The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-05-31

Dies, an 10 I00k up N the moo o, the M
CRY sky nm Try to speer out the pity IN
the face o. Jesus Christ, a. he walked on
the wster an told them waves to be stili;;
storms n makes sailors heart cry for
the help o. God for them ~ he loves,
even if the help don't save his own life.
Who knowe4 more shout storms nor me
an Tom Boliverf Wed followed the
sea for nigh on TO twenty year, an never
separated l cant tell ye, for yen feel
that bad"
No, won't, Sailor; upon nv word.
I won't. I like it-IIks to hear yoa talk /;
it sounds old fashioned
"Old fashioned ?"
Yes; Tom used to sit where you sit,
and sitting in this blessed identical spot,
sewing rs do now and he'd tell his aw-
full yarns, and try to make me believe
them You see I don't swallow all /
hear.n
eye don't think I'm d<eeivin' ye now,
do ye?"
Il don't think much about it, SO you
need not have that in your noddle. Go
on, do For mercy's sake what ails the
manp"
Such look as he gave her
Well there came q storm one day and
the skipper he come to US an says, says
he. I" It's all up WI as, ye see. Try to
save yourselves" The ship had sprung
leak, the whole side was stove In on .
rock, and the pumps was no use, and we
war . going down, and oh, Tom Boliver's
wife, how kin l say it? Your husband,
he wouldn't desert 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 shak-
ing and settling herself on the stool, a
light in her eyes, that's right certainly !;
/ Wouldn't own Tom Boliver if he'd forsook
his work because it got troublesome"
" Yes-but Lass, Tom he was aboard till
the last two timbers hung together He
wouldn't go. He got the others off and
helped WI the cargo, but there he staid,
a lookin' out in the direction o his home,
an a thinking O. ye and the babies.
"True for you, sailor" she said, her
voice tremulous and almost glad and
good for Tom Boliver.
But why don't ye get frustrated
Didn't ye keer nothing bout Tom P
Why don't you get into regular ter
ror?I'
"Oh, will get that way after little
bit"
Again that dreadful look at her.
Then you did not keer anything for
Tom?''
"Now, look here, sailor" she said,
you knew Tom powerful well, you say.
Didn't Tom ever know of the time and
time again when I've sat here all alone
through the night, after I've tucked the
children in bed and stayed at the window
looking out at the raving storm and think
ing of my husband? Didn't he ever
know at such times that my heart went
away over the cruel sea hunting for him
And didn't be know how, when / was a
timider for him than usual, and wanted
him more than usual, I'd 60 to the chill
dren and cry, Babies, babies, wake
with mamma and pray for daddy on the
Wild, wild sea p? 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 Tom eyer know how must have
counted days, then weeks, then months,
and at last years, wanting him, waiting,
watching for him, every time in word
or thought? Did he tell you that be
guessed / loved all sailors for his sake,
and that pitied 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 BoliVer's
wife, an he's on the briny deep. Let me
help you all / can if you are sick or lone
some, or want little jobs of . woman's
work done for you, why come to me, I'm
Tom Boliver's wife, and he's on the briny
deep And how often has this room
been crowded with sailor men and how
they have kissed the children in case
they'd pass Toms ship, they said and
would seem to take the kisses to him or
they'd kiss 'euf because they had little
ones far away who mast be looking out
to sea and thinking of their daddies.-
And I've helped them al could-indeed,
indeed have and me and the children,
Why we've gone down to see the ships OF
and Eve made the children wave their
hands and say Goodbye right lond
and the men they have cheered, three
cheers for Tom Boliver's wife and God
care for the babies And I've done all
this for love of Tom! And You don't
say he ever thought Of that, only that /
don't care for him. If he don't know me
without words then he didn't love me, as
| always thought he did"
g Well, Lass, yes he knowea it. He
thought he knowed ik for the truth but
and now comes the all6redest awful
part of this gospel truth yarn"
"Yes, Sailor"
" Well-now don't ye CRY out, an don't
ye flop down-but Tom Boliver he won't
never, never come home no more"
She smiled mp in his face.
=" Why ? she simply asked
Because-he's drowned dead" he re-
piled.
" | don't believe it, Sailor"
But was wi him all the time, orter
know"
'fThen why wasn't you drowned, too ?
IF you thought 30 much Of him ~ you
say, why didn't you drown trying to save
him ?"
"I-well / was, was washed ashore.
But poor Tom he's went
''Oh, dear, If that's the case might
as well make up my mind TO be widow"
i rather think so. Wen, why don't
ye get frustrated, Wilder Boliver ?"
cried the man, sghast Ne promised that,
anyway"
4pll get that way after while Sailor"
9 Rnk tell ~ Tnmn RnlfwnR ainit M