eh? Well, wait
Sailor, till put some wood on the fire
then blaze away
She put the wood on, sat down on the
stool in the light of the blaze and took up
the little frock again.
Nov" she said, g I'm ready"
The man had his mouth open. Despite
bis bron nzed skin and the FIRE from the logs,
face that now suffused it.
:" Bee init ye little narvous anyways ~
he asked
"Oh, my, no, not at all I'm steady
enough to count the threads while stitch
this band of our Susy's frock. Nervous
Me? Oh, dear -
tom Boliver's wife, I've that to tell
as'll not make you brag O. bein' steady.
Tom Bbliver has been gone three years
and over, eh p
"If you know it, Sailor, what do you
ask me for? Don't you suppose can
count the months that it takes to make
three years ?"
"When did you hear from Tom last p
he gulped, and his eyes were wrathy.
@Six months ago. 2 she said easily q he
was sailing from Madagascar, and hadn't
time to say much"
TON Boliver's wife, = Said the man
solemnly, and suppressing his strange an
ger, ye'll not be likely to hear from him
agin' ID q hurry; he wont write seoa- ?
al expect not. There amt much use O
him Writing, anyway, seeing / can't an
swer, not knowing if send my letters TO
sea if they'd find him"
Lass, he'll never write again, no more.
| Tom wbn't. There. now"
That's pity" she said biting OF her
thread, 6 for he always likes to write bit
about the children, Oh, dear I"
The man looked At her in blank amaze
| ment.
" Ton Boliyer's wife, / think I'll com
mence that there yam / promised"
Lab! Sailor, you dou't mean to say you
amt begun yeti what tedious one you
can be, to be sare Bless my heart r
Again the man gulped and grated his
teeth He went o. madly:
@Ye know, six months ago, Tom, he
sailed around Madagascar -don't yei
Well I was along Va Tom, IwaA he
an him we was chums; whs1someEer he
done, tat there do1e /, wkeresomeser he
went, theresomevsr went !, wheres0meser
he WRITE = ye. ] seen shaE ikers lstter tzne
las Gospel When ha wns . ihiRkin' q
ye, IhhoMea O. Bat tkeRs,s ss0ruas d
aeS L. ak, iucb STORMS WIZ tkia