St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-05-13
The PILOTS Story.

We had grown up together, as it
were, Mollie and |, our parents being
near neighborS, and which does not
follow firm 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 neigh
bors are well off and have no need for
mutual help, there is very seldom any
friendship between them there is
more apt to he jealousy and competi-
ton.
Our parents being such good friends,
ii naturally resulted that Mollie and
followed their example. We went to
school together, read together, played
together and, somehow, when Mollie
was eighteen and | was twenty, we
agreed to travel together all our lives,
and were very happy i'll that arrange
mcnt in fact, no other would have
seemed right or natural, either to us oI
our parents.
From the earliest days of my boy
hood | had fondneSS for the water,
haunting the palatial steamboats, shat
tloatcd ON the great Mississippi river,
on whose banks nestled the city III
which we dwelt, and at the period to
which | am about to refer, | had Just
secured Il position as pilot on Il small
freight steamer.
1t was not much of II position, to he
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 cXtraVagant OF unreasonable
besides which, | had hopes of better
times to come. as ! had received word,
of recommendation from my employers
and promises of speedy promotion.
So, early one bright morning, having
obtained IL days leave of absence, Mol
lie and | were married, and stepping
into Il carriage ! had hired for the oc-
casion, we started off, having decided
on days excursion to Il celebrated
cave near by, this being all the we'd
ding trip we could allow ourselves, no
| that we cared the least, however W,
were too happy to he the least disturbe,
| by any shortcomings of sum OF purse
We had scarcely driven beyond on
own street when we were brought to
halt. A messenger whom recognized
as belonging to our steamboat compan,
! hailed me.
"'Herc's a note to you from the super
intendent."
Thus it ran
cam sorry to have to recall you
leave for to-day, but you must imme
diately 90 on board the Mobilia, whic
is ready to start up the river. The pi
lot is too i'll to attend to duty, and yo
are appointed to take his place for tn
present"
"There goes our wedding trip all t
smash" said |, as Mollie read the Ordel
"Why so ?" she asked.
''Hou see | must go into the pilot
house of the Moblia."
every WE'LL" she replied. eve sha
just go up the river instead of to til
cave. Drive on, Bob ; let us go dow
to the wharf in state
''But you can't go in the pilot-hous
with me, little goose"
"Of course, no but | can sit on I'll
: deck outside" land we can cast Ian
gushing glances at each other
= And 50 it came to pass that | too
possession of the Mobilia's pilot-hous
NY H''ilt SloN lHg NliH loNt anu IIlu
for there, just before me, on the lit
= forward deck. sat my sweet bride wit
e pride because the Mobilia was one
the finest floating palaces of the Mi
4 siSsippi, and to pilot such Il one Ia
: for years been the height of my amb
tion.
;, The steamer was fitted up with
V double cabin, one above the other, Il
upper one holding up a small dee
Il reaching out towards the bow, near Il
:. centre of which, on a raised platforI
h was placed the pilot-house. The de,
r, was always occupied 10y passenger
IL and this morning it was particular
crowded, for the boat was heavily |
; den with people taking advantage
II the beautiful weather tn make an t
cursion up the river.