Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1883-11-17
Rachel Cheal.
THE FAIR MAID OF CHERBuRY

lHE fAlR MAID OF CHERBCRY.
"Only one more voyage, Rachel"
ooh, but coffin ships, Harry The
word haunts me -
But only one more run, my bonny
bird just to Aberdeen in ballast, an
back again to Harwich with granite afore
NE know we've been out Then we
sha'n't have 10 start life in debt, lass;
every penny o the share in Georges
boatll be paid up; an the little craft
from that time for'ard shall keep good
thick thatch over our heads, an side O
bacon in the kitchen, an a pig in the
sty-a raal Barkshire, my pretty one y
The ring of solid comfort in this last
allusion momentarily displaces al grue-
some thoughts. The rosiest pair of lips
in Cherbury are put up trustfully, to be
kissed with vigor which only young
sailor, due aboard bis ship within two
hseting hours, is capable OF imparting
TO the salutation. After this there is
delightful pause. while the August sun
shine, G.ttring its way between The
messy piles OF Chcri::ry J;t'y. beneath
which the lovers stand, surrouads their
figures with n golden halo
WHATS that they tell me about Farm
er Go.ton havin been 80 often up at
your mothers willie I was away, last
voyacc?' Suddenly demand, the Young
sailor. "Of cours, there's nowt in it,
sweetheart; but l don't like to hear, as
I did the other night, the names o Tom
Gordon an Rachel Cheal bein' coupled
together so free-andeasy like although
Tom is old enough to he your father"
For moment Rachel gazes into her
lovers face in bewilderment; then, clasp
ing his hand in both of hers, leans back
against weather-beaten bulkhead,
while musical laughter ripples from her
rosy lips.
ooh but where have your eyes been,
Harry, my man ?" she asks, as soon
as she is able to speak; then she
continues, very demurely, CAS- thon
sayest, lad, he is often up at mothers;
an he is old enough, an to spare, to be
my father; an
Let him b:de, my lass; let him bide.
I can trust thee with any man Of 'em
ALL" interrupts her lover, impetuouslv,
as he hurriedly glances off to the foot Of
the lane which leads down to Cherbury
Cove. Here be George. an little Jim,
an your Uncle Humphrey; an that
means it. dead low wnter, an I. must
slip of at once if I'm to make Harwich
this flood. God bless, thee, my pretty
one!' And he holds her to his heart in
clrnging embrace. while a steptorian
,hout for " Harry. Harry Ree-e-eed -
awakens the echo of the cove.
Aye, aye, George aye, ave- cries
| Harry in response. Then the two low
rs emerge from The seclusion Of the
letty, and join the group on the fore
shore; and, after n hurried greeting
Harry puts off with George and little
jim in the boat to which hopeful allusior
has already been made, and slips away
before gentle breeze from the north
ward in the direction OF Hal wich Har
lor. It is not until the little craft ha.
rounded Cherbury Point, and is lost Il
view, that Rachels kerchief ceases IL
futter in the air, and Raclel herscl
consents 10 turn and retrace ler steps t.
the village.
The Cheals are family Of which
CherburH has occasion to feel proud
Humphre y, veteran Of Her Majesty
Coast Guard, is man who, holding Iii
own life cheap, has again and again vol
unfairly encountered deadly peril at hu
manity's call. and is known and respecte'
throughout the whole county. Thougl
DOW close upon sixty years OF age, b
sill holds the onerous post OF coxswai
# the lifeboat; and if blessings alway
fell where blessings are due, it Is on hl
good gray head that they would descen
in showers, for many have been calle
{ down by the wives whom he hos save
, from u.do~hood. Slowed sway II
] locker in his trim little cottage on ID
North Down, and only visible on cer'