The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-03-25
IN THE PILOT HOUSE.

Johnny" said the pilot of one of our
large steamboats, to boy who stood shiv-
ering on the hurricane deck. The lad
turned pale, anxious face, and with
pitiful attempt at smile, said:
"Thank you, sir, but I thought there
was no admittance here"
"Ok, once in while we let friend
in" said the pilot kindly, and with
sweeping glance that took his companion
in from top to toe, and seemed to pene-
trate to his inmost soul.
"Where're you bound?" he continued
with hearty brusqueness from which no
oaense could be taken.
81 don't krow exactly" the Lad, an
swered. "I'm going to Boston first, that
is"
eyes, that's about what l thought"
the pilot interrupted, 'if you can manage
to get there. Let me tell you something,
my boy. A man in my position has
every opportunity in the world to study
character; and as quick as my eyes lit
upon your face, knew that you were
running away from home"
The only response to this was hasty
turning away of the head, and quick,
gasping sigh which sounded forlorn from
one SO young.
"And 1 wouldn't be afraid to wager
this steamboat that you have got
mother living, and more than that, as
kind and loving a mother as ever drew
breath. You wonder how 1 know all
this" the man continued, his eyes fixed
ON the waste of water before him, and
his steady hands guiding the great craft
with perfect ease and precision; "but
you carry your mother about in your
face, my lad, and your eyes are bad
give.away," he added with a smile.
"No" l am going to tell you story.
You are about sixteen, take it? Yes,
1 thought so. Well I was year older
when I concluded l knew more than my
mother and all the rest Of my relations,
and skipped, just as you have. You feel
that you have been the victim of injus-
tice, and all the right in the universe is
on your side That was my case, but l
was fool, and so are you. There is 10
necessity of entering into particulars;
but | was jealous Of my older brothers
and made myself believe that they were
in collusion to keep me out of money
that honestly belonged to me. I wanted
some of the property that was eventually
coming to me, to travel with men. Twas
wild to see the world, and the ridcule of
my brothers, and my mothers apparent
sympathy with them, made me desperate.
Well, one rumpus followed another, my
mother all the time trying 10 show me
how unjust and ridiculous my demands
were, until one day threw all affection
and decency to winds, and ran away.
"Now the point that particularly
want to make in this yarn, my lad, and
which would give great many dollars
to impress upon others, is, that any fellow
with grain of honest love in his heart
for his mother, is pretty sure to have
something to regret as long as he lives if
he hurts that mother by doing what you
aud have done. In moment of anger
We say to ourselves that no one cares for
US, and we care for nobody, and then
some trouble comes along, and we find
too late that we have only deceived our
selves. Now tramped up and dowa the
earth for six months without sending
line home or hearing word from home
but at last there came day when sick
ness from exposure and labor beyond my
years and my strength drove me back.
Not to stay or to make myself known to
any one, but 10 take-or, l would rather
say, steal-some money, or some valua'
bles which l could convert into money,
to bridge over the present emergency.
You had no idea that you were talking
with man that had been tempted like
that, eh? Well, said to myself that 1
simply was taking small share of what
was mine by right There was $4,000
held in trust for me, and it was great
pity if 1 could not have enough Of it to
purchase food and medicine. l will do
myself the credit to say chat there did
not appear to be any flaws in that argu-
ment then, and that in every other re-
spect 1 was an honest lad.
at required no skill to let myself into
my mothers house. To slip the latch
from one of the back -parlor windows was
the work of a moment. My mother
always kept her money in a desk in the
sitting room adjoining her bedroom. 1
had written note to leave there, telling
her my reasons for appropriating the
money. 1t makes my blood run cold as
my thought goes back to the horrors of
that night AS I softly raised the win.
dow and crept into the room, I was
struck, it seemed to me, with the chill of
death. had no fear of being caught
knew the ways of the house too we'll
for that-and l was never in my life |
very much afraid of anything or anybody. |
1t was chill that seemed to strike clear
through me, causing my teeth to chatter
and my heart to feel like lump of ice |
in my bosom. These were novel sensa.
tions, aud l tried to analyze them; but
it was of no use. found that literally |
did not dare to move hand or foot in this |
awful blackness. l knew where the |
matches were Formerly kept, and could |
have reached them by a couple of steps,
but how to take those steps WAS the ques-
ton. At last, by supreme effort of the
will, I groped my way to the mantel-
piece. There were two matches in the
box. struck one, and my hand shook
-. 4 -. ,,,k I