Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-05-19
THE END OF :.
=. THE EUROPA.
~e@o>o~oe@s-~e~e~'

THE NAHAMA river was full OF ship
ping from its mouth to far beyond
the swinging bridge. Barges and
schooneis. lumber hookers and whale
backs were crowded along the docks.
leaving but a narrow channel in the
middle. tug towing a brigantine,
with masts as bare as fiagpoles, came in
from The bay, crying: MAKE room
make room for me-" A freight steamer
followed, looking liked gian.at the heels
OF dwarf.
In a dingy slip between two coal
wharves an old steamer lay close By a
stone barge. Here the water was COW
cred by scum of sawdust and floating
debris. over which rats picked their
way. The steamer was a side-whee.er.
of an old-iime build, her once white
paint changed TO a muddy grey. her
paddle-boxes split and broken. On her
bow she bore the name OF Happy Day"
in new. black letters.
The barge lay beside her good while
before II ventured to speak. You are
stranger about here, aren't you? I'm
here every week or two. ard | never
saw you, though there's something
familiar about your build"
you've seen me before. many a
time" the steamer answered grimly.
my names been changed-I was the
Europa"
What" the barge exclaimed. mot
the famous Europa? The one they used
10 cal Pride of the Lnkesg"
"Yes; that one"
81 hadn't heard Of her-cr you.
mean" the barge said, "for such long
time that supposed you'd been sunk
or broken up for your old iron"
"I've been running between two bay
ports" the steamer said. "for several
years. Last month was bought by
company to be used as an excursion
boat between here and Miller's Point.
They changed my name to Happy
Day" 1t spoke in voice Of sullen de-
spair.
"Dear me-" said the coal barge. 'you
have come down. I've often seen you
going into a port as il you owned the
five lakes. Who would ever have
thought that | would be talking with
the Europa" The coal and stone barges
are the lowest caste on the lakes-even
the canalboats look down on them-and
they seldom dare speak to schooner or
steamer.
"Never having been high up.you can't
realize my feelings" the side-wheeler
said. "They say that when I was
launched was as beautiful as dream.
You should have seen my saloon-all
white and gold ard my furniture COW
cred in blue brocade-a grand piano
silver services at every table--a carpet
like a bed OF pink roses. Once a great
senator took a trip aboard me-that
was a time-such dinneTs-such scurfy-
ing waiter-sueh a popping Of corlsl
There was a band to meet us at every
port and fireworks every evening. was
decorated from my wheelhouse 10 my
stern and had whole row Of flags
strung up on my masts like q washing
hung out TO dry. All. those were days"
the old steamer sighed.
"Hullo-ihere comes the City Of
Chiwalkee." the barge cried. lis atfeu-
ton having wandered while its com
pan;on talked Of her past greatness.
1t had grown dark in the river ard the
red and green lights were iwirk'ir~
and winking at their reflections in the
water. but outside they could see the
stately bulk OF the Chiwalkee as she
SWING into the rivers mouth. She came
slowly and majestically upstream. her
mast lights burning and every window
on her main deck showing as yellow
square; her band was playing dance
music and her passengers hung over
the rail as she passed the slip where The
Europa lay.
That boat groaned and strained al her
mocrings in ahe swell tina; came from
the Others side. ITO think that was
once ike that and now lie here in the
dark Ike a thief" Il moaued. "Mauya
time I've Gene up this river il just that
way ard SWING up to the deck. while
everybody cheered me. Now I'm only
good enough to haul lot OF greasy
excur~ionisss to the point and back.
Faughl how hate EN-. always eating
ard drinking until they turn sickin the
smallest sea. I'm going to toss ard roll
fo-morTow 50 that they'll wish they had
never left their dooryar6s-~
..are yon going out tomorrow ?" ne
large asked. ~lf-s hound 10 be rourh.
- eky VAS covered in mackerel scales
tet3-e sundoW1.~