The morning call., 1891-08-30
AN. IDLE HOUR.
Scenes at Ferry Landing While Waiting for
a Boat
written for THE SUNDAY CALL

II was passed in a waiting-room.
wanted the 5:45 ferry to Sausaito. Indeed,
wanted it to snch an extent that reached
the waiting-room an hour before time.
There was only one person in sight-the
solemn-faced old man who sells fruit. lie
was seated on high stool behind his
fortress OF oranges, peaches, apricots, ETC.,
reading newspaper, Above, almost
touching the crown of his straw hat, were
several punches of not over-ripe bananas.
L entered boldly, depositing my bundles
0here were eight of them, l am sorry to
remember) in remote corner. Ten min
utes passed. A deathlike silence reigned
l grew Notwithstanding must be done.
L spisd "nickle-in-the-slot scales"-a
bright thought came to me. | would get
my exact weight while l was alone. 1t is
embarrassing for woman to mount scales
when there is any one looking at her. In
went mp nickle-I stood breathlessly. But
the silence was unbroken-the nickle-in-
the-slOt arrangement was out of order.
returned to my seat crestfallen. l looked
toward the fruit vender-but what SYM
pathy can woman expect from any man
when he IS reading newspaper.
FIVE minutes, then two Cinnamon came
ln-master and servant apparently. The
master was the first stout person of his race
tacles Both men carried fans which they
fourished theatrically as they talked TO
each other. had just begun to ponder the
.ChlneSe question when in came a little old
woman, woman She e.. looked anXiously around.
neryously shifting small satchel which
she had, from one hand to the other. She
had a thin face with wrinkles all over il,
her shoulders were round, she walked as If
she had borne many burdens. At first she
went as lar away from me as she could
then she came and sat down beside me-
Before many minutes knew all about her.
She had come from San Rafael to look for
her son, he had come to Frisco with some
friends, he would be alright when he was
once more at home. Her face grew bright
as she spoke, 1t had done her good to tell
even stranger of what she was hoping for
her dear one. He had promised to meet
her at the ferry, she had come early for
might love him again. She was very quiet
after she had said all of this she was the
picture Of patient watchfulness.
Next came short woman with six chill
dren. The youngest was just learning to
Walk-the eldest, girl of about 13, was
quite the most oyer-grown girl l have ever
seen. Such generous length of limbs-such
a wIstful, over-grown expression of coun-
tenance. She was source of much anxiety
to her mother, who constantly admonished
her to sit up straight or keep her feet
under her." sad-lOoking, under-grown
girl OF the same age apparently Cooked
alter the baby. This baby had the reddest
head, and was Of an investigating turn of
mind. Ihe young nurse looked rs If she
had never learned to smile. The other
children were four boys in various stages
of evolution. After much difficulty the
mother got them all seated. Then ono of
them sped the trult-stand, and all six i'm
medlately became very hungry. After some
resistance the mother yielded and the entire
family went over to the stand. A little
later they were all thirsty and went to look
for drinking water. Meanwhile a number
OF people had arrived. One of them, an old
gentleman. a minister of the gospel Judged
him to be- paced up and down the room, his
face buried in little black book. He
stumbled about obliVions Of his surround
lngs There was Salvation Army sister
win a bundle OF papers in her hands, she
looked as if she was continually on the
point Of distributing them.
Next to her sat motherly little Irish
woman who concerned herself every time
the red beaded baby tum6led, which was
several times minute. Further OH was
some schoolgirls giggling away at a great
rate. Two Sisters of Charity, with their
sweet, intelligent faces half hidden by
their modest bOnnets, contrastsd strangely
with some fiashy, highly painted sealskin-
sacqued women who entered at the same
time they did. She was so typical of a life
of charity and self-denial, the other repre-
senting the world, the flesh and the Devil"
A neatly dressed one-legged man went
Il
printed poems. stating the fact of his in
trinity, the cause, etc, and ended by de-
claring each could give what he pleased. l
didn't get TO see who pleased" or who
didn't, for at that moment the ticket-office
was opened the crowd increased. Every
one pushed every one else as if each feared
to face the ferry. The mother of the six
looked for all the world like distracted
hen-mother trying to defend brood. The
Salvation Army Sister and the Sisters
OF Charity passed along, the clerical
gentleman closed his book, but kept his
finger in it to mark the place. The waiting
mother was joined by dissipated-lookinS
young man whom she welcomed warmly.
She gave me a triumphant smile as slie
passed me which seemed to say, Its all
right now; lie is going home"
The one-legged man went round picking
up his ruthlessly scattered printed poems
and L gathered my eight parcels together
and Joined the crowd. My idle hour was at
an end. M.G.T