The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-04-01
he discovered that Mr.. Frank Hodge had been

and Mr.. Reeve had not met him. He stopped
n farm cart going down to the beach TO bring
up load of the mixed sea-weed and moss-bun-
kers, which form almost the sole fertilizer OF
that arid coast, and asked the driver IL he could
tell him where to find the best fisherman to go
off ON cruise with them. The said driver was
none other than the venerable Daddy Pringle
and at this very moment was cheering his con-
sumptive horse through the hub.deep sand with
n snatch from 'Dalermy,' intended for the next
,bbath Psalmody at the Old School Mcetin'.
Spite the inspiriting quality OF the tune. his
willing animal stopped instantly at hint from
the reins. aud fell into an attitude OF knock
knecd abascment, while the choir leader IN.
swered without hesitation,
Deacon Townsend
'Thank you, sir. Where shall find himl'
He mebbe up tew the street, but kinder
guess yen find him tew hum, in the fust haouse
ye come tew with rose climbin' on tew the
wall-.-that air white 'un with the green blinds
and the red chimblies you see up tew the head
% the road-and DaddylPringle turned round,
pointing with his horny tore-fnger at the dwell.
ling of the Deacon, now quito conspicuous
among the less ambitious houses of Muske.
ogue.
Mr.. Frank Hodge pulled out quarter and
put it into the old mans palm.
'Eh-what's thatY' said Daddy Pringle,
with an air of innocent astonslnlent which
seemed to suggest that this was the first ac-
quantance with the coin. 'Oh, 'tain't worth
that-I daon't want nothn' for answerin'
man-wa'al, eff you say so; much obleeged
And having thus gone through the formali-
ties necessary to the acceptance of the quarter,
as premeditated from the first, Daddy Pringle
gave another jerk to the reins and logged pain
fully on, keeping his head over his shoulders
in the direction of the other pair Of pantaloons
like Mr.. Peavey's, to thesecret delight OF their
complacent owner.
The gentleman continued, like the shining
river, to roll on until he reached the sea, nc.
companied by the first Deacon of the Old School
Meeting. Here the Deacon. after having cast
a scru,inizing eye upon the Esmerdlda and her
appointments, guessed he'd walk down along
shore to his own boat, and get Bible and one
or two other things he always kept there for
his long cruises, and be back in the course of
ten minutes or SO. Accordingly Mr.. Hodge
mounted the deck of the Esmerdida alone
Mr.. Peavey lay along the taifrail still, with the
pipe, the damp tobacco, aud the blue panta-
looons very much in the same stage as when he
left him. But Mr.. Reeve paced the deck in
manner denoting unusual excitement.
We'll, Hodge, said he, as that gentleman
climbed upon the gunwale, who's your friend 2
The man that just left me, you mean? Oh,
he's the Deacon, and the first fisherman in Mus
keogue.'
Mr. Reeve sneered audibly. well, you've
been sold nicely, haven't your He's no more
the Deacon than lam. I've got the Deacon my
self-he's down below this minute, oyerhauling
our tackle
Il tell you you're sold-my mans the Deacon,
and universally acknowledged to be the best
acquainted with fishing ON the coast. He's just
gone off for a few traps, and will return in
jiGy.'
'Who told you all that stuff!
Il don't know his name, Lut it's the Oldest
inhabitant of Muskeogue.'
'The youngest inhabitant told me he's got
the later news
My informant was going down to the shore
in q cart, and looked acquainted with sea-busi-
ness
mine was sitting on the keel of boat, and
looked as if he was born Mt sea and washed
ashore-deyilish salty !--sharp as bricks |
paid him two dimes for my Deacon
Il 20 you five better-l paid quarter for
NINE
Pm blulIed II give in-yours must be the
Deacon though wish to thunder that when
any business is put into my hands you'd let me
attend to il y
Why, you were gone so long, you see, I
thought I'd help you. You might have been
eaten up for all knew. a man who lived in
place called MuskeOgue might easily be can
nibal in fact, should think he'd have to
strive against it pretty hard. shouldn't wo,i-
der "a bit if your Deacon were head OF man
eating church,
'Well, there are two of 'em now, thanks to
your COOL assistance and If they are
inclined that way, I'll recommend them to try
you first i'll swear you've lived ut Delmon-
ico's till the fat lies over your. sparc.ribs in
solid chunks-Pll pay you for your oiiicious-
ness, old boy
Il wonder If there is anything else but dea-
IA, m
Hodge, dreamily.
Abandoning the pipe aud damp tobacco as
bad job, Mr.. Peavey now for the first time
spoke, in listlessly musical accents. from the
taiIrail.
.'The products of the south shore of Long ISL
and are principally oysters, clans, fresh and
salt specimens of the different piscinc tribes.
and Calyinsts-thc latter, however, not indi-
genous, but introduced from Connecticut. BE.
ing hardy. intelligent, and moral, they make
excellent citizens-and very gooa salt goldfish
But what shall do with our two Deacons' ?
said Mr.. Reeve.
Hold "a mectn' with them,' suggested Mr..
Peavey.
Perhaps could tell my Deacon II was mis-
take. aud get let of for u quarter-that's what
| paid for him-and you can add your two
dimes for "a considerations Reeve said Mr..
Hodge. They do good deal for that money
in Muskcogue'
That's not to be thought OF answered Mr.
Reeve, decidedly. we may offend him mortal
ly, and have the old superstition about keep
Ing on the right side of man that knows fish.
Besides, perhaps he's the other Deacon's bosom
friend-aud then we'd carry i'll will with us as
we'll as leave il behind u.s.
(rhis he said, being ignorant Of the two
Meetings of Muskeogue, and OF deacons gener-
ally.)
'On the other hand, replied Mr.. Hodge, 'he
and that deacon of yours may be rivals they
are both called the first fshermen,' and it's
more than likely that their pride will receive
the seyercr sting by being asked to share the
command. don't know what We shall do
You're making great deal of fuss about
nothing, seems to me, fellows spoke Mr.. Pea.
vey. calmly sfrom the tatfrail. 'All you've got
to do is TO admire the Deacon below very ex.
eessiyely. and keep his pride at work ing
the tackle. Hodge has the most gas afd6lar-
ney, so he can stay down and do that business
and as soon as the other Deacon comes aboard
put him at the helm aud glide out upon the
wave like thing of life-his brother, melu-
while, you see, not knowing but you're steering
Yourself. When you're we'll at sea, and the
tackles all right, Hodge can bring up Reeves
Deacon. and introduce him to Hodges Deacon
Ifthey shake hands and accept our explanation,
very we'll il not, they're aboard, and that's
the end ofit'
And Mr. Peavey shut his eyes languidly, to
correct any erroneous impression which might
lie gathered from these practical views that he
did not live on Fifth Avenue and was man OF
sense.
This advice was acted upon to the letter.
Hodge went below and got into long discus.