Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., December 17, 1920, Image 2

About Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner. (Elizabeth, Colo.) 1920-1921

Image provided by: History Colorado

                
“Unto Us a Child Is Given“
By FRANK H. SHAW.
All) Mrs. Hapshott: "You’re n hard
man, Ulrum Hapshott. I never
knew It until uow-r-1 named you for
a kindly husband ashore.”
"Ashore and at sea are two differ
ent pluces,” replied the captain of
the Uriah B. Gaster. "When I’m
ashore I take things easy; when
I’m at sea I act accordingly. Sall
ormen are dogs, and the more you
a
teat a dog the better it Is. So with sailors.
Grind ’em down, rule 'em with an Iron hand, and
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 80 years at sen,
man and boy, hasn't Inclined me to dispute facts
as they stand.*'
* M I call It cruelty,” said his wife without heat,
far she was a woman of sadness.
‘ Bhe knew the cause of that sadness, as did her
but It was never mentioned between
fhem by a tacit agreement. Twenty-five years of
married life had resulted In n flno endurance of
Marital affection —the skipper’s long absences
from home might have accounted for that in some
measure. The two were good friends, and blck
erlng between them was a thing unknown. There
had been one child—very many years ago, but It
only raised Its voice once In the great world
•nd before the mother's henrt had quickened in
response the voice was 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 was hard.
To hide his emotion the captain threw gruff
neaa into his voice. "I'm thinking I made a mis
take in bringing you to sen, luss," he said. *Tt
lan’t a place for women, least of all soft-hearted
tromen such as you are. But you begged and
prayed, and the owners seemed willing— ’’
"It got to be lonely waiting there ashore, Hl
tam.” she said simply. "It was at nights, when—
when the wind howled and the snow fell every
where—l saw other women happy and compan
ionable, with their men about them; and it—it
was more than 1 could stand. It would hove been
•aaler if—if there'd —If Amos had lived.” He un
fiarstood, and his rough gnarled hand crept out
•long the rnll until It rested on hers with the
pressure of sympathy.
• • •
"Hiram, I want to ask you a favor.
•It’s Christmas day In two days’ time. Are
ysu going to give the men a Christmas—a proper
Christmas?”
Hapshott opened his mouth and laughed,- a
laugh that was pregnant with cynicism.
“Give them a Christmas—a proper Christmas I
By which I suppose you mean u holiday and
Christmas fare? Why, lass, they wouldn’t know
what to do with it if they had it. Besides, we
•ren't fitted for Christmas meals. There’s a
brace of chickens in the coop that’ll make our
dinner that day—l’ve been saving them up on
purpose; but beyond the pig for'ard—”
"Give them a proper Christmas, Hiram.” plead
ed Mrs. Hupshott earnestly. "It’s a wonderful
day ashore, though n sad one. That is, for me,”
she amended. "I always get thinking of the Child
and of how happy Ills 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 nt her heart; it companioned the void at his
OW’D.
• • •
"Ail hands muster aft," cried Captain Hapshott.
The men slouched along to the afterdeck and
grouped themselves under the poop break. The
moon sprnng up from the blackening sea, and
shone redly upon them; a full round ball. It
allowed sullen, despondent faces, faces without a
hope. Mrs. Hapshott drew near to the pinrnll
and looked down, her henrt welled full of pity.
Bhe had done something—she had given these
overworked beasts of burden one day’s rest at
least.
•*lt*a stand by till midnight tomorrow,” said
the skipper In a voice that he fondly hoped be
trayed no shame. "There's a holiday from now
on. You’ll take your wheels and lookouts as
psual; beyond that —nothing. Understand?”
W
A faint whisper seemed to pass through the
ranks. One or two of the faces lit up suddenly,
sloughed off their assumed age, und became young
and comely once more. It was Christmas eve,
and thoughts flew with lightning speed to long
forgotten homes, where Christmas had been a
festival of delight In those bygone days before
the hungry sea claimed them as Its own.
"You’ve got to thank my wife for that,” went
on Hapshott. "She’s asked me to give you a
Christmas—a Christmas you’ll have. Make the
most of It. * There’ll be a fresh mess served for
dinner tomorrow, and there’ll be grog for all
hands nt eight bells. That’s all—dismiss.”
The men broke up, walked forward slowly,
then, as If moved by a common Impulse, they
came back.
