The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1882-06-01

| shore.
How near are we to land?' she had
once asked in utter despair; and the
CHEEKY stewardess replied: "Only a mile
| and q '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-
ed around the body, and, in the midst
Of her sick fancies, she could not get the
mense doughnuts, painted white, which
she must eat ut once.
Father and mother recovered first,
then Alice and last ofall, Sue. Then how
sweet the air, how beautiful the long,
clouds, the passing ships that now and
then fluttered, like white moths upon
the horizon. She used to get up very
carly 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 could look off over the gray water
and gray sky, until the east grew all
af1a,ne, and slowly, grandly, the full
bright sun arose.
'1sn't it like, the King Of glory shall
come imp " she had once said tinidly to
the red bearded first mate.
Eyes, Miss" he had answered in his
short, hearty way, land he comes every
day as soon rs the gates arc up:"
So the hours went by quietly, peace
fully and the faithful engine never ceased
to throb, night or day. She watched
Alice spent much of her time in walking
| up and down the deck with the captain,
and learning to play Switchboard and
ring toss. Father and mother read,
talked, and dozed in the warm sunshine.
One of Sues favorite occupations was
! to 60 as far forward us possible on the
upper deck, and watch the steeragc pas
sengers, of whom there were two or
three hundred on board. She pitied
them, because they looked so poor and
| misera bic. Some ofthem seemed to be
returning to their old homes, discour-
| aged and hopeless. Some laughed and
talked noisily, but most Of them cnrlcd
up wherever they could, on tanchions
or heaps of rope, and lay there, many of
them Wretchedly sick, throughout the
DAY; They generally ate, drank and
WASHED tlt INF full sight, The worst thing
they were cattle. They were ordered
roughly back and forth by the officers,
and ut a certain point rope was drawn
across the deck, to prevent them from
intruding upon the cabin passengers
They nearly all had weary, 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 delicate looking young
girl, who had crept up on deck TO, the
first time that. morning, and for this little
kindness Sue had been sharply rcbukcd
by the head steward. "'Shc mustn't in
tefere with tho steerage," he had said;
the Cunard company would look out for
them.' So she could do nothing but
watch them wistfully, and long to help
them.
| They were six days out from Boston.
The ship had encountered head winds,
several days, the officer said. When
Sue came on deck that morning, she
thought she noticed commotion among
the steerage passengers. They gathered
i'll groups, talking earnestly, and glancing
now and then toward the llatchWay that
led to their quarters below. The sailors
seemed with one accord 10 avoid them
as far as possible The jovial first mate
was quite silent, and walked the deck
with Il quick, nervous step, now casting
glance at the huge mainsail, which had
been set during the night, now pausing a
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. Tho ship fairly
swarmed with them. Already the cab
IN passengers were eagerly inquirng
what was the matter, but could learn
/ rt,fl nrr In .1O(
the taciturnity and mysterious air Of the
officers increased, until several men of
influence from the cabin, among them
Nr. Raymond, waited upon the captain,
as committee, to ascertain once for all
The cause and nature of the disturbance
that was making itself felt throughout
the ship.
| They found him in his little deck state
room, talking in low, earnest tones with
tho ships surgeon, and made known
their errand. IF you don't give some
explanation, captain" they said, there
will be a regular panic on board. The
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 q report as shall satisfy
everybody that it is nothing serious"
O0n'1SnioA, IcpAcu tlo captain
calmly, after moments silence, "you
arc disturbing yourselves unreasonably.
have hardly thought it necessary to
explain to passengers all the proceedings
on board my ship, but I 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. 1 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 could have the hos
pital made ready. shall remove it my
place"
The, passengers withdrew, not more
than half satisfied, and Mr.. Raymond
went to tell his wife what he had heard
tie found her in her stateroom, busiiy
talking with the stcwardess, who had al
ready told the news undera strict pledge
Of secrecy, ''orit will cost me my place,
mem. And the poor, little creature, she
that's sick now-it's measles like. think
lis left there alone in that hole of a
place, and only three years old, and half
frightened to death, no Doubt"
"Rut her mother is with herr" 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, ye
know. And not soul will stay with the
poor little thing. they're SO frightened
With the sickness, ye 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
"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 if
anything car. be done for the child. If
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.
Whitney's books, behind the wheel
house.
"AlIie, dear. I wouldn't 90 forward of