The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-12-24

- AID Mrs. Hapshott: You're hard
man, Hiram Hapshott. 1 never
7: !: f" !: :
l knew it until now-I named you for
/ a kindly husband ashore"
ashore and at sea two differ
ent Places" replied the captain OF
l.. the Uriah B. Caster. when I'm
ashore 1 take things easy; when
/ I'm at l act accordingly. Sail
ormen dogs and the more you
beat a dog the better 1t is. So with sailors
Grind em down, rule em with an iron hand, all
they'll not only do their work at the run but
they'll come crawling along and ask you for
more. That's my experience, and 30 years at sea,
and boy hasn't inclined me to dispute facts
they stand"
81 call it cruelty" said his wife without heat,
for she was a woman of sadness.
She knew the cause of that sadness as did her
husband, but it was never mentioned between
them by tacit agreement. Twenty-Five years of
married life had resulted in fine endurance of
marital affecton-the shippers long absences
from home might have accounted for that in
measure. The two good friends, and bck-
erng between them was a thing unknown. There
had been one child-very many years ago. but 1t
only raised its voice once In the great world
and before the mothers heart had quickened In
response the voice stilled forever. The Lord
had given He had also taken away, and Mrs.
Hapshott endeavored to say BLESSED be the name
of the Lord" with a good grace, though at times
the saying hard
To hide his emotion the captain threw gruff-
ness into his voice. I'm thinking 1 made mis-
take In bringing you to sea, lass" he said sit
isn't place for women least of all softhearted
women such as you are. But you begged and
prayed, and the owners seemed willing"
1T got to be lonely waiting there ashore HI
RAM" she said simply. st was at nights when
when the wind howled and the snow fell every
where-I saw other women happy and compan-
ionable, with their men about them and tit
was more than could stand. 1t would have been
easier if-if there'd-if Amos had lived" He IN
derstood, and his rough gnarled hand crept out
along the rail until it rested on hers with the
pressure of sympathy.
"Hiram, / want to ask you a favor,
tits Christmas day in two days time. Are
you going to give the Christmas-a proper
ChristmasH
Hapshott opened his mouth and laughed q
laugh that was pregnant with cynicism.
Give them a Christmas-a proper Christmasl
By which l suppose you mean holiday and
Christmas fare? Why. lass, they wouldn't know
what to do with 1t if they had it Besides we
aren't fitted for Christmas meals There's q
brace of chickens in the coop thatn make our
dinner that day-Tve been saving them up on
purpose; but beyond the pig for'ard-A
Give them proper Christmas Hiram" plead
ed Mrs. Hapshott earnestly. Its wonderful
DAY ashore, though sad one. That is, for me-"
she amended. 81 always get thinking of the Child
and of how happy His mother must have been,
though she lost Him, too; she lost Him.
She thought the wound was fairly healed, but
the hot tears gushed to her faded, pathetic eyes,
Hapshott himself turned away, for he knew the
ache at her heart; 1t companioned the void at his
can hands muster aft" cried Captain Hapshott
The men slouched along to the afterdeck and
grouped themselves under the poop break. The
moon sprang up from the backeniEg sea, and
shone redly upon them; full round ball. 1t
showed suen, respondent faces faces without
hope. Mrs. Hapshott drew to the pinrail
and looked down. her heart welled full of pity.
She had done something-she had given these
Overworked beasts of burden one days rest at
least.
TITS stand by till midnight tomorrow" said
the skipper in a voice that he fondly hoped he
trayed no shame. There's a holiday from
on. You'll take your wheels and ookouts as
usual; beyond that-nothing. UnderstandT