The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-06-01

next two days she had never known. 0,
how she longcd for five minutes on
shore.
How near arc we to land" she had
once asked III utter despair; and the
CHEEKY stewardess replied: "Only 4 mile
and a 'alf, mum; it's Just under us!"
Among Sues troubles were two life pre-
servers, which were suspended from the
ceiling of the stateroom, and tilted slight
ly with every motion Of the ship. They
were in the shape ofrings, to be fasten-
cd around the body, and, in the midst
Of her sick fancies, she could not get the
idea out Of her head that they We're inn
mensc doughnuts, painted white, which
she must eat ut once.
Father and mother recovered first,
then Alice and last Of all, Sue. Then how
sweet the air, how beautiful the long,
foamy sweep Of the waves, the rosy
clouds, the passing ships that now and
then tluttered, like white moths upon
the horizon. She used to get up very
early in the morning, and the bluff kind
hearted officer would invite her up with
him on his high bridge, where she could
see the whole ship spread out like map,
and gray sky, until the east grew all
aflame, and slowly, grandly, the full
"Isn't it like, the King Of glory shall
come IMP she had once said timidly to
the red bearded first mate.
eyes, Miss" he had answered in his
short, hearty way, "and he comes every
day as soon as the gates are up"
So the hours went by quietly, peace
fully and the faithful engine never ceased
to throb, night or day. She watched
whales and sunsets to her hearts content
Alice spent much Of her time in walking
up and down the deck with the captain,
and learning to play sllutiieboard and
ring toss. Father and mother read,
talked, and dozed in the warm sunshine.
One of Sues favorite occupations was
to 90 as far forward as possible on the
upper deck, and watch the steerage pas
sengers, Of whom there were two or
three hundred on board. She pitied
them, because they looked SO poor and
miserable. Some ofthem seemed to be
returning to their old homes, discour-
aged and hopeless. Some laughed and
talked noisily, but most Of them curled
Up wherever they could, on stanchions
or heaps Of rope, and lay there, many of
them wretchedly sick, throughout the
day: They generally ate, drank and
washed in full sight. The worst thing
was that they were treated SO much as if
roughly back and forth by the officers,
across the deck, to prevent them from
intrudins upon the cabin passengers.
They nearly all had aweary, hunted,
hopeless look, which went to Sues
heart. Still, she could do nothing for
them. The, rules Of the ship were very
strict; she had carried out some grapes,
one day, to a delicate looking young
girl, who had crept up on deck fo1 the
first time that morning, and for this little
kindness Sue had been sharply rebuked
by the head steward. 'She mustn't in
tefere with the steerage," he had said;
them" So she could do nothing but
watch them wistfulIy, and long to help
them.
They were six days out from Boston.
The ship had encountered head winds,
and would not reach Queenstown for
several days, the officer said. When
Sue came on deck that morning, she
thought she noticed commotion among
the steerage passengers. They gathered
In groups, talking earnestly, and glancing
now and then toward the hatchWay that
led to their quarters below. The sailors
seemed with one accord to avoid them
as far as possible. The iovial first mate
was quite silent, and walked the deck
with a quick, nervous step, now casting
glance at the huge mainsail, which had
been set during the night, now pausing q
moment to regard the ragged crowd on
the deck below. Never during its voy-
age had there been so many of them in
sight at one time. The ship fairly
swarmed with them. Already the cab
IN passengers were eagerly inquiring
What was the matter, but could learn
nothing. During. the whole forenoon
the taclturnity and mysterious air Of the
officers increased. until several men Of
influence from the cabin, among them
Mr.. Raymond, waited upon the captain,
as a committee, to ascertain once for all
that was making itself felt throughout
the ship.
They found him in his little deck state
room. talking in low, earnest tones with
the. ships surgeon, and made known
their GRAND. IF you don't give some
explanation, captain" they said, there
ladies are afraid there is fire in the hold,
or that the ship has sprung leak. Let
ms know at once what is the matter, and
we will either keep silence altogether,
or make such a report as shall satisfy
everybody that it is nothing serious"
"Gentlemen," replied the captain
calmly, after a moments silence, "Ypu
arc disturbing yourselves unreasonably.
have hardly thought it necessary to
explain to passengers all the proceedings
on board my ship, but am willing to tell
you the trifle that has caused this alarm.
An infant died in the steerage last night,
of some childish disorder, and was
buried. believe another one is sick
now. The doctor was just informing me
that he thought it best, as mere matter
Of precaution, to fumigate the quarters.
That is ALL
"And where is the sick child?"
Il left it in the steerage," answered
the doctor, until I could have the hos
pital made ready. shall remove it my
self, soon, before dlsinfectlng the
place."
The passengers withdrew, not more
than half satisfied, and Mr.. Raymond
went to tell his wife what he had heard.
He found her in her stateroom, busilv
talking with the stewardess, who had al
ready told the news undera strict pledge
"a oCC1CCy, " ~ Will COoC 1lC NY pIi1ct;,
mem. And the poor, little creature, she
that's sick now-it's measles like, think
is left there alone in that hole of a
place, and only three years old, and halt
frightened to death, no doubt"
"Rut her mother is with her." asked
Mrs. Raymond.
Indeed she's not, mem. She's just III
the charge of strangers, who are taking
her over to the hold folks in Ireland, We
know. And not a soul will stay with the
poor little thing, they're so frightened
with the sickness, We know. The doctor,
he tried to ire two or three, but they
won't do it. He says he will have to be
nurse for the child himself, after the
smoking's over"
Henry" said Mrs. Raymond to her
husband, "don' you think you had bet
ter speak to Sue and Allie, and ask them
not to go forward? Youneedn'ttell them
what is the matter, you know. They've
been on deck since morning."
"You are right, dear, and I'll see il
anything can be done for the child. II
money can hire nurse, Ill find one."
Without further words he left the state
room and took his way to the deck. He
soon found Alice, deep in one of Mrs.