Once again, and for the last time, we visit the floating light.
It was a calm sunny evening, about the end of autumn, when the Trinity tender, having effected “the relief” of the old Gull1, left her in order to perform the same service for her sister light-vessels.
“Good-bye, Welton, good-bye, lads,” cried the superintendent2, waving his hand as the tender’s boat pushed off and left them, for another period of duty, in their floating home.
“Now, sir,” said Dick Moy to the mate, shortly after, when they were all, except the watch, assembled below round the galley4 stove, “are you goin’ to let us ’ave a bit o’ that there letter, accordin’ to promise?”
“What letter?” inquired Jack5 Shales6, who having only accomplished7 half of his period of service on board—one month—had not come off with his comrades, and knew little or nothing of what had occurred on shore.
“A letter from the lighthouse from Jim,” said the mate, lighting8 his pipe, “received it this forenoon just as we were gettin’ ready to come off.”
“All well and hearty9, I hope?” asked Jerry MacGowl, seating himself on a bench, and rolling some tobacco between his palms, preparatory to filling his pipe.
“All well,” replied the mate, pulling out the letter in question, and regarding the address with much interest; “an’ strange news in it.”
“Well, then, let’s ’ear wot it’s all about,” said Dick Moy; “there’s time to read it afore sunset, an it ain’t fair to keep fellers in all the hagonies of hexpectation.”
“That’s true enough,” said Jerry with a grin. “Arrah! it’s bustin I am already wid kooriosity. Heave ahead, sir, an’ be marciful.”
Thus entreated10, Mr Welton glanced at his watch, sat down, and, opening his letter, read as follows:—
“Dear Father,—Here we are, thank God, comfortably settled in the new lighthouse, and Nora and I both agree that although it is more outlandish, it is much more cheerful in every way than our last abode11, although it is very wild-like, and far from the mainland. Billy Towler, my assistant,—who has become such a strapping12 fellow that you’d scarce know him,—is also much pleased with it. The children, too, give a decided13 opinion in favour of the place, and even the baby, little Morley, seems to know that he has made a change for the better!
“Baby’s name brings me to the news that I’ve got to tell you. Morley Jones has come back! You’ll be surprised to hear that, I daresay, but it’s a fact. He got a ticket-of-leave, and never rested till he found out where Nora was. He came to us one evening some time ago, and fell down in a sort of fit close to the lighthouse-door, while Nora was sitting in front of it, and the children were romping14 with Neptune15 beside her. Poor fellow! he was so changed, so old, and so white-haired and worn, that we did not know him at first; but after we had washed the blood off his face—for he had cut himself when he fell—I recognised the old features.
“But he is changed in other respects too, in a way that has filled my dear wife’s heart with joy. Of course you are aware that he got no drink during the seven years of his imprisonment16. Now that he is free he refuses to let a drop of anything stronger than water pass his lips. He thinks it is his only chance, and I believe he is right. He says that nothing but the thought of Nora, and the hope of one day being permitted to return to ask her forgiveness on his knees, enabled him to endure his long captivity17 with resignation. I do assure you, father, that it almost brings tears to my eyes to see the way in which that man humbles18 himself before his daughter. Nora’s joy is far too deep for words, but it is written plainly in her face. She spent all her spare time with him at first, reading the Bible to him, and trying to convince him that it was not the thought of her, but God’s mercy and love that had put it into his heart to repent19, and desire to reform. He does not seem quite inclined to take that view of it, but he will come to it, sooner or later, for we have the sure promise that the Lord will finish the good work He has begun. We have hired a room for him in a little village within half a mile of us. It is small, but comfortable enough, and he seems to be quite content with it—as well he may be, with Nora and the children going constantly about him!
“I tell you what, father, the longer I live with Nora, the more I feel that I have got the truest-hearted and most loveable wife in all the wide world! The people of the village would go any length to serve her; and as to their children, I believe they worship the ground she walks on, as Jerry MacGowl used to say.”
“And the way she manages our dear youngsters,” continued the mate, reading on, without noticing Jerry’s interruption, “would do your heart good to see. It reminds me of Dick Moy’s wife, who is about the best mother I ever met with—next to Nora, of course!”
“Humph!” said Dick, with a grim smile; “wery complimentary21. I wonder wot my old ooman will say to that?”
“She’ll say, no doubt, that she’ll expect you to take example by Jim Welton when speaking of your wife,” observed Jack Shales. “I wonder, Dick, what ever could have induced Mrs Moy to marry such a fellow as you?”
“I s’pose,” retorted Dick, lighting his pipe, “that it was to escape the chance o’ bein’ tempted22, in a moment of weakness, to marry the likes o’ you.”
“Hear, hear,” cried MacGowl, “that’s not unlikely, Dick. An’, sure, she might have gone farther an’ fared worse. You’re a good lump of a man, anyhow; though you haven’t much to boast of in the way of looks. Howsever, it seems to me that looks don’t go far wid sensible girls. Faix, the uglier a man is, it’s the better chance he has o’ gittin’ a purty wife. I have a brother, myself, who’s a dale uglier than the figurhead of an owld Dutch galliot, an’ he’s married the purtiest little girl in Ireland, he has.”
