Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-08-12

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to afford his little family all the comforts which
they could have found in an edifce of the gay
est architecture. They soon became settled and
contented in their new habtation; pathway
was opened through the woods to their eighbors,
and Robert set himself to work in good earnest to
make him a farm. The sound ofhis axe was heard
early and late the forest fell before him, like
grass before the mower and in a few years the
wild woods around him had given place 90 fields
Of springing grain, and pastures of grazing cat
tie. His little cabin had been superseded by 4
dwelling of more finished workmanship, and of
dimensions more convenient for his increasing
family; he had al the necessares and comforts
oflife at his command, and Eleanor never renew
ed her wish to return to Ireland.
After the lapsc ola dozen or fifteen years, Rob
ert BEGAN TO turn his attention to thr fisheries,
and finding in them Il more productive source Of
ready money than in farming, he pursued the
business to considerable extent. Providing him
self with suitable vessel, he took with him his
two oldest boys, who had now arrived nearly to
the strength and stature of manhood, and spent a
considerable portion ofthe summer seasons in the
cod-fshery on the coast of Maine, or at the banks
and bays farther to the northward and eastward.
In the fall of the year he would market his fish
at Falmouth (now Portland) Boston, and re-
turn home with supply of goods for his family 5
use, and his pockets well replenished with mo-
ney, to spend the winter at his leisure in the en-
ioymont of domestic happiness.
The sixth summer Robert designed to go
round to the gulf of st. Lawrence, and accord
ingly fitted out for cruise of three months
On this occasion he took leave of his family with
more than ordinary anxiety, in consequence of
rumors which had been aAoat, that the Indians
were assuming an attitude of hostility in differ
ent parts of the country. As he could get no
positive intelligence of their depredations, how
ever, and as he had never been molested by them
since he had been in the country, he at last per-
suaded himself that the rumors groundless
and having made all necessary preparations, and
being strongly entreated by Eleanor "not to make
himself unasy about her and the wanes," he sci
sail with tolerably cheerful countenance, though
his heart had not lost quite all its heaviness.
Eleanor sat in the door Of the cottage and
watched the vessel gliding lightly over the wa
ters and its little flag floating galy on the air,
till it had crossed the outer bay of the harbor and
was lost behind the distant islands
! At the end of three months successful fishing,
Robert and his two sons weighed anchor and put
away before fair wind for Townsend He had
never before been 50 long absent at one time
from his family, and never had he been SO impa-
tent to reach home. On the morning of the
third day, Alexander his second son, seemed
troubled and melancholy He watched him some
time the boy was evidently much affected.
"Ellec, my boy, what is the matter2 said the
afiectionate father A tear STARTED into Ellec
eye.
"Nothing, sir, only I've been dreaming a
little"
"Dreaming' Poh hope you are not so
weak as to let foolish dream trouble you. But
what is it you We been dreaming about ?"
al don't think it's true, said Ellec, " only it
makes me feel bad to think of it. Last night af
ter had stood my watch on deck, | went down
into the cabin and took nap. Ican't remember
all | dreamt but somehow it seemed if five
or six Indians came to our house and killed little
Esther and threw her into the water, and carrl-
ed off mother and the rest of the children prison
ers and when we got home nobody could tell
us any thing about them"
"Oh fe, boy, that names just nothing at all,
said Robert g Didn't ye hear something said
about the Indians taking prisoners and killing
folks, before we left home p
eyes, sir.
"Woll, wasn't ye thinking about home and
about the Indians, just before you wentto sleep
last night"
" Yes sir, I'd been thinking something about
EN-
"Well, there's the secret, Ellec, We always
dream about what we think most about. But il
doesn name any thing; so don't trouble your
selfany more aboutit; but go and trim that fore
sail to the wind if this breeze holds, we II be al
home before sunset
Ellec obeyed the command, and Robert sat nu-
sinr at the helm. He was not superstitious, and
had none of those vulgar notions concerning
dreams which are so common among mankind
and vet Ellec's dream on the present occasion
kent crowdng itself upon his mind. He would
drive il from him by every means in his power,
hut still it would return. He called upon the
boys to adjust a rope in one place, or trim sail
in another, but however busy he might be, still
that dream was uppermost in his thoughts. He