“Ve vlsli der lady for to dank,” grunted a Ger
man sallmaker, Angering his cap. "Hey, boys,
vat you says? Alnd’t It right?”
“Yes—J«—dot’s It, Hans,’’ came tho replies.
Mrs. Hapshott was aware of a strange compres
sion In her throat; her eyes smarted. A stiffen
ing of the crew was followed by something faint
ly resembling a cheer; then the men went forward
•louchlngly. Their tongues were busy and they
wondered.
• • •
Still more did they wonder Christmas day
when, two bells having sounded nft, Mrs. Hnp
ahott appeared among them, her arms piled high
with gifts. From the commencement of the voy
ago her nimble hands had been busy with pins
and wool, and now there was something for
them all, warm enps that completely covered a
man's head and held him Immune from frostbite
In the most rigorous weather; mufflers, Jerseys;
not one was forgotten. Even the greasy cook, a
man of foul speech and unclean habits, found
himself the possessor of a sleeved waistcoat knit
ted out of the fleeciest wool.
"I hope you’ll have a merry Christmas, men,"
said Mrs. Hapshott, and they cheered her—they
wero gaining practice—until the idle yards
seemed to swing In answer.
Dinner time came round, and steaming kits
were passed Into the forecastle, kits that con
tained savory Joints from the porker killed over
night. The men ate and were thankful, but when
a monster plum pudding appeared they 6tared
with awe-struck eyes.
"Don’t thank me, thnnk the m!s3us,” said the
cook, who brought the duff In person. “She made
It herself—last night; mixed the whole bloomin'
thing with her own hands. Ain’t It a 'oner?*'
It was—a very giant among puddings, and as
toothsome as it was vast. Came, in the midst of
the revels, a call aft, where the stewnrd stood at
the capstan with a dipper In his hand. Each
man. presenting a pannikin, received a tot of
sterling grog, for Captain Hapshott had resolved
to do the thing well now he was embarked upon
It; no half-water raeusures for him. Each man,
receiving his allowance, raised his drinking ves
sel In the direction of Mrs. Hapshott, who was
watching them from above, and drank a silent
toast to her and to the memory of Christmases
past.
So the wonderful day passed away and once
aguln night drooped down upon the sea.
• • •
Mrs. Hapshott rose, slipped on her clothing and
went swiftly out on deck.
"Hiram —what was that?” Tho skipper had
awakened and, missing her, had made for the
deck. The faint streaks in the sky showed him a
strange flgure, clod In a gaudy sleeping suit such
as sailors love. Mrs. Hapshott clutched at bis
arm and held tightly.
"What's what?” He had been thinking what a
fool he would seem If the story were ever told
of the duy now past, and his manner was ungra
cious.
"That 1” Her finger was outstretched and quiv
ering, but all beyond was still dark.
"A sea bird —your nerves are on edge." he told
her.
Mrs. Hapshott drew herself to the taffrall and
leaned out, listening. The wind was wailing
again; the ship hod almost lost her way; sho was
only crawling through the water to the accom
paniment of flapping canvas aloft.
"Hiram, it wasn't a sea bird I” The woman’s
voice was full of something to which her husband
could put no name.
"It must have been —what else could It be,
lass?”
"To me it sounded like —but, no, that's foolish
ness. My mind is playing roe tricks, husband.”
But she did not leave the rail for fully twenty
minutes, and then It was to step down the ladder
ELBERT COUNTY TRIBUNE: ELBERT COUNTY BANNER
and to walk briskly along the deck until six
reached the forecastle. She could not have ex >
plained to herself what impulse took her there;
it was something outside herself, some strange
power working detached, yet compelling her to
obey its behests.
She crouched up In the bows, watching the
sparkle of water spring gurgling from the fore
foot, watching thd frothing bubbles stream away
on either side the black bluff bow.
Vainly she shook herself and assured her own
heart of Its foolishness. Vainly she tried to drag
herself away from her self-appointed post. The
•ir was chill with the beginnings of the dawn
wind; she shivered repeatedly and remained.
• • •
Mrs. Hapshott lifted her eyes and searched the
sea’s far rim. Her gaze returned, only to be
lifted again; suddenly she stiffened where she
stood, and her ears strained.
Bhe sprang upon the rail and stood there erect,
her eyes peering Intently. Was It fancy or could
she actually see something?
