The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1888-01-19
rHAxKrULs vIGILs

down q tLcusspn ieSt tnt" 've "N"'
/ pesnsy lsania and extracted iAbalons guam
,i,ies Of oil, aud shen the ladies became
conten, with steel strips for eorscis 10
s.eai Of wbAlebone. then Que OF the great
an, aud most sdrenturous oi the indus
tr,es Of New Eosland received IT, death
biows
/ Our story relates 10 the time wben there
~as hustle aud business 10 aa sncieni aud
historic seaport where new may bs seen
ro,ting vhsryes aud tumble doan ware
houses; when 3 dozen seagolog vessels
we're 10 Tie harbof where one IL nov seen;
when the staunch whale ships went out
on their long voyages aud came back laden
~ith the wealth that made the prosperity
Of the port: when sailors and sailors fam
lilies made up large share OF the popula
tion. and the old town really seemed 70
belong less to the land than to the sea
All this has changed and the incidents
We relate could hardly occur there now.
But human lives and human hopes and
fears. happiness and misery are much the
same everywhere
Well back from the hsrbor, the ~harves
aod busy part Of the town, 10 that out
skirt OF il that was built on the rising
ground that overlooked the town. bay aud
ocean, Captain Benson had his cottage
He was at home very little Of the time,
but when be was be loved aplaee like
this, commanding vide view OF the
ocean rim, where be could sit by the hour
and with bis good glass discover the first
indication OF sails approaching the coast
He was veteran whaler and for fully
6fty years pursued the business on all
seas. For the last two years be had com
manded the whale ship "Chevslier." On
his last voyage out he had said to his wiie'
'Itll be the last, Nancy. Let me go once
more TO the South Pacific and fill the old
ship with oil, and then I'll stay here and
pass the rest Of my days with you and
Thankful. Jack Sturdy, my mate, is to
be the master; he's fne fellow, Thank
ful. must bring him here to see you.
Then the old captain looked from bis
wife to bis daughter and added the droi'
remark: "For my part, I'm beginning to
think It's time / was better acquainted
with you two"
He went to sea again; but he never re-
turned. A year later the eyes OF the vile
and daughter we're glsddened by the sight
OF the "Chevalier" sailing into the bay.
Bat instead Of him they eagerly watched
for, the mate came up slowly and sorrow
fully to tell them that the captain had
died OF fever In Callao, aud was buried
there.
John Sturdy was now captain and was
busy enough overhsuling the ship, pick
ing bis crew and making oil ready for his
frst voyage 10 command OF the ship. But
II was noticed that after everything had
been done for the wife aud daughter
which the dying captain had requested,
after their grief had somewhat subsidized,
Captain Sturdy still climbed the bill to
the cottage at least three times week
Presently the gossips of the neighbor-
hood began to hint that Thankful Benson
could tell why he came 80 often; and not
more than three months had passed since
he first came, when Mrs. Benson silenced
them all with the plain statement
There needn't be any mystery about
il; Thankful and Captain Sturdy are en-
gagged, and will be married rs soon as
proper respect for the memory OF her
father will allow. It'll probably be at the
end OF the 'Chevaliers' next voyage
John Sturdy was an experienced sea
man Of thirty five fifteen years older
than Tbankful--to whom his ship had
been bis world and to whom ideas Of love
and marriage had appeared idle myths.
He met Thankful Benson for the first
time when she tainted in bis arms upon |
his distressing errand to the cottage. She
had grown upon his fancy with every Wis
ii and bis heart was quickly offered. With
her it was q case OF first love; he was oil
that her girlsh Imagination required.
Aud when be took the girl by the hand
and asked the widow for her consent, she
smiled aud sighed oil at once.
"Oh, it's we'll enough, Thankful" she
said, "if you must marry asailor, but
was in hopes you wouldn't let your atfec-
tions 30 seafsring.
"It's the way Of our family, you know,
mother" and the daughter smiled and
looked up to her sailor trustfully.
"Indeed it is, and sorry aud heart
breaking way it has been for the women.
Not only iu our family, but in all the sea
mems families it is true. For thirty years
I've known this port, and OF all It's sailors
that have died 10 that time, not one out OF
four has died 10 his bed. But the Lord
Wills il and you may be happy
"When knew was TO be master Of the
'Chevaier, said John Sturdy. II did
not think should quit ber for ten years
at least; I'm sailor aud love the sea, with
all its perils, bat now, IL Thankful asks
me TO quit it for her. I'm ready"
Indeed, then do ask yoa.
"Bat only at the end OF this voyage,
Ny word has been given to the owners
and cannot break it. The time will be
short; let us live in hopes OF il.
"Ab, this obe last voyage" sighed Mrs
Benson, rueiully. PRAY God IT may
prove better one than that OF my poor.
dear Simeon"
The ..Chevalier" sailed 10 March. The
parting Was hard one -qaite as bard TO
the man ss 10 the maid. II need not be
told Why 4. was bard for bsr to give her