The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-12-25
Gistcllasssas.
TIE MYSTERIOUS WIDOW.

DURING the summer 1871 the Brit
ish had not only laid claim TO all that
portion Of the District of Maine lying
cast Of the Pcn0hsCot, but Admiral Grif-
lrth and Sir John ShrrbrookC. the lat
ter then being the Governor of Nova
Scotia, had been sent with a heavy force
to take possession, and occupied the
town Of Casline, which place commands
the entrance to the PenobscOt river.
shortly before the arrival OF the Eng
lish squadron, Commodore Sam'l Tuck
er had been sent around to penobscot
Bay to protect the American coasters,
and while the British sailed up to Cas-.
tine, he lay at Thomaston.
Itwas a schooner that the Commo-
dore commanded, but she was a heavy
one, well armed and manned and that
she carried. the true Yam kee 'grit" upon
her decks the enemy had received, from
them, rather too many proofs. On the
morning Of the 2Sth of August, mes
sengcr was sent down from Belfast with
the intelligence that the British frigate
was coming from Castine to take him.
Tucker knew that the British feared
him, and also that 81, John Sherbrookc
had offered large amount for his cap
tIre.
When the Commodore received the
intelligence, his vessel was lying at one OF
the low wharves where he would have
to wait two hours for the tide to set him
off; but he FASTENED to have every.
thing prepared to get her Off as ,on as
possible, for he had no desire to meet
the frigate.
The schooner's keel was just cleared
from the mud, and one of the men had
been sent upon the wharf to cast Off the
bowling, when wrgon drawn by one
horse came rattling down to the spot.
The driver, rough looking country
man got out upon the wharf, and then
assisted middle-aged woman from
the vehicle. The lady's first enquiry
was for Commodore Tucker. He was
pointed out to her, and she stepped up
on the schooncr's deck, and approached
him.
"Commodorc," she asked, "whcn do
you sail from here?"
owe sail right off, as soon as possible,
madam"
"Oh, then, | know you will be kind
to me-" the lady urged, in persuasive
tones. "My poor husband died yes
terday, and | wish to carry his corpse
to Wicasset, where we belong, and
where his parents will take care of
it,"
"But, my good woman, shan't go to
Wicnsst."
Tf you will only land me at the
mauth of tn Shccpscot, | will ask no
more. can easily Add q boat there to
take me up"
"Where is the body ?" asked Tuck
er.
ain the wagon" returned tho lady,
at the same time raising the corner OF
her shawl to wipe away tho gathering
tears. "I have sum of money with
me, and you shall be paid for the
trouble"
"Tnt, tut, woman; If accommodate
you, there won't be any pay about it,"
Tho kind-hearled old Commodore was
not the man to refuse favor, and
though he liked not the bother of taking
the woman and her strange accompani,
ment on board, yet he could not refuse
When he told her he would do as she
requested she thanked him with many
tears in her eyes.
Some of the men were sent upon thu
wharf to bring the body on board.
long bntTao robe was lifted OFF by thu
man who drove the wagon, and beneath
it appeared a neat black coffin. Some
words were passed by the, seamen, a
they were putting the coffin on board
which went to show pretty plainly tina
the affair did not exactly suit them.
may have been but prejudice on thei
part, but then scamen should be allow
eb n prejudice once in a while, whel
we consider the many stern realitic
they have to encounter. "Hush, m,
good men," said the Commodore, Il
he heard their murmured rcmonstran
ces. "Suppose you were to die, ava,
from home-would you not wish tina
your last remains might he carried {
your poor parents? Come, hurr
now"
The men said no more, and ere Ion