The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-04-01
BIDDBFoRD, ME-, FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL /, 1864.

cleat, and the former put the helm into the new
comer's hand. Having merely dropped the
peak and the jib while lying at the wharf, II
was but moments work to haul taut and start
again, and in ten minutes the town of Muskc.
ogue was mile. and half of on the Esmsr-
alda's port quarter, and that little soop bowl
ing her niue kno.s merrily away before brisk
wind from the same direction. ss.
Deacon Allen by this time had replaced the
'York squids' upon oil but o tricc of lines with
bones of his own manufacture. and Hodge had
exhausted all the inesse Of his nature 10 dis.
cover means to keep him below, to avert the
consequences of his officious kindness rs long
as possible, when he guessed he would look
around little on deck, which guess, with q
New Highlander, means certainty.
kinder think the wind III haul round to the
beam afore long, and then your smack will lie
down up to the scuppers, and Of ye amt tol-
able acquainted with this coast, sc may capsze.
for guess ye amt much in ballast, be ye!
Yc Amt no ways crank, be sc, nuther! we
get flaws, now and then, Orful sudden OF the
pints, and orful strong, tew so guess ia
better take her In hand leetle ef ye hain't got
no objections
'0h, not in the least, Deacon-very glad to
have you,' said Mr.. Hodge, with palpitating
heart aud the mildest of voices. 'You so first,
II YOU please AMI waved him politely up the
ladder, following close behind to witness the
dreaded encounter.
The cabin of the EsmeraIiu, as in most small
craft, opened up directly forward Of the wheel.
The very first object, therefore, that met Dea-
con Aliens eyes as they became flush with the
quarterback was the Deacon Of the other Meet
ing, and that Deacon steering At the same
instant the Deacon at the wheel beheld the Dea-
con coming up the ladder, and, to quote from
Orator Clmax's famous Lyceum speech, He
looked ut the fisherman. Mr.. President, and
the fisherman looked at him, aud, Sir, they
both looked Mt each other.' This may seem
Pathological, but nothing else is adequate.
Then Deacon Allen stopped on the ladder,
AZ Aprping square about, thrust his hand. rs
deeply nk0siblc into the II lc pockets of his
pea Jacket, " nGipg a stern, searching glance
upon Mr.. Hodge, Gpretended to feel sud-
den call in the direcllo1 eHamining his lin.
ger nails. simultaneously Deacon Townsend
divided corresponding glance about equally
between Mr.. Reeve and Mr.. Peavey, and put
the wheel SO hard up that the Esmeraiaa went
several points off the wind before he knew 1t.
Mr. Peavey became apparently fast asleep on
his cleat. and Mr.. Reeve took three hasty strides
forward to express his vcxation
The true Yankee never suffers himself to he
betrayed into a scene. Where Middle States
man or Southerner would be likely to show
all that he felt. just there he is most likely to
keep 1t to himself. Hence there never had been,
and was not now, any open rupture between
the Deacons. They had traded together, and
met every day 'tew the store all the while
reserving their private opinions of each other
for marital converse. or, at the widest, the par
tisan talk ofcOngregation meetings. So Deacon
Allen, making nothing out of Mr.. Hodge and
his finger nails, ascended the ladder, and smiled
grimly at the other Deacon.
'How de dew, Deacon Townsend?'
'How lie dew, Deacon Allcn?'
'Tol'able nice weather we've ben hayin' for q
day or tew.'
'Wa'al, yes. Miss Allen well?'
'Quite smart, thank ye. AL well to ham!'
'Tol'able; the rheumatiz'trsubles Miss Town.
send leetle, but we're dll right otherways.'
.wa'al, I guess I'll look forrid n bit,' anil
Deacon Allen walked away to the bows Dea-
con Townsend holding on tight to the wheel,
and steering rcsolutely, as If he'd like to see the
man who'd take IL away from him. Mr.. Hodge
staid aft with him, and Mr.. Reeve followed
Deacon Allen to the lee shrouds, where he
stood holding on by ratlin, and looking a
long way ahead, as IL he suspected breakers
Here the mainsail hid them both completely
from the wheel.
Right deown smart man, that Deacon Town
scnd,' said the other Deacon, after u moment.
Feeling wonderfully relieved, Mr.. Reeve re-
piled, enthusiastically, 'Oh. very
'Jes' so,' continued Deacon Allen. An old
friend o. yourn, guessi =
No, never saw him before. Mr.. Hodge
that gentleman MI with the light mustachc-
brought him down to the boat while you were
below, You see he didn't know I'd found yOu,
and after had gone up into Muskeogue he
went on his own hook and got him. 'ltsa nat
ural mistake, perhaps; for we were both rec
commended to get the deacon rs the best fish,
erman in Muskcogue, and he engaged the one
who's aft now, supposing him to be the Dea-
con. You arc the the Deacon, aren't you?
'wa'al, yes. Sos t'other.'
'Oh there are two Deacons in Muskeoguc,
then? You see l don't know much about
church government anyhow
There's half dozen DeacOns in Muskeogue,
There's two Meetins'
'And you assist each other, supposeT
'Wa'al, not exactly. He belongs to one
Meetin'. and belong to t'othcr.'
Deacon Allen said this, in spite OF himself,
Mr.. Reed caught sight of at least the titlc.page
of tho great Muskeogue controversy, and his
anxiety returned.
'Weil. Deacon Allen, we're all very sorry for
this mistake, and hope You won't take offence
at il. engaged you in perfect good faith, and
RELY on YOU myself for nl our luck at fishing:
so you won't feel like backing out now, will
your
sWa'al, no, young man. I kinder think I'll
hcv tcw be putty bad afore I'll feel that way.
But MS II dOan't need tew Mt the wheel-not in
this here sea, nohow-I'll eau myself a pas.
scngcr and mako myself comfortable till your
pilots gin eout.' And. by way of fulfilling
his promise, the Deacon sat down on the spare
coil of the Jib. halard, leaned his head agains
the mast, deliberately drew his iron spcctaclcs
from their maple case, mounted them, and
plunged into column of the Congregational.
st which he had just taken from the post office
before coming aboard. AS he eyinced no intcn-
ton of reading aloud, nor of imparting any
further expression Of his views extraneous to
the article headed, DUTY Of Professors to Men
of the World Mr.. Reeve made his way aft
again as quietly as possible
In the meantime Mr.. Hodge. with occasional
assistance, seemingly Of q somnioquent nature,
from the gentleman on the cleat, had offered
the explanation to his Deacon, aud with gen.
orally similar result.
After which the three junior partners betock
their three pair of intimately related panta.
looms down the ladder. aud held cabinet, or
Mt least cabin, council.
sDevilish close man, that Deacon of mne,'
said Mr.. Hodge. Swear can't make anything
out of him.
Mines closer still. only wish knew
whether it's bad sign In Muskeogue when
Deacon begins reading his church paper
Mine's doing II pretty severely forward against
the mast; but whether it's for pleasure. or as
an exhibition Of the consolatory powers Of
faith in circumstances of great trial, can't
say. don't believe my deacon likes yours,any
way
'Nor mine yours replied Mr.. Hodge. defen-