Year: 1878

BY GEO MANN1LLE FENN.


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


Poor fatherl He was always very fond
of me, and my earliest remembrances are
of setting on the tiller and having ride,
when he stood there of an evening steer
ing the barge, with the great cinnamon
red sail filed out by the wind, and the
water foaming and bubbling by us as we
ran onzup the river towards 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.


used to think our barge, which was a
very small billy-boy, If you know what
that is-if you don't, / must tell you
that it's barge built with rounded ends
and low bulwarks, meant for carrying
loads up rivers, but built also to be able
to go out to sea little while, running
along the coast-I used to think our
barge, I say, a very, very large ship, till
] grew old enough to compare it with
those that passed us going up or down
thesriver, and then it used to seem to me
that it would be wonderfully fine to go
on board one of those great ships and go
sailing away-far 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,
~ ever, hrsobs --5-f -
can't tell you how my child-life
slipped away, living with mother and
father on board that barge, In a little bit
of cabin with tiny stove; all know
is that / was very happy, and that I
never hardly went .ashope, and when I
did was frightened and wanted to get
back; and at last seemed to have grown
all at once into great girl, and father
and were alone. Z


Yes, quite alone, for mother had left
us very suddenly, and we had been
ashore at Sheerness, father and /, and
came back from the funeral, and were
sitting on the cabin-hatch, before could
believe it was any thing but terrible
dream, and that should not awake 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 l did when father wanted any
help.


Father was changed man after that,
and as q couple of years slipped by, the
work on the barge fell more and more
into my hands, and used to smile to
myself as I saw how big and red and
strong they had grown. For father grew
quiet and dull day by day, and used to
have 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.


Not that / wanted much help, for ours
was only a small barge, and once started,
with a fair wind, / could manage her
well enough; while when we had to tack
backwards and forwards across the river
mouth, could always lock the tiller by
the rope that hung on to the Delaying
pin, and gave it hitch on this side OF
that side, till / had taken a pull at the
sheet and brought the barge round on
the other tack.


I must have passed half my life in
those days leaning back against that
tiller, with its end carved to look like a
great acorn, and the name of the old
Prudence, cut deep in the side. There
I'd stand looking out ahead as we gIided
along over the smooth sea, passing q
buoy here and q light there, giving Other
barges and smacks a wide berth. and
listening to thestrange squealing noise OF
the gulls as they wheeled and lowered
and swept by me, 50 closely sometimes
that / could almost have touched them
= withmy hand.


Our barge was we'll known all aboui
the moutR of the river, and far up be.
yond the bridge; and somehow, 1 don't
know how it was, the men on the differ.
ent boats we passed had always kind
hail, or wave of the hand for US, as We
glided by, if we were too far off for the
friendly shout to reach us.


Sometimes I'd run the barge pretty
close to the great ships and steamers. in.
ward or outward bound, SO as to look Al
the ladies ! saw on board not that
cared to do so very often, because il
seemed to make me sad, for the faces ]
looked on seemed to be so different tf
mine that l felt as if l was another kind
of being, and it used to set me wonder
ing and make me think; and at suci
times I've leaned against the tiller. apc
dreamed and dreamed in a wakins
fashion of how would like to read anS
write and work, as / had seen ladies sit
ting and reading and working, on tn,
decks Of the big ships, under the avn
ing; and then 1 had to set nv dream
aside and have pull at the sheet, O
take reef in the sail, because the win,
freshened, and my dreams all spasse
away.


/ don't think poor father meant it un
kindly, but he seemed to grow more an,
more broken and helpless every day
and this frightened me, and made m
work to keep the barge clean and shir
shape, lest the owners should come O
board and see things slovenly, and fin
fault with father and dismiss him, an
that knew would break his heart. s
worked on, and in dull heavy wa
father used to thank me; and the tin
glided on, till one day, as we were lyin
off Southend, with the sea CLASSY an
not wind enough to fill the sails, / fe
my cheeks begin to burn as leant
back against the tiller, and would n
turn my head, because l could hear