Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1915-04-08
Jimmie S Easter
rophecy
By F. A. mitchell

Markham is Il fishing town on the
New England coast. In the olden time
all the men there were sailors. but
when steam finally took the romance
out of sailing the Markham men turn
ed their attention to fishing. though In
these days the place is given up to city
people on their summer Outings.
in those days when sailors loved to
bound over the pillows under full sail
loved the ocean. and he loved Marjorie
Dixon us We'll. He won her with the
understanding that he would us soon
as he had accumulated nest egg
cease making long voyages and find
some employment Oh shore. But chill
drea came us fest rs the nest egg
grew and liuSted became IL captain
before he set any time for SPEEDING
the rest of his life with his family.
Then he promised them that after one
more voyage he would grant what they
all so much desired
One October day he started on what
he intended should be his last voyage.
He had paid for his home and had
some money in the bank. On this last
trip he expected to add enough to his
possessions to be able to get on even
If he had no vocation. but he was still
young man and counted on making
an additional income that would en-
able him to educate his children and
start them in life. But he started on
this last voyage with misgivings His
wife suggested that he refrain from
tempting fate again on the ocean. and
his children clamored for papa ito
stay at home and not go away SO long
any more" He tore himself away
from them, assuring them that he
would soon return, would bring the
children many pretty things and would
then remain with them.
In December vessel came in to
Markham and brought the supercargo
Of Captain Husted's vessel. He re-
ported that 1t had collided with an
other ship in fog and gone to the
bottom. The boats We're lowered, and
some Of the crew left the vessel in
them. The supercargo had begged the
captain to leave in the same boat with
him, but he chung to the tradition that
master must go down with his ship.
He charged the supercargo If he got
safely to land to say gcodby for him
to his wife and children and tell them
how we'll he loved them.
| This was great shock to Mrs.
Hustled and the older children. The
youngest-Jimmie, boy of six-knew
nothing of death, and he could not
understand what had happened to his
father They could only tell him that
he would never see papa any more,
and even this he could hardly grasp
with his undeveloped mind.
One morning at Sunday school his
teacher read to him accounts of those
raisings from the dead mentioned in
the Bible. Jimmie went home to his
mother and, telling her what he had
heard. asked why papa could not also
be brought back to them from the
dead
His mother turned away from him
to hide her tears and without reply.
When Easter drew near Jimmie was
told the story of the resurrection of
/ Christ; that Easter was celebrated in
memory Of that resurrection. He was
much moved by the recital, for he said
that If one could return to life on the
earth why not one who had been lost
on the ocean? Returning to his moth
er, he told her the story his teacher
had given him. adding:
Next Sunday is Easter, mamma
and l shouldn't wonder if papa would
come back to us on that day"
The mother tried to explain to him
that it would he impossible for his
papa to return on Easter Sunday or
at all. but his brain was too small to
grasp her meaning. He had got it in
his head that Easter was the day on
which one who was dead would return
to life, and the idea became associated
with his father.
Don't cry. mamma" he said. Next
Sunday is the day when dead persons
come back. and know that papa will