Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-06-01

~
seemed ages before she climbed those
stairs again. Such misery as filled the
next two days she had never known. 0,
how she longed for five minutes on
shore.
How near are we to land?" she had
once asked in utter despair; and the
CHEEKY stewardess replied: "Only a 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-
ed 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 i'm
mense doughnuts, painted white, which
she must eat ut once.
Father and mother recovered first,
then Alice and lasto 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 fluttered, 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
l"1sn'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 i'll his
short, hearty way, "and he comes every
day as soon rs 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 shutfieboard and
ring toss. Father and mother read,
talked, and dozed in the warm sunshine
One of Sues flvorite occupations was
to 90 as fur 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 80 poor and
miserable. Some ofthem seemed to be
returning to their old homes, discour-
| 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
they were cattle. They were ordered
roughly back and forth by the officers,
and at 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 verv
strict; she had carried out some grapes,
one day, to delicate looking young
girl, who had crept up on deck fol- 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
the Cunard company would look out fol
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
and would not reach Queenstown fol
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 then
as far as possible. The iovial first mate
was quite silent, and walked the deck
with quick, nervous step, now casting
a glance at the huge mainsail, which haC
been set during the night, now pausings
moment to regard the ragged crowd or
the deck below. Never during its voy'
age had there been so many of them ir
sight at one time. The ship fairly
swarmed with them. Already the cab
in passengers were eagerly inquirine
what was the matter, but could learI
nothing. During the whole forenoon
the taciturnity and mysterious air of the
officers increased. until several men O
influence from the cabin, among then
Mr.. Raymond, waited upon the captain
as a committee, to ascertain once for al
.he 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 will
the ships surgeon, and made known
|: their errand. "If you don't give SOM
will be a regular panic on board. Th
ladies are afraid there is fire in the hold
or that the ship has sprung leak. LIE
MS know at once what is the matter, ant
we will either keep silence altogether
! or make such q report as shall satisf,
everybody that it is nothing serious"
Gentlemen" replied the. captain
calmly, after a moments silence, "yo1
!. are disturbing yourselves unreasonably
I have hardly thought it necessary t
explain to passengers all the proceeding
on board my ship, but am willing to tel
| you the trif1e that has caused this alarm
An infant died in the steerage last night
of some childish disorder, and was
buried. I believe another one is sic
now. The doctor was just informing IN
that he thought it best, as a mere matte
of precaution, to flmigate the quarters
That is all"
: "And where is the sick child?"
81 left it in the steerage," answers
T the doctor, "until 1 could have the hoi
pital made ready. shall remove it my
self, soon, before dlsinfectlng tn
place."
The passengers withdrew, not NOR
: than half satisfied, and Mr. Raymon
went to tell his wife what he had heart
I He found her in her stateroom, busil
J talking with the stewardess, who had a
ready told the news undera strict pledg
Of secrecy, it viii cost me my place
mem. And the poor, little creature, sh
D that's sick now-it's measles like, l thin
0 is left there alone in that hole of
!, place, and only three years old, and ha
D frightened to death, no doubt"
"Rut her mother is with herr" aske
] Mrs. Raymond.
Indeed she's not, mem. She's just Il
the charge of strangers, who are fakin
her over to the hold folks in Ireland, v
] know. ind not a soul will stay with tn
poor little thing, they're SO frightene
+ with the sickness, We know. The doctor
he tried to ire two or three, but the
5 won't do it. He says he will have to b
. nurse for the child himself, after tn
! smoking's over"
81 Henry" said Mrs. Raymond to he
r husband, "don' you think you had be,
! ter speak to Sue and Allie, and ask ther
S not to 60 forward? Youneedn'ttell ther
! what is the matter, you know. They'v
been on deck since morning"
"You are right, dear, and I'll see
E anything can be done for the child.