The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1858-03-27
4 QbriIling 5torp.
THE YOUNG T3TAGERS.


he sails that great packet ship across the
ocean. Come girls, get in-.Annic, you
Shall be my mate and little Jenny shall
be our cook and steward.
The speaker was handsome, fair
haired, rosy-chcekcd boy, with bright,
laughing blue eyes, about ten years old,
who, during his address, was busily
engaged in rigging the mast and sail to
a ships launch which was made fast to
the beach in one of those secluded, pic
turcsquc little coves or inlets, with
which the south shore of Long Island,
between Fire Island and Rockaway, is
30 plcntifully indcnted.
The boys companions were two little
girls of eight and six years, beautiful as
angels, and so exactly like their brother
in every feature, that they seemed as
perfect copies--all but the long sunny
ringlets-o of his exquisite face.
Annie, the eldest girl, bounded light
ly into the boat at her brothers. invita-
tion, and began assisting him about the
sail. But little Jenny-who was tug
ging along great basket filled with pies,
sweet cakes and fruits, which they had
brought from a beautiful cottage not far
off, for little picnic dinncr--hesitated
in silence till her brother urged her
again to get in the boat, when she began
to argue with him thus:
go, Willie, don't let us go in the
boat to-day. There is so much wind,
and We might be -"
You are little coward, Jenny, to
be afraid" interrupted the young cap
tain inpatiently. It's the plcasantest
day we have had for month aud it's
so late i'll the fall, that if we don't 60
to-day, l am sure we shall not get an
other chance this year Come Jenny,
don't be frightened-,jump in.''
go, | am not at all afraid, brother"
and child as she was, Jenny's checks
.glowed for few moments with deeper
vermillon tint, at the implied question
of courage by her brother. "Pm not in
the least afraid, Willie. But you know
that mother has often told us that we
must not go in the boat when it blows
hard all I'm afraid Of is disobeying
her"
"Then you may come into the boat
without fear sister, for mother told me
! might sail this afternoon, it was not
five minutes before we left the house"
Yes, | know that, Willie but that
was two hours ago, when it was calm.-
1t blows great deal harder now, and
Pm sure mother would not like us to 90
away from the shore in the boat when
there is such a high wind.''
go, nonsense, Jenny; l have been
all around the cave when it blew a great
deal harder than this. Mother, YOU
know, says ] aan the best sailor along the
coast, and just as well able to judge when
the weather is fit to 60 on cruise as she
is. Come, sister, we can't get drowned,
for the water is so shallow at ebb tide,
and with this west wind, that we could
wade anywhere about the cave"
Thus persuaded, Jenny passed the
basket to her brother, aud then Chamber
ing into the boat herself she took seat
beside Annie in the stern sheets, and
soon the launch was under way.
She was a great, heavy, clumsy boat
--as all Of her class usually are, with
single lug sail of heavy canvas, altogcth.
er lily calculated for pleasure craft.
But little Willie Walton managed with
consumatc skill for SO young command
er, and they had several stretches
across the cove, when as they were pass
ing the inlet that opened out sea- wards,
Annie's eyes rested upon the bright blue
waves of the Atlantic, far out beyond
the discolored water along the coast, and
clapping her hands with a sudden
ecstacy of infantile JOY, exclaimed:
go, Willie, Willie let us 90 out
there and sail on that beautiful ocean
Won't it be grand So much prettier
than this dirty little cove, with the bare
sand banks all about u.s."
Willie sprang to his feet, and gazing
to the offng, his eyes lit up with the
enthusiasm caught from his sisters words
and he replied:
Wen go out there and have glori-
GUS sail-just like the great ships and
steamboats, that We see go BY"
go, don't 60 out there, brother %
interposcd little Jenny, her cheek grow
ing pale as the delicate lily. "Don't
60, Willie mother will be angry with
u.s."
"Mother will do no such thing, Jenny.
She will be proud of US to think that we
have been out on the ocean all alone. l
can easily come back with the food tide
that will soon be setting in" And
without further argument, the reckless
boy put his helm up, eascd off the sheet,
and away out through the inlet, towards
the line of blue water outside, went the
launch, hurried along before the strong
breeze which added to the strength Of
the last quarter ebb, bore her away at
speed that soon sunk the yellow ridge to
Il mere line along the margin of the wide
ocean, and the white cottages with Veni-
tian blinds, into toy houses dotted with
bright green spccks. The colored water
which appeared from the cove only a
narrow strip dividing the white strip
from the deep azure of the ocean beyond
Expanded into broad belt of several
miles in width. But with the fine breeze
and strong outset of the tide the boat
sped on while the novelty of their posi-
ton and the natural excitement induced
hy it. causod tho timo and eDooa 70 A.