The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-04-03
Jimmie S Easter
Prophecy
By F. A. mitchell

all the men there were sailors. blu
when steam finally took the romano
out Of sailing the Markham men turn
ed their attention to fishing. though II
these days the place Is given up to cit.
people on their summer outings.
In those dars when sailors loved t.
bound over the pillows under full sal
Ralph Hustled was one Of them. HI
loved the ocean. and he loved Marjori,
Dixon as well. He won her with thu
understanding that he would AS soor
as he had accumulated nest egg
cease making long voyages and 6nd
some employment on shore. But chill
dren came as fast as the nest egg
grew. and Hustled became captain
before he set any time for spending
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 bis
possessions to be able to get on even
IL 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 be 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 be
would soon return. would bring the
children many pretty things and would
then remain with them.
In December a vessel came In to
Markham and brought the supercargo
Of Captain Husteds vessel. He re-
ported that 1t had colided with an
other ship in a fog and gone to the
bottom. The boats were 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 II he got
safely to land to say goodby for him
10 his wife and children and tell them
how well he loved them.
This was great shock to Mrs.
Hustled and the older children. The
youngest-Jimmie, IA 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
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
OF that resurrection. He was
much moved by the recital. for he said |
that IL one could return to life on the |
earth why not one who had been lost |
on the ocean? Returning TO his moth
or. he told her the story his teacher
had given him. adding:
"Next Sunday is Easter. mamma. |
and ! shouldn't wonder II papa would |
come back TO us on that day."
The mother tried to explain to him /
hat II would be impossible for bis
papa 10 return on Easter Sunday or
II all. but his brain was too small to
grasp her meaning. He had got II In
bis head that Easter was the day on
which one who was dead would return
% life. and the idea became associated
with his father.
Don't cry. mamma be said. Next
Sunday is the day when dead persons
,ome back. and know that papa will
,ome 10 u.s."
The mother took her boy in her arms
md wished that she might have faith
Is a little child
on that Easter morning the birds
we're breaking out In the sunshine.
Jimmie was dressed In his best clothes
or his sunday school. but when IL was
lime to go he was missing. He had
,aught sight 81 a sail out on the hori-
on and was sure that bis papa was on
he vessel and whs coming home. No
ne knew where Jimmie had gone. so
hey went 90 Sunday school and to
hurch without him.
When they returned the boy was
til missing His older brother said
bat ship bad come in and quite like
= the child had gone TO the dock. AT
bat moment through a window all
aw o man coming MP from the shore
nth a boy In bis arms.
-Irs Jimmief- said one.
Then there was q shout and a rush
or the cOmers. for Captain Hustled. /,
no had come In on the ship. was car I
riug Jimmie. All chung 20 the father. q
orering him with kis~e. i
= told sou papa would come today"
~ Jimmie proudiy
Capfain Hustled had gore down with
= stip. had come NJ. chung 10 wreck
- and was pirked up By passing
hip
glmuiss farm In n. fathers rrturn