El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-06-02
HorU Mason Came Home

~
n grew up on the little island Of
= Munk, gray. bare rock in the
sea just outside Bohuslen- He was
the youngest Of many children and
this was why he stayed at home while
all the others emigrated to America
One day he returned from his fish
ing, sullen and in bad humOr. One Of
the other fishermen who was no
friend Of his had accused him Of steal
ing and many other things Now ne
would not stay at home any longer
He wanted to be a sailor and he would
never return home any more NeVerI
It was a night in January ten years
later The tramp steamer Emily"
bound for StrOmStad from Cardiff wa
struggling up against the waves OF
I the North Sea A gale had been blow
ing for several days and the decks OF
the boat were awash most Of the time.
ArFld Manson came on deck towards
dawn to take his watch. He looked
. across the bare decks and slowly
walked towards the bridge. But he
dld not reach II, for wave knocked
MIN of his feet and threw him against
I hatchWays leaving him unconscious.
When ne came TO he found himself
IN a comfortable berth One Of his
comrades was sitting at his side. From
/ below came a sound as Of the deepest
I tones Of an organ and Arvid felt that
Z the snip was working its way through
: heavy ice
on board Emily bound from Car
diff to StrOmstad.' the other repiied
viii we soon be there27
Yes, but you must lie quiet As
soon as we get to the fishing town
We are going to send for a doctor"
And them
Then you viii have to go to the
hospital, until you are well AGAIN -
through the portfolio Arvid could
see they were passing a number ~
sLnall Islands covered with snow Sud
denly he raised his arms and stretched
{ them toward the portfolio.
4 can see the top of the island where
was porn he said, Il have not been
nome FOR ten years. but tonight am
going home and don't YOU talk to me
3 or hospital want TO 20 home
now whether I am going to live or
die"
Exhausted with this long speech he
! 1eu back on the pillow
Lie still now said the other ssYor
nave Fever and TIE sea is frozen 50
you cant get home tonight 1t is
much DelJer Tor you 70 60 to the hos
~ 30 s s.lo a 1aros you may 90 home
! ana stay as long as you want to. Now
1t is Impossible.
ATvid lay quiet a little while.
4 suppose shall have to walk
across the Ice he said, "if there is
no other way"
A couple of hours later the Emily,
was alongside the dock Of the fishing
town The doctor had baau sent -
He wondered If his mother knew he
was so near home now and then he
remembered that he was to be taken
10 the hospital. though Munk was 0nTv
mile away and the sea was frozen
over. He could walk the distance in
10 minutes ne felt sure and. once there
ne was sure 60 get we'll How happy
they would all be to see him home
again
He did not hesitate long. but got out
on ped put on some clothes and an
oFercoaL But when he had done this
ne had to sit down His chest was
hurting him so and he was wet with
cold perspiratfOu.
He had no time TO sit long. He
opened the door and went ashore On
the dock ne passed several old friends
ana also the captain and the doctor
out fortunately they did not recognize -
MIN IN the darkness and he went Down
on the snow covered ice.
He hurried onward. He must get
nome az any price AT last he slipped
and fell When he got I'D again he
knew no longer where he was He
1elI faint and dizzy He steered to-
wards the nearest house. which be-
longed to the old pilot on Korso. He
reached the island and craWled ashore
across the Ice covered rocks He was
delirious and kept on talking about
Munk. He believed he was there now.
but that he had taken another path
than the one he knew.
When he reached the house he went
straight into the living room and sat
down on the sofa
AT last I am home again" he said
70 the astOnished pilot and his wife
Re tried to sit up straight but could
not.
7 have a little pain in my chest" he
SAID, but I VIII soon get well here
And to tell the truth I have never been
quite happy since left home. Now
1 am happy again. Have you some
JhlnS not for me, mother Then come
with 1t OF make something. for an
cold If could only sleep a little I
would be all right again
lie leaned back and closed his eyes.
and Just then the captain and the doc
tor entered.
That man has run away from my
boat said the captain I'VE followed
MS track across the Ice"
now I know who he is" said the
pilot, but I did not think he would
eyer come home. again and least Of
The man is dead" the doctor said
ArYid Manson lies buried in the
little cemetery Of the fishing town in
the soil of his home country.
II Years Ago Today