The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-08-06
SELECT TALE,
THE CHESAPEAKE BAY PILOTS LOVE
STORY

Nv last communication, says correspond
emf of the Boston journal, was penned with
nearly frozen ink, in the Chesapeake Bay, and
sunerscribed off Cape Henry on the 9Th Of
January last, where It was handed to the pilot,
who promised to deposit it in one Of the out
landish post offices Of Virginia. lie was
wished good bye with heartfelt satisfaction,
for he had become a sort OF fixture on board,
and had taken us on surveying expeditions
into every river aud creek Of the bay, under
pretext Of blowing or going to blow, until
began to fear that we might excite the Jeal-
ousy of the oystermen as being a wholesale
competitor.
Tie pilot was advancing to that age when
grasshoppers are considered burdensOme-and
L was his delight, when he had the ship snugly
anchored amidst a fleet OF Oystermen, who
were likewise seeking shelter, to roast and
open part of their cargOes by the cabin stove
and as he presented the savOry food to the la
dies, to amuse and horrify them with tales Of
love and shipwreck, in both Of which misfor-
tunes he never failed to represent himself as
prominent hero.
One evening the last oyster had been swal.
lowed, the steward had cleared away the
shells, and the pilot leaned back in his chair
with a placid cOuutenance, combining the sat
isfaction of the epicure with the memory Of
some touching incident Of the past. In our
previous conversation some slight allusiOn had
been made to the clergy and this touch had
awakened string in the discordant piano OF
his mind, which still vibrated when the sub
iect had given place to something new,
Poor Sue Withers
''POor Sue Withers! we'll k0pe she has
been happyl"
What pilot?''
The quick tone in which this interrogatory
was put, had the effect upon him which the
falling Of pair Of tongs producesi upon 0
sleeping cat. He started, rubbed his eyes
and then composing himself again, said
ministers arnt to be trusted, specially
Methods ones. Man and boy forty years
l we oystered, steamboated, wood eoasted, and
piloted on this bay; and for the first half ol
'em there wasn't happier chup than me. II
there was Gavin shuckin' along-shore any
where, | was there; and if there was to be
wedding, folks thought it couldn't be donC
without Charly Mellen to kiss the bride and
Law the floor dust. Ches' peake Bay couldn
ha' got along without me, no how. could
ha' married both sides Of it all the way down
barring old Sim Keats darter at Naplis, who
owned right up land was the only gal eyel
hear d on that would do such thing that sh'
was too mortal ugly to get married to any.
body, though | think she might have mad'
herself useful to farmer to scare away crows
Afterwards she became q school marin, an(
never had to use o stick. She just looked a
em. 70
You may think was braggin' Of my myself
but | wasn't. Ask FOxwen, or Green, o.
johnson, or Tom Kelley, and anybody else a
knows me-ask every body. And yet | don't
know why the gals took such fancy to me;
wasn' uncommon beautiful, though was per
haps the handsomest man on the bay. Som
folks say | retains my good looks nowi wha
do Won think Miss DIP
"Why," replied the young lady, with much
candor, whatever you may have been Il
times past, Mr.. Mellen, you can scarcely b
Considered an Adonis now;" but wishing 3
soften the blow, she added, ''in your mature
years there may have been some OF the Apoll
left" II. q,
"Thank ye, ma'am," returned the pilot "
never knew Donas--one Of your eastern shor
folks, likely-and as to there bein' anythin
APPALLING about mel take--l knows youn1
ladies2I understands 'em--wasn't brougt
up on this bay for nothin'. No means yes, an
yes means noah, poor Sue Withersl b'