Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-04-18
The Pilots Story.

We had grown up together, as 1t were,
Mollie and I, our parents being near
neighbors, and-which does not always
foll0w-frm friends as well. They were
poor, and suspect that fact bad much
to do with their friendship, for opportu-
mites were always turning up for help.
ing one another; and have often no
ticed that, when neighbors are well of
and have no 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
followed their example. We went to
school together, read together, played
together, and, somehow, when Mollie
was eighteen and twenty, we agreed
to travel together all our lives, and were
very happy in that arrangement; in
fact, no other would have seemed right
or natural, either to US or our parents
From the earliest days of my boyhood
I had fondness for the water, haunt
ing 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 I am
about to refer, 1 had just secured posi-
ton as pilot on small freight steamer.
It was not much of a position, to be
sure, not was there much of salary at
tached to it but, small as it was, Mol
lie and I decided that we could make it
answer for two people, neither of them
extravagant or unreasonable; besides
which, I had hopes of better times to
come, as had received words of com
mendation from my employers, and
promises of speedy promotion.
So, early one bright morning, having
obtained days leave of absence, Mollie
and I were married, and, stepping into
a carriage I had hired for the occasion,
we started off, having decided on a days
excursion to celebrated cave near by.
this being all the wedding trip we could
allow ourselves, not that we cared in the
least, however; we were too happy to
be disturbed by any shortcomings OF
sum or purse.
We had scarcely driven beyond our
own street when we were brought to a
halt. A messenger, whom 1 recognized
as belonging to our steamboat company,
hailed me.
"Here is note for you from the SUI.
perintendent."
II am sorry to have to recall your
leave fer to-day, but you must imme-
diately 90 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 pre-.
sent"
"There goes our wedding trip all to
smash !" said I, as Mollie read the or
der.
"Why SOP" she asked.
"You see must 60 to the pilot-house
of the Mobilia."
every WE'LL" she replied. 1--WE will
just go up the river instead of the cave.
Drive on, Rob let us go down to the
wharf in state"
"But you can't go into the pilot house
with me, little goose"
"Of course not; but can sit on the
deck outside" laughed Mollie 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
heat glowing with love and pride with
love, for there, Just below me, on the
little forward deck, sat my sweet bride
9th pride, because the Mobilia was one
of the finest of the beautiful palaces of
the Mississippi, and to pilot such one
had for years been the height of my am
bitiOn.
The steamer was fitted up with dou-
BILE cabin, one above the other-the up
per one opening upon a small deck,
reaching out toward the bow, near the
centre of which, on a raised platform,
was placed the pilot-house. This deck
was always occupied by passengers, and
this morning it was particularly crowd
ed, for the boat was heavily laden with
people taking advantage of the beauti
full weather to make an excursion up
the river.
Some rough fellows jostled against
Mollie's chair after awhile, and she rose
and passed down into the lower cabin
Ito get drink of water" she whisper
ed to me as she passed, but I suspect it
was really to prevent the bursting of the
thunder cloud she saw gathering on my
brow.
I saw that the insolent fellows made
no attempt to follow my dear one, 80 I
gave myself up 10 my own happy
thoughts, and, looking out to the far
distant, peaceful shores of the great riv
er, over whose placid bosom we are
so swiftly, there rose from my
heart glad, silent hymn of rejoicing.
But suddenly cry broke forth from
the cabin behind me that effectually
changed the current of my thoughts.
"Fire! IRE! flre!" A horrible cry at
all times, but most horrible of all when