The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-12-08
A Stowaway.
BY o. A. BIERsTADT.


A great ocean steamship had left Liv-
erpool and was making its way down St.
Georges Channel. 1t was bound for
America, and its passenger list including
the names of Mrs Morton and Miss Stella
Morton. AS the weather was pleasant
and the waves did not run very high,
most of the ladies aboard had no fear of
sea-sickness and remained on deck, walk
ing back and forth, or reclining easily in
their steamer chairs.
$50, mamma, we are going home
again ?" asked Stella Morton, who was a
bright and curly haired girl of twelve.
Yes, Stella, answered Mrs Morton,
eve are on the water again, and | hope
nine or ten days will see US cafe at home
in New York with your dear papa"
think the ocean is just lovely" said
Stella, but I'll be awfully glad to see
papa once more. Why did we ever leave
him and come such long way over the
water? I don't understand it. A hun
dred times before l have asked you the
same question, and you always put me
off for an answer.
We'll, l will tell you at last what our
errand has been," replied her mother.
You should have known long ago, only
wanted to surprise you by introducing
a new cousin to you; but now it seems
that is not to be. Perhaps you may re-
member hearing your father sometimes
talk about his brother in England. This
brother died several months ago and left
an only son, a motherless boy, but few
years older than you are, Stella. Your
father was very anxious to adopt this
boy, and being tied fast to his business,
30 that he could not get away, he let us
come over to England to try and look up
your cousin"
"And couldn you find him, mammal
asked Stella.
mo, DEAR" responded Mrs. Morton.
"Down In Surrey, where he used to live,
they could only tell me that he had gone
up to London soon after his fathers
death. And in London, why-to look
for boy in such great city as London,
is thousand times worse than looking
for a needle in haystack. So I had to
give him up
ooh, dear what pity p exclaimed
Stella, and she thought of her undiscov-
cred cousin, until her attention was alb
sorbed by flock of sea-gulls screaming
over something to eat in the water.
The next day the steamer touched at
Queenstown and then struck out into the
broad Atlantic. Stella and her mother
watched the land drop out Of sight far
astern, and after wards they walked
briskly to and fro on deck. Soon curiosi-
ty moved them to Join a crowd of the
,1oc,o,, o,oro rzbo baJ r,Ono forvyarJ IN A. y
hurricane deck to the wheel-house and
were looking down upon the lower deck
devoted to the steerage and the crew.
What can the matter be p asked
Stella of the doctor, an amiable young
Englishman with gold lace on his cap
and sleeves.
40, nothing, only a stowaway," was
the medical man g reply.
And what is that, please?' question
Ell inquisitive Stella.
You see that country boy down
there, said the doctor, {" the one the
sailors and stokers are making game Of
Well, he is stowaway came aboard
without a ticket, or any money to pay his
passage"
1 see him, mother" exclaimed Stel-
la the boy In corduroy suit, with his
cap over his eyes and great big comfort
er around his neck. But, doctor, why
did they let him come, if he couldn' buy
a ticket ?"
He didn't stop to ask anybody per-
mission, answered the doctor. "Sneak-
ed aboard unseen, and slowed himself
away out of sight below, like rat in his
hole. But he is caught in a trap now"
He looks pretty pale, said Stella,
and I DO believe he's almost ready to
cry. What will they do with him p
He is pale, asserted the doctor, be-
cause he hasn't got his sea legs on yet,
and he'll cry fast enough before he sees
land again. Perhaps he ought to be
strung up to the yard-arm or dropped
overheard for the sharks to gobble up,
but suppose they will put him to work
in the fire room, as they do all stow
aways."
Stella did not waste many more
thoughts on the poor boy until the next
morning, when her compassion was much
more strongly excited. She was taking a