The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-03-09


sit. and [ sitting in this blessed iden-
tical spot, sewing as i do now, and
he'd tell bis awful yarns and try to
make me believe them. You sec, /
don't swallow all hear"
.Ye don't think I'm a-decciyin'
We, do We ?"
Il don't think much about it, so
YOU needn't have that in your nod
die. Go on, do; for mercy's sake
what ails the man ?"
Such a look as he gave her.
sWell, there comes storm one
dav. an the skipper he comes to us
an SAYS, saws he: It's all up wi us,
as We see. Try and save yourselves.
The ship had sprung a-leak, the
whole side was stove in on rock,
an the pumps was no use, an we
was a-goin' down, an'-oh, Tom
Bollivar's wife, how kin say it P
your husband he wouldn't desart
that there ship as he'd knowed, man
an boy, since him an the ship
was both young"
"That's right in him." she said,
shaking her head and settling her
se.. on the stool, light in her eyes ;
'.that : right in him. | wouldn't own
Tom Iollivar if he'd fersook his
work beSs use it got troublesome"
"Yes-but, lass, Tom he was
aboard till the last two timbers hung
together. He wouldn't 60. He got
the Others off an helped wi the car
go but there he stayed, alookil
out in the direction o. his home, an
a-thinkin' O. We an the babies"
"True for you, sailor,n she said,
her voice tremulous and almost glad,
"and good for Tom Bolivar"
"But why dou't We get frustrated !?
Didn't We keer nothin' bout Tom :?
Why don't you get into areg larter-
rer ?"
"Oh, I'll get that way after a
bit"
''Then We didn't keer nothin' for
Tom ?"
"Now, look here, sailor" she said,
"you knew Tom powerful well, you
saw. Didn't Tom ever know of the
time and time again when I've sat
here all alone through the night, af-
ter I've tucked the children up in
bed, and staid at the window look
ing out at the raving storm, think
ing of my husband ? DIDN'T he ever
know at such times that my heart
went away over the cruel sea hunt
ing for him-went further than the
sea, up to heaven to Him that holds
the sea and the storm in the hollow
of His hand Didn't he know how
| treasured up every hope, every
dream of him, every word heed ev-
er said-that | searched the chill
dren's faces day after day, seeing bis
likeness there, so that I'd never for.
get his look and should know him
always, no matter when or how ]
met him? And didn't he know
how, when | was timider for him
than usual, and wanted him more
than usual, I'd go to the children
and cry, Babies, babies, wake with
nanny and pray for daddy on the
wild, wild seas ?'-and how I'd fix
their hands, and how we four would
kneel down and say, Our Father,
and feel sure that the Lord knew
what we were asking for and would
answer our prayer ? Didn't Ton
ever know how | must have count
ed days, then weeks, then month:
and at last years, wanting him
waiting, watching for him, ever tru,
i in word and thought :? Couldn't b,
tell you that he guessed / loved al
sailors for his sake, and that | pitieC
lonely ones that came TO port here
and who made friends with me
For I've gone to them and I've said
Cheer up, my lads I'm Tom Bolli
vars wife, and he's on the briny
deep. Let me help you all | can
if you're sick, or lonesome, or wan
little Jobs of woman's work done fol
you. why, come to me. I'm Ton
Bolliyers wife, and he's on the briny
deep And how often and often
this room has been crowded with
sailor men Add how often they've
kissed the children, and in case
they'd pass Toms ship, they said
and would seem to take the kisses
to him or they'd kiss 'em because
they had had little ones of their
ogn far away vino must be looking
out to sea and thinking of their
daddies. And I've helped 'em all |
could-indeed. indeed | have and
me and the children, why, we've
gone down to see their ships off, and
I've made the children wave their
hands and say Good bye = right
loud, and the men have called,
l'fhree cheers and a tiger for Tom
Bollivar's WIFE and God care for
the babies 7 And I've done all this
for love O. Tom And you don't
say that he ever thought of that,
only that L don't care for him. II
he didn't know me without words,
then he didn't love me as / always
thought he did"
And she wiped out her eyes on
the frock she was mending.- The
man looked at her for moment,
seemed to hold back something he
was about to say, and put his hands
nervously on his pocket and went
on:
"Well, lass, yes, he knowed it.
He thought he knowed it for a truth,
but-and now comes the all-irdest
awful part O. this here Gospel-truth
yarn"
"Yes, sailor"
"Well-now don't We cry out, an
don't We flop down-but Tom Bolli-
var he won't never, never come
home ne more"
She smiled up in his face.
why ?" she asked.
"Because-he's drownded dead"
he replied.
Il don't believe it, sailor"
"But / was wi him all the time, L
ortcr know
Then why wasn't you drowned,
too P? If you thought SO much of
him as you say, why didn't you
drown trying to save him, if moth
I L o,f