There-, in the middle distance—a veritable
speck in the waste of waters—was It a shadow,
was It the fin of a lurking shark, or was It—was
it—? Two seconds she looked, then she ran aft,
the men watching her In wonder.
"Hlrnm—out there —what is it, what is It?
Hiram. I heard a cry I"
She was clutching nt him hysterically and
pointing with trembling finger. To humor her he
fetched his binoculars and focussed them. Mad
deningly slow, she thought him. He searched
Idly for a moment, then his flgure became rigid.
'Hack the malnyard I" he roared In mighty
voice. From the forepeak, whither he had de
scended, the mate enmo aft at a run; the men
following fast.
"There’s a raft out there —some one on It,”
said Hapshott slowly, his voice almost drowned
by the clatter of the swinging yards.
It was Captain Hapshott himself who sprang
into the bout that was hastily lowered; it was he
who urged the rowers onward. Mrs. Hapshott,
now that the thing was done, woo possessed by
a curious calmness, that yet held expectancy—
something strnnge was happening out there be
yond the range of her vision; but all was work
ing together for good. She tried to focus the
binoculars on the boat and on the fragment that
floated ahead, bnt she was all unused to the task,
and could make out nothing but a blur.
The boat turned —hung motionless; those
aboard were busy at some tosk. Then the oar*
shot out like the limbs of a gigantic spider; Mrs.
Hapshott’s heart beat faster and faster —so fast
that only with difficulty could she draw her
breath.
"Shall we haul you up, sir?” hailed the mate,
reaching far outboard, and from Captain Hap
shott’s lips came a hoarse, unreal cry that Jones
took as on affirmative.
The boat shot alongside; still the captain’s wife
did not move from her position by the mizzen
mast. The tackles were hooked on, men swarmed
up them and added their weight to the falls; the
boot leaped upward, was swung Inboard.
"Bear a hand here," she heard her husband
say, und then the mists vanished from her eyes
and she saw clearly. Captain Hapshott was com
ing aft, talking earnestly to the mate. And in
his arms he carried a little child!
Mrs. Hapshott acted exactly as If she had been
expecting this gift from the sea. She held out
her onus and took the wailing mite, hushing it
deftly against that broad maternal bosom of hers,
coaxing it, smiling down into its crumpled face.
It mattered nothing to her how the babe had
come—it was there; its tiny fingers around her
finger; Its little head nestled ngnlnst her heart.
"A dead woman and n living child —no signs of
Identification.” The words came to her fitfully,
forcing themselves through the strnnge. hallowed
Joy that filled her being. "No telling what’s hap
pened—must be wife of some skipper—sole sur
vivors—who knows? The woman’s dead, poor
thing—but the child seems strong enough—will
bo Inter.”
"If we’d been sailing yesterday we’d have
passed It In the dark likely,” said the mate;
"we’d never have seen It. God! look at Mr*.
Hapshott; she’s grown younger.”
The skipper walked across to his wife.
"We’ll have to advertise,” he said, shakily,
toying with the little grasping hands. "But like
ly no one will claim it—it's as much curs as any
one’s—l’ll tell the steward to make some milk
ready— ’’
“•Dnto na a child la given.'" aald Mr*. Hnp
ahott solemnly. “Hiram, this la Ood'a Christmas
present to you and me.”
LATE MARKET REPORTS
WnUrn N«wapaper Union Nawi Service.
DENVER LIVE STOCK.
Condition*! on all divisions of tho
Denver live stock market have been
more active than for some time past,
huyon on the cattle market appeared
to have more confidence in prices.
Prices were sharply higher.
Despite a good demand on the hog
market, prices took a decided slump.
The sheep market showed a marked
improvement over the almost lifeless
conditions that prevailed last week.
Cattle.
An improved tone has been noted on
this nmiket. Prices on ail classes of
cattle were generally called 15 to 25
cents higher. Choice cows probably
would have reached $6.25 to $6.50.
Medium cows were quoted around
$5.25. Choice beef steers were quot
able up to $9.26. while medium to fair
steers were cleared around $7.00 tq
$7.50.
Best feeding steers sold up to $7.75,
one load of good stock bringing this
figure. Pair stock sold ai $7.00 to
57.25, while medium stock sold at
6.75 and down.
Hogs.
