Thus, for one year, my mind was set at
ease yet it was already six months from the date of the letter, and
what another year would bring to pass, who could tell? Every one
away from home thinks that some great thing must have happened,
while to those at home there seems to be a continued monotony and lack
of incident.
As much as my feelings were taken up by my own intelligence from
home, I could not but be amused by a scene in the steerage. The
carpenter had been married just before leaving Boston, and during
the voyage had talked much about his wife, and had to bear and
forbear, as every man, known to be married, must, aboard ship; yet the
certainty of hearing from his wife by the first ship, seemed to keep
up his spirits. The California came, the packet was brought on
board; no one was in higher spirits than he; but when the letters came
forward, there was none for him. The captain looked again, but there
was no mistake. Poor "Chips," could eat no supper. He was completely
down in the mouth. "Sails" (the sailmaker) tried to comfort him, and
told him he was a bloody fool to give up his grub for any woman's
daughter, and reminded him that he had told him a dozen times that
he'd never see or hear from his wife again.
Pages:
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451