Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-03-30
3Mistellanu.
That Wedding.
a PILOTS STORY.

Inht Ne0ulnk.
a Pilots STORY.
We had grown up together. as 1t were,
Mollie and |, our parents being near neigh
bors, and-which does not follow-firm
friends rs well. They we're 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 10 need for
mutual help, there is very seldom any
friendship between them; there is more
apt to be jealousy and competition.
Our parents being such good friends, it
naturally resulted that Mollie and | fol
lowed their example. We went TO school
together, read together, played together !;
and. somehow, when Molie was eighteen
and / was twenty, we agreed to travel to-
gether all our lives, and were very happy
in that arrangement; in fact, no other
would have seemed right or natural, either
10 us or our parents.
From the earliest days of my boyhood
had II fondness for the water, haunting the
palatial steamboats, that foated 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 position as pilot on II
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 extravagant
or unreasonable: besides which, | had
hopes of better times TO come, as had
received words of commendation from my
employers and promises of speedy promo
tim.
So early one bright morning, having
obtained days leave of absence, Mollie
and were married, and stepping into a
carriage | had hired for the occasion, we
started off, having decided on a days ex-
cursiOn to a celebrated cave near by, this
being all the wedding trip we could allow
ourselves, not that we cared the least, how
ever; we were too happy to be the least
disturbed by any shortcomings of sum or
purse
We had scarcely driven beyond our own
street when we were brought to Il halt. A
messenger whom recognized as belong
ing to our eamboat company hailed me.
Here's n note to you from the superin-
tendent.N
Thus it ran:
Am sorry to have to recall your leave
for to- day, but you must Immediately go
on board the MObilia, 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
smash, said |, as Mollie read the order.
"Why SOP she asked
You see must 90 into the pilot-house
of the Mobiia.'
Very WELL" she replied. I'VE shall
Just go up he river instead of to the cave.
Drive on, Bob; let us 60 down to the wharf
in state
"But you can't go in the piIot-house with
me. little goose"
"Of course, no; but can sit on the deck
outside" laughed Molie, land we can
cast languishing glances at each other
And SO it came to pass that | took pos,
session of the Mobilia's pilot house, my
heart glowing with love and pride, fol
there, Just before me. on the little forward
deck, SIT my sweet bride; with pride be.
cause the Nloblia was one of the fines
floating palaces of t Mississippi, and to
pilot such a one had for years been the
height Of my ambition.
The steamer was fitted up with double
cabin, one above the other the upper ont
holding up small deck, reaching GU
towards the bow, near the centre of which
on raised platform, was placed the pilot
house. The deck WAS always occupied by
passengers, and this morning it wa.
particularly crowded, for the boat was
heavily laden with people taking advantage
Of the beautiful weather to make an excur
lion up the river.
Some rough fellows jostled agains
Mollie's chair after awhile, and she ros
and passed down into the lower cabin, "tt
get drink of water" she whispered to mt
as she passed but | suspect it was TO pre-
vent the bursting of the thunder cloud sh,
saw gathering on my brow.
saw that the insolent fellows made NJ
attempt to follow my dear one, SO l gav
mysel up to my own happy thoughts, ant
looking out on The far-distant, peaceful
shores of tine great river. over whose placi
Y bosom we were moving so swiftly, ther
rose from my heart "A glad silent hymn o
81 rejoicing.
But suddenly a cry broke from the cabil
behind me that effectually changed th'
q current of my thoughts:
Fire! fire! fire!' A horrible cry at al
times, ut most horrible of all when j
rings forth in the midst of gay. unsuspi
I. cious hundreds floating in fancied securit
in the midst of the waters.
III An instan's awe-struck silence succeed
ed that awful cry, and then 300 voices c
men. women and children united in fearful
heartrending shrieks for help.
Fire! fire. fire!
Aye! there was no mistake about it, no
false alarm. No one could tell how it ha
commenced, but there it was creeping
along the roof of the upper cabin, with tn
deadly flames grecdily tapping up ever
scrap of awning and curtain they coul
find upon their way, ever and anon dartin
long tongues of flames down to the foe
TO clasp the light chairs and tables an
settees in their fiery embrace.
As well seek with II sieve to scoop up TIL
waters of the great river on which tn
Mobiia floated, as to try to subdue tn
roaring, devourng enemy that had seize
npen the i'll fated steamer.
The people darted down from the bla.
ing upper cabin to the forward deck belo
Where rs yet the foe had made but littl
Roadway, and there our brave captain
vi no was that rGru d0iS 1.-The right man
fhe right place succeeded in PARTIAL
quelling the panic.
keep quietN' he ordered-"keep quie
md stay just where you are. or will n,
answer for the lives of any of youi I'll
seward will provide every one you vii
life preservers; but there is no reason f
any person to 90 overboard-not y