A decline of 15 to 26 cents has been
made on this market yesterday. Small
killers topped the market at $9.75.
several loads bringing this figure.
Packers were out at $9.50. The bulk
of the offering was cleared at $9.25 to
$9.50. with heavy rough stock at $8.60
to $8.75. Pigs have been In good de
mand. Best pigs sold up to $9.76 with
fair to medium stock at $9.00 to $9.60.
Sheep.
Renewed activity has been shown on
this market. Feeding lambs were
quoted up to $10.00 for best stock. Fair
lambs sold at $9.25-to $9.50. Feeding
ewes met with un outlet at $3.25 to
$4.50. Good fut lambs were quotable
up to $9.75. with Indications that choice
stock would bring up to $10.00 or pos
sibly more. Fat ewgs sold up to $4.85
flat. Choice ewes probably would
bring up to $5.00.
HAY AND GRAIN.
Grain.
(Buying price (bulk) Carloads, F. O. B.
Denver.)
Corn. No. 3 yellow $ 1.85
Corn. No. 3 mixed 1.80
Oats, per cwt 1.80
Barley, per cwt 1-60
Huy.
Timothy, No. 1. ton $25.00
Timothy, No. 2, ton 23.00
South Park. No. 1. ton 23.00
South Park. No. 2, ton 22.00
Alfalfa, ton 17.00
Second Bottom. No. 1, ton 18.00
Second Bottom. No. 2, ton 16.50
Straw 8.00
Dressed Poultry.
The following prices on dressed
poultry are net F. O. B. Denver.
Turkeys. No. Is 41 @43
Turkeys, old toms 35 ©38
Hens, lb 25 ©27
Ducks, young 30 @35
Geese 25 ©27
Roosters 18 ©20
Live Poultry.
Turkeys, 10 lbs. or over 85 @36
Hens, small, lb *6
Hens, good, 3 V4 lbs. and over. 20 @22
Ducklings 26
Goslings 25
Broilers 10
Springs 22 @25
Cocks IS
Eggs.
Eggs. strictly fresh, caso
count 21.00
Boss off. per dor 76 @ .80
nutter.
Creamery, first grade 50
Creamery, second grade 46
Process butter __ *2
Packing stock 25 @28
Vegetables.
Beans, navy, cwt $ 8.50@ 9.00
Beans, Pinto, cwt 6.00© 6.75
Beans, green, lb 30© .32
Beans, wax, lb 30© .32
Beets, Colo., doz. hunches .40 © .45
Beets, cwt 2.00© 2.60
Cabbage, Colo., cwt 1.00@ 1.25
Carrots, cwt 2.00@ 2.25
H. H. cucumbers, doz... 2.50
Celery, Colorado 60 @ 1.25
Beaf lettuce, h. h., doz... .40© .50
Bettuce, head, doz .90© 1.00
Onions, Colo., cwt 1.50© 2.00
Peppers, new 12*6© -15
Potatoes 2.00© 2.50
Radishes, long. h. h 30© .40
Radishes, round, h. h 30© .40
Tomatoes. Colo., lb 11© .15
Turnips, cwt 2.26© 2.50
GOVERNMENT MARKET REPORTS.
Washington, D. C.—Live Stock and
Mratst —Despite a moderate advance,
hogs at Chicago closed 50© 60c lower
than a week ago. The bulk of beef
and butcher cattle showed only slight
changes, advances at certain points
balancing slight declines at others.
Srock and feeding cattle steady to a
'.nadti lower. Veal calves lost 60c @
$1.50. Fat lambs lost much of their
recent gains, declines for the week
ranging 75c@$1.00. Fat ewes and
feeding lambs remained unchanged.
December 11 top Chicago prices: Hogs,
$9.86; yearling steers. $15.25; good
beef steers. $13.00© 13.26; heifers,
$11.25; cows. $9.75; feeder steers.
$9.60: Westerns. $10.50; veal calves,
$10.50; fat Inmbs, $11.75; feeding
lambs, $11.25; fat ewes. $5.50.
