The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-04-27
A WIFE WORTH HAVING.

The old ship Vincent seemed to be one
OF those crafts that, according to the
theory of sailors, are doomed to i'll fate.
james Marshall. young man from New
port, X. l., had been her captain for five
years, and during that time she had been
twice knocked down." once had she
carried away her foremast, and at the
time OF which we write the old ship was
docked Mt Liverpool, undergoing repairs
from serious damage she had received
during heavy gale in st. Georges chan
mel. But in all these mishaps the owners
had been forced to acknowledge that the
young captain was entirely free from
blame, while on tho other hand he had
made better slime" in his trips than any
other master had been able to get out of
her.
The last damage which the Vincent
received proved to be the occasion of the
dawning of u new era in the life of Capt.
Marshall, for while waiting in Liverpool
for his ship to bcprepared he fell in with
q blooming lew England girl named
Emma Ramsay, the eldest daughter of
the agent who did the business for the
Vincents owners, and ere long they dis
covered that between them there existed
peculiar feeling of mutual love. Capt.
Marshall popped the delicate question,
Emma consulted with her papa, and al
length sho consented to become Mrs.
Marshall. 1t was a happy day for all
parties when the marriage took place,
for from the known characters of the
bridegroom and his beautiful bride all
felt sure that the match would prove one
of peace and content.
The Vincent was once more ready for
sea. Her cargo was all on board and
shipped for Boston, and Emma had re-
solved to accompany her husband to the
United States. Fora number of days the
weather was pleasant and the wind was
| fair, while Capt. Marshall felt himself
supremely happy in the delightful com.
pany of his wife. Tho old sailors shook
their heads rs they saw the gentle Emma
! pacing tho deck, and they very mysteri.
ously asserted that .'such pleasures
couldn't always last" and SO indeed il
; proved, for at the close of pleasant day,
when they were within three or four
days sail of their destined port, things
began to look anything but agreeable
Away to the southwark and eastward the
horizon began to assume q sort of inky
blackness, with here and there ghost
! like livid spot. while on all hands the
heavens had changed their ethereal blue
for cast of deeper and moro fearful i'm.
port.
Capt. Marshall felt as he had never felt
before on tho approach of storm. For
himself-for his ship-he had no thought
then. There was ono on board who en-.
crossed his every sympathy-for his
young wife he felt degree of intense
anxiety that was painful, but he forgot
not his duty. and with comparative calm.
ness he set about it, Tho courses were
hauled up and snugly furled, the lighter
sails taken in and the lofty yards and
topgallant masts sent on deck and the
three topsails close reefed.
Long before tho sun went down the
undulating ocean had assumed almost
the blackness of night, and not many
moments elapsed after the spars had
been secured upon the deck, Gro the
storm burst upon the ship. 1t was n
regular southeastern. and those who have
encountered one of these storms in the
gulf know something os their power.
Higher and higher rose the mighty tenn.
pest, until at length it was found neces.
sary to take in the topsails and trust to
the fore and main storinstaysails and o
balance reef spanker, and in this way
tho ship lay to till morning, the gale in.
creasing every hour.
Capt. Marshall trusted that when the
sun rose on the next day the storm would
ahate, but in this hc was disappointed
for part of the forenoon ho was actu.
ally obliged 10 scud before it.
1t was not until two staysails had been
torn from their bolt ropes that he fully
explained his anticipations and the ex.
tent of his fears to his wife. Emma,
said he, ~ wish had not taken you
with me-"
"Why SOP she asked, as she gazed VI
into her husbands face with apparent
astonishment.
"Why so? Do you not comprehend
our danger?"
"But the ship does not leak, does itT
returned Emma, with remarkable cool
ness.
mo"
"Thcn let us not fear the storm. ]
was born upon tho Atlantic. and fee
that can yet trust to my native ele
ment"
The captain was astonished at thii
trait in his wife's character, and claspins
her in his arms he felt his own sou
swelling with new life.
, Emma" he said, as he gazed mor'
ahectionately than ever into her face
my heaviest fears are passed. For yor
alono have feared the most; but nov
I can calmly tell ycu wherein lies oul
danger. This storm has driven us fal
out Of our course, and twice have W.
been Gcudding before it. fear that tin
. coast of Maine cannot be far to tho lee
ward, and of that coast know nothing
: save what ! may gather from my char
For us to lay to is next toimpossible. Th'
rising sea has rendered our staysails use
less, and have been obliged to set tn,
close reefed maintopsail, but she canno
hold it long"
my husband" returned Emma
"though you may know nothing of tn
r coast OF Maine, yet there are but few
spots along her rugged shores that ar
not as play grounds 10 me- My fathe
J. was for years q surveyor of her island
Il and harbors, and was his constant com
9 panion. To mo her cliffs and inlets pre-
e sent nothing that can alarm me-"
( Hardly had she ceased speaking whel
sharD crack. like tha rsport of nistol