“If ye want to hear the end of Jim’s letter, boys, you’d better shut up your potato-traps,” interposed Mr Welton.
“That’s true—fire away,” said Shales.
The mate continued to read.
“You’ll be glad to hear that the old dog Neptune is well and hearty. He is a great favourite here, especially with the children. Billy Towler has taught him a number of tricks—among other things he can dive like a seal, and has no objection whatever to let little Morley choke him or half punch out his eyes. Tell mother not to be uneasy on that point, for though Neptune has the heart of a lion he has the temper of a lamb.
“There is an excellent preacher, belonging to the Wesleyan body, who comes here occasionally on Sundays, and has worship in the village. He is not much of a preacher, but he’s an earnest, God-fearing man, and has made the name of Jesus dear to some of the people here, who, not long ago, were quite careless about their souls. Careless about their souls! Oh, father, how often I think of that, now. How strange it seems that we should ever be thus careless! What should we say of the jeweller who would devote all his time and care to the case that held his largest diamond, and neglect the gem23 itself? Nora has got up a Sunday school at the village, and Billy helps her with it. The Grotto24 did wonders for him—so he says himself.
“I must close this letter sooner than I intended, for I hear Nora’s voice, like sweet music in the distance, singing out that dinner is ready; and if I keep the youngsters waiting long, they’ll sing out in a sharper strain of melody!
“So now, father, good-bye for the present. We all unite in sending our warmest love to dear mother and yourself. Kindest remembrances also to my friends in the floating light. As much of my heart as Nora and the children can spare is on board of the old Gull. May God bless you all.—Your affectionate son, James Welton.”
“The sun will be down in a few minutes, sir,” said the watch, looking down the hatchway, while the men were engaged in commenting on Jim’s letter.
“I know that,” replied the mate, glancing at his timepiece, as he went on deck.
The upper edge of the sun was just visible above the horizon, gleaming through the haze25 like a speck26 of ruddy fire. The shipping27 in the Downs rested on a sea so calm that each rope and mast and yard was faithfully reflected. Ramsgate—with the exception of its highest spires—was overshadowed by the wing of approaching night. The Goodwin Sands were partially28 uncovered; looking calm and harmless enough, with only a snowy ripple29 on their northern extremity30, where they were gently kissed by the swell31 of the North Sea, and with nothing, save a riven stump32 or a half-buried stem-post, to tell of the storms and wrecks33 with which their name is so sadly associated.
All around breathed of peace and tranquillity34 when the mate, having cast a searching glance round the horizon, leaned over the hatchway and shouted—“Lights up!”
The customary “Ay, ay, sir,” was followed by the prompt appearance of the crew. The winch was manned, the signal given, and, just as the sun went down, the floating light went up, to scatter35 its guiding and warning beams far and wide across the darkening waste of water.
May our little volume prove a truthful36 reflector to catch up a few of those beams, and, diverting them from their legitimate37 direction, turn them in upon the shore to enlighten the mind and tickle38 the fancy of those who dwell upon the land—and thus, perchance, add another thread to the bond of sympathy already existing between them and those whose lot it is to battle with the winds, and live upon the sea.
The End
The End
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1
gull
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| n.鸥；受骗的人；v.欺诈 | |
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2
superintendent
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| n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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4
galley
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| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； | |
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5
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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shales
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| n.页岩( shale的名词复数 ) | |
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7
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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8
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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9
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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12
strapping
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| adj. 魁伟的, 身材高大健壮的 n. 皮绳或皮带的材料, 裹伤胶带, 皮鞭 动词strap的现在分词形式 | |
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13
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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14
romping
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| adj.嬉戏喧闹的，乱蹦乱闹的v.嬉笑玩闹( romp的现在分词 )；（尤指在赛跑或竞选等中）轻易获胜 | |
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15
Neptune
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| n.海王星 | |
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16
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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17
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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18
humbles
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| v.使谦恭( humble的第三人称单数 )；轻松打败（尤指强大的对手）；低声下气 | |
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repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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complimentary
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| adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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23
gem
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| n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel | |
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24
grotto
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| n.洞穴 | |
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25
haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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26
speck
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| n.微粒，小污点，小斑点 | |
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27
shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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29
ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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30
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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31
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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32
stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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33
wrecks
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| n.沉船( wreck的名词复数 )；（事故中）遭严重毁坏的汽车（或飞机等）；（身体或精神上）受到严重损伤的人；状况非常糟糕的车辆（或建筑物等）v.毁坏[毁灭]某物( wreck的第三人称单数 )；使（船舶）失事，使遇难，使下沉 | |
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34
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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35
scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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36
truthful
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| adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的 | |
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37
legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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38
tickle
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| v.搔痒，胳肢；使高兴；发痒；n.搔痒，发痒 | |
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