The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-14

ing of consumption. When the tempered
| days came-the days of balmysunshine
and cold evening winds-he came quicAly
| to the pass Of glittering visions, which.
for such as die of the lung trouble. come
at the end of life.
In the spring, when the Lucky Star,
three days out from Boot Bay. Pat into
Ragged Harbor to trade for the first
catch, old Skipper Luke Dart was aboard,
making his last voyage to the Shore; for
he was very old, and longed once more u
see the rocks of all that coast before he
made ready to die. When he came ashore,
Eleazar Manuel told him that Solomon
Stride lay dying at home; so the skipper
went to the cottage under the Man-o'-War
to say goodby to his old customer and
liriend-and there found him. pronped up
in bed, staring at the sea.
Skipper Luke" Solomon qluavcred, in
deep excitement, "be you Just come in
by?"
''1ss-but an hour gone
what be the big craft hangin' off
shore? Eh-what be she, b'y?''
There had been no craft in sight when
the Lucky Star beat in. Were she
fore an after, Solomon" said Luke, eva
slvely.
Sure, noa, b'y!" cried Solomon She
were a square-rigged craft, with all sail
set-a great, gran craft-a quare craft,
b'y-b'y-like she were made q glass,
canvas an hull an all; an she had shin
in ropes, an she were shinln' ali over.
Sure, they be a star t the howsprit, by,
an a star t the peak O ner mainmast-
seven stars they nc. in all Oh she were
''Hem-m!" said Luke, :stroking his
beard. ''She've not come in yet.
She were bound down north Z the
Labrador" Solomon went OH quickly. IAN
when she made the Grapplin' Hook
grounds she come about All headed for
the tickle, with her sails squared. Sure
she ran right over the Pancake, by, like,
he weren't there at all, an'-How's the
wind, b'y?"
Dead off shore from the tickle
Solomon started at Luke. ''Shc were
comm straight in agin the wind he
said, hoarsely. Maybe, skipper" he
went on, with little laugh, "shc do be
the ship for souls. They be many things
strong men knows nothin' about. What
think you?"
Ay-maybe; maybe she be-
"Maybe-maybe-sh do be invisible t
mortal eyes. Maybe, skipper, you hasn't
seed her; maybe tbs that my eyes do be
orened t such sights. Maybe she've turn
ed in-for me-"
The men turned their faces to the Win
dow again, and gazed long and ntently
at the sea, which storm cloud had turn
Ell black. Skipper Luke" said Solomon,
with smile as of one in an enviable
situation, It's fine to have Eothin'
again you on the books when you comes
t die
Sure. by said Luke, hasirating not
az all, though he knew to cent what VAS
on the books against SoloE:on's name,
tbs fine t be free o. debt
"Ah.'' said Solomon, the smile broaden
ing gloriously. g tbs fine. tells you.
Twas a gran cotch-last year. Ah," he
sighed, twas a gran cotch o. fish"
"lss-you be Tree O. debt now. by"
What be the balance t my credit,
skipper? Sure l forgot
"Hem-m," the skipper coughed, pausing
to form guess which might be within
Solomon's dream; then he ve1iured:
Fifty dollars?'
"Iss,'' said Solomon, fifty an moare,
skipper. Sure, you has forgot the eighty
cents"
"Fifty-eighty," said the skipper POSI-
lively. 'Tis that. l call I'm L mind
now. It's ffty-eighty-iss, sure. Did you
get a receipt for un. Solomon"
81 don't mind me now
''Um- m-well," said the stipoer, III
send un t the woman the Eisht--an order
on the Lucky STAR
'Fifty-eighty for the woman" said Solo,
mon. Twill kape her off the Comment
for three years, an she ne savia'. It's
fine-that!"
When the skipper had gone, Priscilla
crept in and sat at the head of the bed,
holding Solomo.'s hand. and they were
silent for long time, while the evening
approached.
81 be goan' t. die the night, dear" said
Solomon at last
''Iss, by" she answered. you be goain'
t. die?''
"'Tis not hard" said Solomon. "Sh-h-,"
he whispered, as though about to impart
a secret. 'The ship that's hangin' eff
shoare, watin' for me soul, do be fine
craft-with shinin' canvas an ropes.
Sh-h. She do be t'other side O. Mad Null
now--waitin'.
Priscilla trembled, for Solomon had
come to the time of visons-when the
words of the dying are the words of
prophets, and contain revelations. What
of the offerings of the seven thunders?
Sure the LARD he've blessed us. Pris-
ella said Solomon, rational again.
Goodness an marcy has followed us all
the days o. our lives. Our cup runneth
over"
Praise the Lard!' said Priscilla.
Sure Solomon went on, smiling like
little child, we've had but eleven fami-
lies, an we've had the meanns o. grace
pretty regular, which is what they hasn't
t. Round 'Arbor. We've had one little
baby for a little while. Iss-one de-oar
little baby, Priscilla; an there's them
that's had none o. their own at ALL Sure
we've had enough t eat when they wasn't
a famne-an' bakin' powder. an rasins,
an all them things, an sugar, an rale
good tea. An you had a merino DIRE IS.
an I had suit o. rale tweed--come
straight from England. All, the Lard
he've favored us above our deserts. Hav
been good t. us, Priscilla. But, oh, YOU
hasn't had the SEWN machane an you
hasn't had the peachStona + nJant m