Year: 1879

That's my name, for father said there
wasn't better barge on the river than
the Prudence, and if l was called the
same he was sure there would never be
better girl.


Poor fatherl He was always very fond
OF me, and my earliest remembrances are
of sitting on the tiller and having ride,
when lie stood there Of an evening steer
ing the barge, with the great cinnamon
red sail filled out by the wind, aud the
water foaming and bubbling by us Ga we
ran up the river toward the big city.
where the ships lay close together in
dock and against the wharves, emptying
their loads or waiting for others before
going away across the seas.


l used to think our barge, which was
very small ly.boy, if you know
what that is--if you don't I must tell
you that it's barge built with rounded
ends and low bulwarks, meant for car
rying loads up rivers, but built also to
be able to go out TO sea q little while,
running along the ooast--I used to think
our barge, l say, a very, very large ship,
till l grew old enough to compare it with
those that passed us going up or down
the river, and then it used TO seem to me
that it would be wonderfully fine to 20
on board one of those great chips and
go sailing away-iar away--across the
ocean, instead OF just coasting along to
Sheerness and up the Medway, as we
used to 60 year after year, loaded deep
down in the water with pottery or hops,
or even bricks.


can't tell you how my child-life slip.
ped away, living with mother and father
on board that barge, in little bit of a
cabin with tiny stove; all / know is that
/ was very happy, and that l never hard
ly went ashore, and when / did I was
frightened and wanted to get back, and
at last l seemed to have grown all at
once into great girl, and father and |
were alone.


Yes, quite alone, for mother had left
us very suddenly, aud VIC had been
ashore at Sheerness, father and I, aud
came back from the funeral and we're
sitting oa the cabin hatch, before ] could
believe it was anything but terrible
dream, and that l should not wake and
find that she was alive once more, as
blithe and CHEEKY as ever, ready to take
the tiller or pull at rope, the same as
did when father wanted any help.


Father was q changed man after that,
and as a couple Of years slipped by the
work on tho barge fell more aud more
into my hands, aud used to smilo to
myself as | saw how big and red and
strong they had grown, For father grew
quiet and dull day by day, and used tc
have a stone bottle filled whenever he
went ashore, and then sit with it in the
cabin all alone till / called him to come
and help with the sail.


Our barge was we'll known MI about
the mouth Of the river and far up beyond
the bridge; and somehow, ! don't know
how il was, the men on the dilferen
boats wo passed had always a kind h al
- wave OF the hand for us, as w
gljdod by, il we were too far off for tht
friendly shout to reach us.


Sometimes I'd run the barge prett!
close to the great ships and steamers
inward or outward bound, 50 as to lool
at the ladies' cav on board; not that
cared TO doso very often, because il seem
ed to make me sad; for the faces / locke,
on seemed to be 80 different to mine tina
felt as il was another kind Of being