Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-01-03

ever saw chap wonder struck, he was. Right
ahead Of us was bold, rocky island with what
looked like a great snow bank on its southern
slope; while the air was full overhead, and all
about, Of what seemed heavy fall Of snow.
The day was blazing hot, and there wasn't q
cloud to be seen. What in the world, Skipper,
does this mean?' says he We're sailing right
into q snow storm, in dog-days and in clear
sky!' By this time we had got near enough
to hear q great rushing noise in the air, every
moment growing louder and louder.
!" It's only storm Of gannets says l.
atSure enough!' says he, sbut wouldn't
have believed it possible
aWhen we got fairly of against the island
fred a gun at it, and such fnttering and
screaming you can't imagine The great snow
banks shook, trembled, loosened, and became
all alive, whirling away into the air like drifts
ia a nor'wester. Millions Of birds went up
wheeling and zigzagging about, their white
bodies and black-tipped wings crossing and re-
crossing nd mixing together into . thick gray
ish-whitc haze above u.s.
8 You're right, Skipper says Wilson to
me, Mature is better than books
9And from that time he was on deck as
much as his health would allow Of and took .
deal Of notice Of everything new and uncom-
mon. But for all that the poor fellow was so
sick and pale and peaking, that we all thought
we should have to heave him overheard some
day, or bury him in Labrador moss.o
But he didn't die after ALL did he? 90 said 1.
aDie !" cried the Skipper, "not he!"
aAnd SO your fishing voyage really cured
hima"
~ can't say as il did, exactly" returned the
Skipper, shifting his quid from one cheek to the
other, with sly wink at the Doctor. aThe
fact s after the doctors and the old herb
women had given him up at home, he got cured
by . little black-eyed French girl on the Labra-
dor coast
"A very agreeable prescription, no doubt"
quoth the Doctor, turning to me. "How do
you think it would suit your case I"
at doesn't become the patient to choose his
own nostrums,n said |, laughing. But won
der, Doctor, that you haven't long ago tested
the value Of this by an experiment upon your
self!p
"Physicians are proverbially shy Of their
own medicines" said he.
swell, you see, /" continued the Skipper, Eve
had q rough run down the Labrador shore,
transforms and fogs SO thick you could out
'em up into junks with your iack-knife. AT
last, we reached q small fishing station away
down where the sun doesn't sleep in summer,
but just takes q bit Of nap at midnight. Here
Wilson went ashore, more dead than alive, and
found comfortable lodgings with = little, dingy,
French oil merchant who had snug, warm
house, and garden patch, where he raised a
few potatoes and turnips in the short summers,
and tolerable field Of grass which kept his
two COWS alive through the winter. The coun-
try al about was dismal enough; as far as
you could sec, there was nothing but moss and
rocks and bare hills and ponds Of shallow wa
ter, with now and then patch of stunted frs.
But it doubtless looked pleasant to our poor
sick passenger, who for some days had been
longing for land The Frenchman gave him
neat little room, looking out on the harbor,
all alive with fishermen, and Indians hunting
seals; and, to my notion, no place is very dull
where you can see the saltwater and the ships
at anchor on il, or scudding over il with sails
set in stiff breeze and where you can watch
its changes Of lights and colors in fair and foul
weather, morning and night. The family was
made up Of the Frenchman, his wife, and his
daughter, q little witch Of girl, with bright,
black eyes, lighting up her brown, good-natur-
cd face like lamps in pinnacle. They all
took a mighty liking TO young Wilson, and
were ready to do anything for him. He was
soon able to walk about, and we used to see
him with the Frenchman's daughter strollng
along the shore and among the MOSES, talking
with her in her own language. Many and
many time, as we sat in our boats under the
rocks, we could hear her merry laugh ringing
down 10 u.s.
1--WE staid at the station about three weeks,
and when we got ready 10 sail called at the
come aboard He really seemed sorry to leave;
for the two old people urged him remain with
them, and poor little Lucille wouldn't hear a
word OF his going. She said he would be sick
and die on board the vessel, but that II he staid
with them he would soon be we'll and strong;
that they should have plenty Of milk and eggs
for him the winter; and he should ride in the
dog sledge with her and she would take care
Of him as if he was her brother. She hid his
cap and great coat and what with crying and
scoldng and coaxing, she fairly carried her
point.
"'You see Pm q prisoner says he, they
won't let me go
"Well' says / you don't seem to be
troubled about IT. ! tell you what young
man. says |, it's mighty pretty now TO stroll
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