The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-06-27
THEY THAI GO DOWN TO THE
SEA

The Sarah Ellen, the fastest vessel IN
the Gloucester feet, was homewsrd bound
with one Of the best catches Of the sea
SON. 4 few more hours would bring her
in sight Of Eastern Point, tnat beacon
eagerly watched for by the returning fish
erman
The second dog watch had turned out
and the first batch OF men, dripping
with rain and brine. dropped noisily into
the fo'e'sle and proceeded to mug up.
This duty accomplished. pipes were
drawn out and soon a cloud OF blue smoke
dimmed the fo'c'sle lamp as a fog OBJ
scures the face OF the sun a pipe al
ways lOOsens Jack TaTs tongue. and
presently there were calls for a yarn.
Give US yarn, somebody"
Sandy McGllvrsyt' beloved a voice
from out Of the thickest OF the smoke.
give Us one Of your Scotch yarns"
Eh, mon" was the answer IN that
deliberate. drawing tone. which is a
chara cteristic OF the son OF Caledonia,
Il Gamma think of ony Of III aud tales
tonight. Ma head is cen filled 10 over
flowing wi thochts @ tn morn Boys.
/ N ava for Scotland as soon as e'er
We get our shares tomorrow morn"
What Coin home, Sandy2'' was the
general cry. These boys had been ship
mates for years, and the Isconic Scotch
man was q great favorite with them.
Coin tae see tn auld folks" answer
ed Sandy ioyfully, his canniuess forgot
ten for the moment I'm wearyin' for
G sight OF ma mither and fayther, and
every letter that comes frae them says:
Sandy, why dinna ye come hameg I've
always said to maseI'; Yes. when we've
made a little mair yen gae hame and
settle doun and mikkle yere mithers
heart glad wi a sight O. ye-' And now,
boys. We laid by enough 10 gi tn aud
folks a hame a III rest o. their days, and
ma fayther Wilma hae tae gae UP on tn
mountains more 10 watch III sheep in
tn rain and snaw. He can sit by tn ingle
and tax his ease. and ma mithers heart
viii be light as air tae hae US bath at
hame wi her.
And I'm longing, too, for a sight o.
tn little burnie near ma fayther's cot.
I used to play on it's banks when was
a wee BARN and watch tn brown water
come whirIin down frae tn hills, over
tn rocks and intae big pools where only
tn leap o. a salmon now and then Wad
break tn darkness.
Il want TO gae up on tn hills and feel
tn wind and rain in ma face and lie doun
in tn warm heather and look up at tn
blue sky as I've done so many times when
1 was lad out nindin tn sheep.
Sandy paused, overcome by a sense of
his own garrulty. The clouds Of smoke
had thinned by this time as one neglecC-
ed pipe after another went out, unheed-
ed in its owners absorbing interest in
Sandys words Many a mans thoughts
went back to his own boyhood's home.
Nova Scotia" Johnny remembered
green fields and the mist-crowned brow
Of Blomidon Here g Norwegian sat
thinking OF clear fjords and the unearth-
" beauty Of a midnight san. Even the
despised "dago" comprehended Sandy's
rude Highland speech. and few on the
wings Of memory to sunny hower-embow-
cred Fayal
80 boys, as I'm gaein' sac soon I'll
cen say good-by to ye now" and Sandy
gravely offered his hand to each man in
turn, not forgetting Tony, whose warm
heart overhowed with good wishes in
the somt Portuguese tongue.
I've something else tae say, too" re
sumed Sandy, his Scotch thrift getting
the better of his Scotch reticence. IN
hae nae use for ma sea clothes mair
syne I'll be only q Highland cotter a
tn rest o. ma days, so IL ye'd like tae
buy ony O. ma things now'1 be good
time"
The contents of his bag and bunk were
spread out for inspection and. amid iok-
ing and laughter, sold to the highest bid
der
"That'n add to ma nest egg" said
Sandy, naively; "and now I'll cen gse on
deck and see II Eastern Points in sight
Only few mair hours. boys, and I'm OFF
for hame."
With a smile on his rugged face. Sandy
started for the hatch, coming back to
shake hands all around once more.
ITS hard tae say good-by, boys" said
he. cheerfully; but tn thocht o. smoke
had thinned by this time as one sad"
There was a silence as Sandy clattered
on deck.
well" roared Tom Dunn. the big
voiced man, whose demand had started
Sandys story. "Sandys IN luck, boys
1 wish I was goin home to the old folks
with bit OF money II my pockets. I'd
go tomorrow If I'd only the plunkers.
Hark, boys. what's that2"
Man overbOardI' came the hoarse cry
from overhead. With one leap all hands
gained the deck, only to stand staring
into such impenetrabIe darkness that one
face could not be distinguished from an
other
"Who IS It? Where IS he?" ran the
murmur from mouth 70 mouth
ITS Sandy McGilvray." ansered the
boatswain, with catch IN his rough
voice We've sent out a boat but
there's no hope for him; he can't swim"
The first dog watch dropped noiselessIy
into the fo'c's'le.
Boys" said Tom Dunn. his loud voice
softened by the tears In his honest eyes
IS he looked ct the clothing strewing the
hunks. "it was good-by for good.
Sandy's gone 'hame.