Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-06-23
Gbe, storp GtILrr.
THE SHIPPERS JACK-AT-A-PINCH.

road ten or fltteen miles below 1arrytoWn.-
A gentleman of middle age, the master of this
house, with his wife and beautiful daughter
were in colloquy with an individual of Dig
nified air, and singularly handsome counte-
nance, about thirty years of age, who, with
his valise in his hand, and his cloak on his
arm, appeared accoutred for travelling.
" | am truly sorry, Judge, Z said the host,
s'that we cannot detan you longer''
1--WE certainly expected you to remain an
other night with us, = said the wife
''At least" said the daughter, with an
engaging smile, ''you will wait until the stage
passes tomorrow noon."
:" It is difficult, my friends" replied the
stranger, ''to resist invitations so pressjngly
offered; and, I" said he, turning to the daugh-
ter, eff anything could induce me to forego
my resolution, my dear young lady, it would
be your solicitation but have been long alb
sent from home. The circuit has been pro-
longed far above my expectations and inds-
pensable engagements hurry me away If |
rccollect right" continued he, turning to the
host, ''there is fishing hut on the river side,
somewhere opposite us and there was once a
path which led down the mountain to the spot :;
be kind enough to put me in the way to find
it, and will make for the station"
Ii is passable only on foot, or on horse
back said the host, ''or would take YOU
down in the carriage; but there is an opening
in the wood just yondcr, which leads to the
path; and that once gained, you cannot 90
astray"
After many friendly greetings on all sides,
the stranger made his bow, and departed.
The path was found and trudging on
ward, he soon emerged from the ravine above
the beach, where a group Of fishermen were
waiting the proper time of tide to resume their
labors. A couple of skills were drawn up on
the shore, near which the congregation were
assembled.
g Whose skiffs are these = asked the new
conner, i want to be put on board one of those
vessels in sight"
There was a light wind blowing from the
northwest; and the white sails of the river
craft were seen far above and far below
some nearly opposite, and some far distant.
z This one replied fisherman, ''is mine
but we can't spare time TO put you on board,
for it will soon be time for a haul"
The other belongs to the person now COM
ing up
The stranger inquired, as the other came
near enough, whether he could accommodate
him with passage on board.
90 can let you have the skiff,'' he an
swered ''but / am obliged to go up the road.
Here, however, are couple of idlers, who
will undoubtedly row You off and bring back
the boat"
The suggestion was adopted the wherry
was chartered, and the oarsmen engaged for
the voyage.
While the men were engaged in getting the
boat in proper order, woman made her ap-
pearance, dressed in linsey-woolsey gown
not of the finest texture, or of the newest
fashion, and none of the cleanest withal. The
face Of this person was cast in the true Kan
tippian mould, with eyes so horribly askew,
that an operator for strabismus would have
coveted her as a subject for his skill and, to
crown the picture, the visage Of the lady was
of such vinegar aspect, as to warrant the be-
lief that she had been fed on crab apples for a
fortnight. Approaching the men, who were
nearly ready to shove off, she accosted one of
them, thus
g You're going off to them sloops, aren't
YOU, Jack! don care if 60 along"
81 do, Mrs. Nox!' said the oarsman-
''There will be two words to that bargain ;
that man, pointing to the stranger who was
coming down, ''has hired the skiff, and if he
don't like the looks of your ugly mug better
than do, you won't get a passage this time
The woman scowled in fearful manner,
but made no reply.
You're going," she said, addressing the
stranger, ''abOard of them vessels. | want to
go to York and | can go aboard with you
Just as well as notl''
/" Exactly so, madam" said the stranger /;
E'step in.''
The skiff had but three seats-two for the
oarsmen, and the stern sheets, built sufficient
ly broad to take two persons abreast. The
stranger, with his valise on his knee, took one
side, and the woman with very msghtly
bundle in her lap, the other and off shot the
wherry into the stream, towards the nearest
vessel The stranger waved a pocket hand
kerchief as signal; and the skipper, putting
his helm down and hauling aft his main sheet,
bore up for the sKif. But as soon as he got
near enough for fair scrutiny, he exclaimed .
Sup helm, Joe Square away Them's
no customers for me y
'By Jolly, | thought SOP SAID the oars
man. who had rebuffed Mrs. NoX-Mrs. Ere
bus, she might have been better named-as
she cast midnight glance at the offender
A second vessel was tried with no better Ell
feet. third with like success at length
Tarrytowner answered the signal, and took
them on board.
By this time it was near sundown; and as
they got upon the deck, the skipper addressed
the stranger thus:
sIdon't know how I'm to accommodate
Won and your woman with berths and bedding
and I'm afraid you won't fare very well tor
ashore.