Litchfield enquirer., 1864-01-07


 ket-place at Falmouth, and in the midst of . crowd who gazed with wondering eyes upon poor, pale faced, weeping woman who stood near him. he swore before his Eternal God that from that hour to the day of his death his life should be devoted to the support Of that bereaved father, who, having escaped the dan. gers of ths night, had fallen smitten with par alyss at hearing the news of his boys death. Although, week after week, search was made for the body of that unfortunate lad, all efforts for it's recovery were vain, and to this day nc trace of it has ever been discovered.
 By Nancolass unwearied exertions, by his strict sob.iety, and by the profits Of the little chandler's shop, old Tregiian passed for two years a comparatively calm life. As for his partner, he was an altered man. Beyond the one set purpose of his soul he had no other aim. Fortunately, some money left him by a distant relative enabled him to buy q small-a very small-life annuity for the old man whom his thoughtless folly had deprived of son.
 Two years had passed, when on fine Au- gust morning in the twilight fisherman (in returning from his nights wolk) was passing the mouth of the bay he was falling into that half lfwakeful semi-conscious doze which invariably follows many hours watching and was (so he afterwards said) in that state in which the sights and sounds that are taking place in our world of reality mingle themselves sometimes with our world of dreams. It ap- peared to him that the wind had freshened, for a cold air famed his face; it seemed to him also, in his halfdrowsy and unconscious state, that some one was beside him in the little skif. Shaking himself and gancing around, 50 strong an impression had the feeling made on him, he was half surprised to find he was alone, and that the boat was being borne by the-tide on a sea scarcely moved by ripple.
 The old man had filled his pipe, and was about to light it. when strange sound fell up on his ear; it was at first very indistinct, and appeared to come from the little creek that Was opposite.
 The fisherman looked round, thinking it might proceed from some distant vessel but the horizon was as clear as 1t had been two yelrs before, when Nancolas hal viewed it by the breaking light of morning.
 The old man stood there with his unlighted pipe in his mouth, listening. when the same cold breeze that had stolen over his slumbering features again played on his face, and with it came the feeling he had experienced in his dream-that Of there being with him an image without form. Once more upon the air came the mysterious sound this time he heard it
  faint cry dwelling upon the waters
 He's not come yet Y
 The sound seemed borne win aad depend ent on the breeze, for 1t cams as gradually as it faded the acords too-where had the old fisherman heard them before He tried but failed to remember; surely they must have been :a part of his dream
 Louler and more distinct they came once more upon the breeze
 ''I3s aot coae yet '''
 No visionary remnant Of an overwrought inlaxinatien--th tones of the fresh voice of q boy, uttered as clearly as the fisherman had ev- CT he,rd th m iu his l!e-from aOsom, from whence, had they proceeded
 Not from the land, where not even the cur Ing smoke was darkening the sky not from any object on the sea, on which nothing was visible but his own solitary boat. All, was i'll.
 With white face, and trembling hands, and feeling of indetinable dread, the old man pulled towards Falmouth. As he neared the shore, on looking round, he perceived boat, in which was solitary figure rowing towards him. As he approached it, he deserted the form of Paul Nancolas
 He hailed him, and with trembling lips and broken voice related to him what he had heard. As he told Naucolas of the words the voice had uttered the eyes of the other became, as it were, fixed and he stared at the old man with stony gaze.
 The last words uttered by nay poor lost boy r
 The look was so full of hopeless misery yet so resolute in it's awful calmness, that, scarcely knowing why, the old fisherman begged of Paul for the love of Heaven to go no farther.
 He was his son-his ouly son! He saved me when l was helpless wretch-h he saved me from the bad, and when he called to me for hels, lay slumbering like drunken dog y
 At the first words uttered by Nancolas the old man stood panic stricken and aghast; in d homely prayer. When he looked up Nanco las in his boat was making for the sea.
 To the wondering fishermen, who with gap ing eyes crowded round him, did the old man tell his tale and by sunset the beach was al- most lined with men and women, anxiously str.,ining their eyes to catch the first glimpse of tue boat of Nancolas.
 They watched for him till dark and then they brought orches and lanterns to shed faint light upou the calm, still bay. With eager hands they assisted to push off the boats, wherein some fishermen had volunteered to search for their missing friend faint cheer burst from their lips, and the boats departed out into the dark night on the calm sea.
 Many still remember that night, and the cold creeping shudder that stole over them when the fishermen returned bearing no news oftheir missing comfade. There are numbers who to this day tell of the panic that was spread in Falmouth, when day by day and week by week passed. and nothing was either seen or heard of the object of their search.
 Years hove passed, but the missing fisher man is still remembered and children crowd the closer round the dim freight, as their gray haired fathers tell the tale. that, from that day to this, no tidings have been gained of the fisherman or his boat.
 The story is 8 strange one, 1 confess; but solemnly declare believe it for the most part true, and many who still live in Falmouth will stake their lives for its veracity.
 What is the difference between mischiev ous mouse and beautiful young lady One harms the cheese, and the other charms the he's.
 Why is 1t that the moment for popping the question is so terrible to young fellows. that they frequently cannot utter word Because just then, they love the fair one beyond ex- pression.
 Who is it that is in two situations at once A lover for when he is beside his fair one he is usually beside himself.