Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-01-08
A WIFE WORTH HAVING.

The old ship Vincent seemed to be one
Of those craft that, according to the
theory of sailors, are doomed to i'll fate.
James Marshall, young man from
Newport, r. l., had been her captain
for five years, and during that time she
had been twice knocked down." once
had she carried away her foremost, and
at the time of which we write the old
ship was docked at Liverpool undergo
ing repairs from a serious damage she
had received during a heavy gale in st.
Georges channel, but in all these mis-
haps the owners had been forced to ac-
knowledge that the young captain was
entirely free from blame, while, on the
other hand, he had made better s'time'
in his trips than any other master had
ever been able to get out of her
The last damage which the Vincent
received proved to be the occasion of the
dawning of anew era in the life of Capt.
Marshall, for while waiting in Liverpool
for his ship to be repaired he fell in with
a blooming New England girl named
Emma Ramsey, the eldest daughter of
the agent who did the business for the
Vincent's owners, and ere long they dis
covered that between them there existed
a peculiar feeling of mutual love- Capt.
Marshall popped the delicate question,
Emma consulted with her papa, and at
length she consented to become Mrs.
Marshall. If was 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 For a number of days
the weather was pleasant. and the wind
was fair, while Capt. Marshall felt him.
self supremely happy in the delightful
company of his wife. The old sailors
shock their heads as they saw the gentle
Emma pacing the deck, and they very
1nysteriously asserted that ''such pleas
ures couldn't always last" and so in
deed, it proved; for at the close of a
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 south'rd and
east'rd the horizon began to assume a
sort of inky blackness, with here and
there ghostlike, ivid spot, while on all
hands the heavens had changed their
ethereal blue for cast of deeper and
more fearful import.
Capt. Marshall felt as he had never
felt before on the approach of a storm.
For himself, for his ship, he had no
thought then. There was one on board
who engrossed his every sympathy-for
his young wife he felt degree of in
tense anxiety that was painful; but he
forgot not his duty, and with compare
tive calmness he set about it. The
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 the 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 ere the
storm burst upon the ship. 1t was a
regular southeaster, and those who have
encountered one of these storms in the
gulf know something of 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 storm staysails and a
balance reefed spanker. In this way the
ship lay to till morning, the gale increas-
ing every hour.
Capt. Marshall trusted that when the
sun rose on the next day the storm
would abate, but in this he was disap-
pointed, for part of the forenoon he
was actually obliged to 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, 81 wish I had not
brought you with me-"
"Why so?" she asked, as she gazed up
into her husbands face with apparent
astonishment.
"Why SO? Do you not comprehend
our DANGER
'fBut the ship does not leak, does itg'
returned Emma with remarkable cool
ness.
"No."
Then let us not fear the storm. Twas
born upon the Atlantic, and I feel that ]
can yet trust to my native element"
The captain was astonished at this
trait in his wife's character, and clasp
ing her in his arms he felt his own soul
swelling with new life.
Emma" he said, as he gazed more
affectionately than ever into her face,
tiny heaviest fears are passed. For you
alone have feared the most; now can
calmly tell you wherein lies our danger.
This storm has driven us far out Of our
course, and twice have we been scudding
before it. fear that the coast of Maine
cannot be far to the leeward, and of that
coast know nothing save what 1 may
gather from my chart. For us to lay to
is next to impossible. The rising sea
has rendered our stay sails useless, and
have been obliged to set the close reefed
maintopsail, but she cannot hold il
long"
my husband" returned Emma
Though you may know nothing of the
coast of Maine, yet there are but few
spots along her rugged shores that arr
not as Fairgrounds to me. Ny fathel
was for years surveyor of her island
and harbors, and was his constant com
panion. To me her cliffs and inlets pre-
sent nothing that can alarm me"
Hardly had she ceased speaking whei
sharp crack like the report of pisto
sounded from aloft, followed by tear
ing and crashing that started the cap
tain to his feet.
ssThe main topsail has gonel' he ex
claimed, and Immediately he spranI
upon the deck.
| Again the ship was put before tn
gale, and for several moments Capt
Marshall was undecided what to dc
While in this ouandary he felt a han