Compared with a week ago. beef and
veal prices have advanced, beef 41.00
@4.00; veal $2.00@5.00 ut some mar
kets. Barob steady to .$1.00 higher;
mutton steady to $2.00 higher. Fresh
Eork practically unchanged. Decem
er 10 prices on good grade meats:
Beef. $17.00©'22.Q0: veal. $16.00@23.00;
lamb. $25.00@28.00: mutton. $11.00©
15.00; light pork loins. $18.00© 22.00;
heavy loins. $14.00© 18.00.
liny. Feed and Seeds! —Market re
mains very dull with but little de
mand, which Is mostly local. Prices of
better grades well maintained because
of light receipts. Bower grades easier
at most markets. Embargo placed at
Cinciirhatl a few days ago has been
lifted. Supply Southwestern prairie at
Chicago still below demand. Minne
apolis receipts exceed demand. Quoted
December 10: No. 1 timothy. New
York $40, Chicago $30, Cincinnati
$28.26. Kansas City $23. No. 1 alfalfa.
Kansas City $25, Memphis $32. No. 1
prairie. Kansas City $16. Minneapolis
$19, Chicago $24. Wheat feed dull,
weak and depressed. Prices of bran
and middlings New York mills down
I $2 per ton. Western markets report
1 track offerings pressed for sale and
meeting with little or no demand. St.
| Bouts offers mixed feed at $28. Country
mixed feed quoted $27 at Duluth.
| Manitowoc reports storage of 600 tons
beet pulp for lack of demand. Hominy
i and gluten feed In good demand.
White hominy sold at $33 bulk St.
Bouts: thirty days shipment offered at
$4 less. Quoted: Bran $25.50, mid
dlings $23.50, Minneapolis; gluten feed
$48 Chicago; No. 1 alfalfa meal, $28
St. Bouls, $26.50 Kansas City; oat feed.
$14.50 St. Bouls: beet pulp. $46 New
York: brewers’ grains. $45 Milwaukee.
Gralni —The week’s grain markets
I opened higher hut a sharp decline oc
curred. A decided downward move
ment took place as result of Federal
Reserve bank report stating that a be
ginning of liquidation or reduction of
bank loans was Imperative. There was
a sharp upturn In wheat, and the mar
kets closed with a net decline for the
week of 7%c for Chicago March wheat
at $1.59U. and 5Vic for Chicago May
corn at 71V4c. Cash wheat conditions
continue strong at big premiums ovar
futures.
Metal Market.
Colorado settlement prices:
Bar silver (American) $ -39%
Bar silver (foreign) 61%
Zinc 5.92
Copper 14© .16
Bead 6.00
Tungsten. per unit $5.00© 7.60
When Run-Down
Kansas City, Kans.— ”l hav*
taken Doctor Pierce’s Favorite Pr®»
Bcription many times with very good
results. I have taken it for woman’*
weakness when I was all run-down,,
weak and nervoua and it soon had
me built up in health and strength.
I have taken it at different times a*
• tonic and It haa never failed to
give relief. I have also recom
mended it to others who have been
benefited by its use.
*As I have done lots of nursing: I
am in a position to know that 'Fa
vorite Prescription’ has saved the
life of many a woman.”— Mrs. A.
Gehriger, 1402 Wood Avenue.
Good looks in woman do not
depend upon age, but upon health.
You never see a good-looking
woman who is weak, run-down.
_ Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescrip
tion is the best women’s tonio
there is. It is 50 years old, and
its age testifies to its goodness,
Saved My Life
With Eatonic
Says New Jersey Woman
“I was nearly dead until I found
Eatonic and I can truly say It saved
my life. It Is the best stomach medi
cine ever made,” writes Mrs. Ella
Smith.
Acid stomach causes awful misery
which Eatonic quickly gets rid of by
taking up and carrying out the acidity
and gases which prevent good digea*
tlon. A tablet taken after meals brings
quick relief. Keeps the stomach
healthy and helps to prevent the many
Ills so liable to arise from excess acid.
Don’t suffer from stomach miseries*
when you can get a big box of Eatonle
for a trifle with your druggist’s guar*
antes.
Cocklebur Is "Double Barreled."
In eradicating the cocklebur, remem
ber that it carries a double barreled
gun. Every bur carries two seeds,
only one of which sprouts the first
year. Even when the product of that
seed has been killed the other will be
in shape to make trouble the next
season. The United States Depart
ment of Agriculture has a circular on
the cocklebur —how to get rid of it.—
Kansas City Star.
In your effort to make both ends
meet you must be mighty careful they
don't snap In the middle.
Clitic ura Soap
Complexions
Are Healthy
S~, 2S*. 25 50c, Tilct. 25c.
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