The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1904-03-11
His Last Voyage
IOriginal.l

would break. Have not told you that
this is to be my last voyageT
Mary Perkins had presentiment
that her husband would never complete
this last voyage. Nevertheless, after
his departure, she busted herself as
usual looking forward to her first letter
10 be sent from the first port he was to
touch. This should reach her in about
twenty days. She was a favorite In
the town where she lived, and her
neighbors, knowing Of her forebodings.
did what they could to encourage her.
| How nice 1t will he. Mrs. Perkins.
| when John comes home to stay. ! wish
my old man had the same prospect be-
| fore him. but | fear he II be sailcr
| all his days, God help him" Cheer
! up, Mrs. Perkins. Remember this Ia
your husbands last voyage" In this
vein they talked till twenty days had
passed Then, when there was no let
ter. they said: "Wait. You emit expect
him to write the minute lie reaches
port, and il he does there is not likely
10 I've ship coming back the same day
TO bring the letter." Ono, two, three
days passed. and they were obliged to
change their differences. They say the
winds have been dead ahead for ships
coming from that quarter. The mail
has been delayed
Months PASSED. John Perkins ship,
the AlbatrOss. had not reached her first
port, nor second. nor her third. The
kind hearted people invented all sorts
OF stories for the captains wife. hut in
their hearts they believed his ship had
gone to the bottom, and all on board
had been lost.
Il knew it," said the agoniZcd wom-
All. Something within told me that
there would be misfortune on this vOy-
age. The ship is gone down. My man
will never come to me again." And
she wept in the midst Of her children,
who strove to keep back her tears by
winding their arms about her and ca
rcssing her. "What pity" the neigh
bors all said to each other. ito think
that he should have gone down on the
last voyage
When four months had passed and
not word was reported of the Alba
tross, Mary Perkins neighbors ceased
to console her. There was no hope,
they said. and 1t would be better for
her to give up John Perkins for lost
than to be continually looking for him
to return who would never return, to
be stirining her eyes over the water
for days. then succumbing to parox-
ysms Of grief: then watching again
and breaking down again. IL she did
not deslst her mind would go. And,
oh. how her children watched and
waited and told their mother that they
had dreamed father had come back,
and they had feeling. that the
dream would come true.
At last Nfary's friends began to think
1t would be no gain to her to have her
husband return. They feared that the
intensity of relief might either kin her
or dethronc mind SO nearly worn out.
Had it not been that they felt sure he
would never come they would have
kept watch for him to prevent her
meeting him suddenly unawares Mean
while her little ones. wearictl of keep
ing her up with prophecies, mutcly saw
her slowly fading away.
One morning little Billy. tho youn-
gcst boy, aged four, threw his arms
around his mother and said:
"Oh. nanny. | dreamed last night
that the Albatross came sailing into
thc harbor and papa stood on the
deck giving the orders, and they lego
the anchor. and papa came ashore and
kissed us ALL
Such words had grown to have con.
trary effect from encouragement. In.
decd. they only induced greater de.
sponiency. Mary embraced the boy
in a paroXysm Of tears, and his elder
sister forbade him to tell his mother
his dreams again.
The spring came. the trees put forth
their leaves and the children begged
their mother to take them to spend the
day on their grandfather's farm, Il few
miles inland. They drove there in 4
four seated wagon and after visiting
with the cows, the horses, tho chick,
ems. which all children love, in tho
evening they started back. 1t was
dusk before they reached the viIlage
and in every house slone 4 light.
oh mamma" said little BILLY, '.see
there's Il light in our house. Maybe
papa has come while we've beer
away
Tears came to the mothers eyes, and
the eldest girl placed her hand over
the boys mouth.
But who had lighted their lamp? Nc
one lad been instructed to do so
Doubtless some neighbor had kindi,
interfercd TO prevent their coming te
their home 10 find it dark When the,
drove up TO the door figure reached
out pair of strong arms to help them
The light shining through the oper
door was on his back. and his face wa.
left in shadow. Nevertheless Mary
Perkins uttered the cry:
john
Her husband bore her unconsciou.
into the house, clogged by his children
clinging to him and cndeayorins t,
climb up to kiss him. He laid his wifi,
tendcrly on Il couch. and i'm a moment