St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-01-26
selected Story
4 NEW YEAR VISION.

'V of Penn.y wanna am ~ aV'eu
near ARMS quantities OF OIL and when
abu'oauioos became content with steel
The lau,e' corsets instead of whale
strips , he one of the greatest and
bon" at adventurous OF the industries
no SaS ." England received its death
Dow. story relates to the time when
ou' ~" 'sas hustle and business in an
ineie v" and historic seaport, where
ao'''" ',.y he seen rotting wharves
OoS .," M 6le.down warehouses; when
'"' 49,. sea-going vessels were IN the
"U hnr where one is now seen; when
)a' o ,a,nch whale ships went out on
ne s' lonp VOYAGES, aud came back
rI y,n with the wealth that made the
'd'lt snerity Of the por, when sailors
"o'p snldiers families made up a
'," ,e share of the population, and
40 a., Gid town really seemed to be-
u, u, loss 10 the land than to the sea.
II this has changed. and the in
~" we relate could hardly occur
' g.n now. But human lives and
-" "nan hopes and tears, happiness
'u d misery, are much the same
'" .oryu,bere. Well back from the
.' o,6or the wharves, and the busy
'a art of the town, in that outskirt Of
p" .ybich was built on the rising
+, ,onnd that overlooked the town,
,oy and ocean, Capt. Benson had
s,s cottage. He was at home very
,,tle of the time; but when he was
bsre he loved place like this, COM
'noodinp a wide view of the ocean
80, where he could sit at the win
iow nv the hour and with his good
has, discover the first indication of
,a..s approaching the coast. He
,os q veteran whacr, and had for
nIy iftv years pursued the business
N All seas. For the last two years
r. had comm ludrd the whale-ship
'h.yalicr: on his last voyage out
i, had said to his wife: 'lt'll BE- the
a.t Nancy. Let me 20 once more
+, the South Pacific and hil the old
Jim with oil, and then I'll stay here
md nqss the rest OF my days with
,onand Thankful. Jack Sturdy, my
nate wall then be maSter-he'S a
H., Glow. Thaukful, | must bring
am here 10 see you
Then the old captain looked from
h., vie t. his daughter, and added
h.droll remark, For my part, I'm
ginning TO think It's time was
,.t,cr acquainted with YOU two
lie went to sen again but henever
-erurned. \ year later the eyes OF
Inc vie and daughter were gladden.
i by the sight of the ChgyaIiet
ling into the bay But instead OF
i'm they eagerly watched for, the
mate came up, slowly and sorrow
uiy to tell them that the captain
7al He'd u fever in Callao, and was
buried there.
ohu Sturdy wa, now captain and
N.s busy enough picking his crew
NJhauIing the ship, and making all
,ody for his first voyage IN com
mnl vi her But IL was noticed
lint after everything had been done
-4r the wife aud daughter which the
Wug captain had requested, alter
tlr gud had somewhat subsidized
captain Sturdy still climbed TIA,
I..l 10 tic cottage. a. least thre,
I1S week.
Presently the gosSipS OK the neigh
9orhooj began to hint that Thank
u Benson could tell why he came SC
lten and not more than three
months had passed since he first
came, when Mrs. Benson sllcnccc
.bem all with the plain statement:
There needn't he any mystery
1oout it, Thankful and Captain
Sturdy are engaged, and will b(
married as soon AS proper respect
tor the memory of her father vii
How, It'll probably be at the enc
vi the Chevalier'S next voyage"
John Sturdy was an experienced
'ctnm OF thirtv-iive-hiteen year,
1.IT than Thankful-to whom his
p had been his world, and te
a1om IDEAS of love and marriag,
1'tI appeared idle myths. He met
thankful Benson for the first time
"aen she tainted in his arms upor
lN distressing errand TO the cottage
>he had grown upon his fancy with
very visit, and his heart was quick
y offered. With her it wa, a cast
oI hrst love; he was all that he,
youthful imagination required. Anc
When he took the girl by the hand
ana asked the widow for her consent
she smiled and sighed all at once.
Oh, it's we'll enough, Thankful,
'fe said, IF you must marry {
sailor; but | was in hopes yot
wouldn't let your affections go sea
airing"
IT'S the way of our family, yol
"'oW, mother, and the daughter
N'h''ed and looked up to her sailor
;rustfully.
Indeed it is; and sorry ant
'cart-breaking way it has been fol
I'e women, not only in our family
out in all the seamens families. Fol
'o years I've known this port, ant
o' all its sailors that have died ii
,lat time not one out of four ha'
a'ed IN his bed. But the Lord will
IT, ana may you be happy"
When | knew was to be maste
., the Chevalier," said John Sturdy
aid not think should quit her TO