Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1855-12-13
From the krickerbocker for December.
BEACESTONES.

I live Oh the sea-shore, in the suburbs Of
"a quaint old town, and about half mile
from the hieh-road, which is visible from
the western window Of my pleasant ROOM
The town lies to the north, about mile dis
tant; while the sea is ever dashing against
the rocks and breaking upon the beach, but
a few rods in front of my door. I like to
watch the vessels. To-day there are not
less than sixty sail lying within a short dis
from the window at which sit. Each YES
sci has her mainsal set, and the men are
busily employed in catching mackerel, my
riads of which fish have lately entered the
bay. It is pleasant sight. Although.
there is not a breath of wind, the hungr,
fish, swimming close to the surface, rippl,.
it to such an extent that the vessels seem to
be in the midst of a gentle breeze and thiF
illusion is heightened by the ebbing tide.
which is slowly sweepirethe feet out to Il
their white sails flashing in the sunshine.
In the ofiing are two or three ships, bound
probably to remote parts Of the globe, while
close in shore red-shirted dorylnan is ex-
amining his lobster-traps. And now the
silence is broken by the report Of muskct
and little skiff darts into view from behind
a rocky island, whore her crew have been
lying III wait for sca-jirds.
This latter circumstance reminds me of
an afternoor in June, many years ago, when
the quiet Of the bay was broken by the roar
Of cannon, the groans Of mutilated seamen,
and the loud shouts of victory. How often
Isince that time must the fisherman have cast
ianchor Oh the very spot where the battle
was fought. Looking down into the peace
ful depths, perhaps some of them have fam
cied they beheld the whitcned skeletons of
sailors who died that day and were forgotten,
and thought with a shudder, of the horrid
turmoil in the midst Of which Lawrence re-
ceived his death-wound and Broke called
upon his boarders. What a contrast be-
tween that day and this. | perceive that
ia flock Of school girls are gathering flowers
on the neighboring heights, which then sup
ported powerful battery, and were dotted
with the white tents Of a company of artil-
lery. Let flowers grow there for ever more .
Within a league Of the beach there is a
sandy island, on whose highest point stands
"a rough, dismal-looking building, which
was erected for the benefit of any who mi CHIT
be so unfortunate as to be there cast away.
And this rude structure has done good SER
vice in the cause of humanity; for one Win
ter night timber-laden schooner struck on
the northeast part of the island, and became
a complete wreck; and it was not without
great difficulty that her crew reached the
land, having to struggle against sitting
snow-storm. Entirely ignorant of their
whereabouts and weli-nigh exhausted by
their suherings, they were on the point of
yielding to despair when one of them dis
covered the house. Had they not found it,
without doubt every one Of them would have
perished.
If we may rely upon tradition, there was
once time when the town of which am a
temporary resident must have been a very
peculiar place. [ have heard that, before
the Revolutionary war, the washerwomen
were in the habit Of stretching their clothes
line across the streets, threatening to oval
lop" any market man who should dare to
drive his team against them. Such prac-
tice must have had bad effect on trade
It is also said that strangers were sometimes
pelted with stones and obliged to ride for
life, pursued by pack of boys, bounding
one another with the cry: Crock him,
matey, he wouldn't let me hold his hoss."
A visit to place where the manners and
customs of the people were so singular must
have been a decidedly perilous enterprise.
And, Notwithstanding so many years have
fled since the time jusS spoken of, I would
advise any one contemplating visit to the
town not to make his entrance on horseback ::