The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-10-04
A MISERY'S RETRIBVTION.

The steamer Catherine, Captain Hap
worth. had been wrecked in mid ocean
And now the captain, worn and wal
and remorseful, as though he had no
done all that living man could do t,
save ship and those upon her, stood il
the companys Office and talked witt
Hiram Bassett, even more worn, more
grieved, and more remorseful than he
"They came on board, them sale
Hiram. You are sure-my wife and
child?"
'Thcir names were Mrs. EmeinC
Bassett and:Bella Bassett, said the cap.
tain. "and they were coming to New
York. One Donovan Craig brought
them to me and babe me watch and
guard them--two children almost they
were. and timid and afraid of the sea
and | did my best, | did my best
and God knows / wish this old hulk of
mine had gone down that night instead
of their young bodies. | did my best
I did my best'
"Tell me about it," said Hiram.
''The ship had sprung leak the day
before" said the captain, land in such
tempest we knew what was ahead of
us, we sailors: the passengers didn t.
Just before twelve bells struck | or
dered the boats to be launched and
them that could go in them to go-for
the rest we made RATS. | went to her
first your wife. She sat still and
quiet, holding her baby close. II told
her what was coming.
50 The first mate is aboard the life
boat, said l. The women and chill
dren will be safer there. Go you along
of him, lassie.
She caught hold of my arm-so.
You are going, too, says she.
g My duty is aboard until the last.
Then says she: IN stay until you 90,
I'm afraid to go without you. You'll
save me captain
1.-The others crowded in, and one
after the other the boats were filled.
The women We're all gone, and most
of the male passengers and still says
the captain when he goes
And when our raft was built | took
her in my arms, her and the baby and
we went on to it together. The storm
was worse, and the ship a-sinSing fast.
| don't know more a drifting through
wind and rain in darknessa drifting
away in such stormy daylight as
landsmen never see, and she growing
colder in my arms, and no sign of land,
and no ship. And then another gale
worse than the first, and our raft going
to pieces. just as, far away, we heard
the boom of signal guns, and up aloft
saw the lighthouse lamp.
"She laid over my arm like Il dead
thing perhaps she was dead-and a
hand that had been abroad Hutch jim
we called him-held the baby. Take |
care o. her, cappen, says he, IN save
the young 'un and then we parted, |
all of us.
II was tho only one they picked up.
| had bunch of women's clothes in !
my fist when they pryed it OPEN
"And Hutch Jim:" cried Hiram.
IF he's come ashore we'd have !
met, )" said the captain, He was a |
good seaman-no, there's no hope. !
Even his body wcrn't washed ashore. .
But Hiram Bassett turned on him
with eyes aglow and cried:
MY child lives! | telly you my chile
ives -
From that moment the bereaved man
lung to the belief. He was not rich.
out he pinched and saved in all ways
o get money TO prosecute his search
or the child. 1t had about its neck
rinket. little cross of gold, pendent
o coral necklace, by which it might
De known. He sent advertisements all
,ver the country. He paid detectives
o assist him.
Long after all sensible people looked
lpon his hope as a mere delusion he
,ept up the search-and indeed never
lutte abandoned it. When it began he
lad been plain, rather economical
radesman: when it ended he was ii
Wealthy Spectator and miser To
nable himself to search for his child