The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1868-02-18

saw them Tor the last time; tor when
next looked upon that face the eyes
were last closed, and could have opened
them the luster would have been gone
A west country fisherman's life ia one
which takes him deal from home, for
sometimes we go off for perhaps three
months at time to the north coast, or t.,
ireland, when the herring season is on
and, like the rest, used to be off in my
boat, sorry enough to leave home-hap-
py enough to return after busy season,
till one year, when took it inro my
head to think it strange that Harry PEN
ellyn, my w;fe's old beau, should spin his
illness cut 80 long and stop ashore, time
after time, when the boats went out, and
him seeming to I've well and strong as any
of us There had been heavy gale on
the coast some weeks before, and, as we
always do at such times, we had run in
for the harbor as soon as we saw it com.
ing but through bad seamanship, PEN
ellyns boat came in, inside the rock. when
she should have gone outside, and then,
through their rot having water enough,
she grounded, lifted again, caught by the
stern, apd then swung around hroadSde
in the waves, which swept her half deck,
while a regular chorus of shrcks rose
from the women stard;ng ashore.
II was rough time, for even our boats
that were in the harbor were groanlng
and grinding together, while every now
and Then the sea wa he'd over 50 as TO
threaten TO xii! them, sweeping the pier
from end to end. In an ordinary way we
made 4 custom of laughing at the crew
Of boat who, from bunsling, got her on
the roc..s; for born as we were on the
bay, with our fathers fishers before us, we
knew every stone along tho coest, and
could almost have steered our boat to
them blindfold but this WINS no time to
swept one by one from their hold, and
borne struggling through the surf to the
rocks, where they were in danger of bc.
ing dashed to pieces, fer ours was no
smooth, sandy beach. Some were swim
ming, some beating the water franticaly;
and, clad rs our men arc, in their thick
cloth trousers, heavy sea boots, and
Guernsey shirt, they stand poor chance
Of keeping ahoat long, for the weight
of their large boots is enough to draw
them down.
There was every one in state of cx.
cltement-men running out as far as they
cou!'b and throwing ropes men shouting
orders that nobody attended to--womcn
tossing their arms up and crying, while
first one and then another of tie boat'a
crew was dragged ashore and carried half
drowned up TO the cottages
was standing looking on, with Mmv
by my side, for she was ont on the cliff
when my boat came into the little harhor
while her hand was first to clasp mine
when got ashore, thankful for the es.
cape we had i.ad> for the sea had rose
wonderfully Quick. had taken no part
IN trying to save the boats crew, for there
were plenty OF willing hands, and there
being now but little standing room below
the cliff, ! had thought should be in the
way; but now it seemed TO me that one
poor fellow would be lost with the cfl1rts
they were making to save him, for he
was too weak TO cling to the ropes thrown
out, and as fast as he was swept in by
the waves, they sucked him back again
three or four times
had not seen who it was, but just then.
as | made n start as if to 90 down, my
vile clutched my arm. and there was a
wild look in her face as she said aloud,
"llarry l'enellyn."
The excitement of the moment carried
almost everything before il, but | had
strange feeling shoot through my hear,
and something seemed to say "Keep
back :" but the next minute was fight
Ing with the waves, with the moose of a
rope round my body. and plenty of stout
mates ashore fast hold of the end while.
after a strangling battle, got tight hold
Of Penellyn, and we were drawn ashore
md both of US carried to my cottage,
though | tried hard to get upon my feet
and walk, but might have known that
our fellows would net have let me on any
account
Well, Harry Pcncllyu lay at our place
ihrrc or four days, and Mary tended him.
and all that time | had to fiaht against "A
strange, nngenerouS, cowardlv feeling
that wond creep over me. and seem.d at
lines to make me mad, till got myself
N corner and asked myself questions,
10 all OF which could only answer the
'ame word-nothing Then Penelvn
got better, and went to his mothers house:
and time went on, ill | grew BITTER and
harsh, and mo,Ose, and was always |
haunted by a suspicion that ! would not
put into words, though now the question
came again and again--"Why doesn't
Harry Peneiiyn go to sea 7"
No answer came TO my question; and /
though he seemed now to be well and !
'irong as ever he always stayed at home |
while we went out and in my frame Of !
mind this troubled me, and kept feeling
,lad that we were only out now on the !
hort trips of a few day. in lsngth | |
grew angry with myself and with all |
around, Ay, and grow angry even
'ow, when ! think that few earnest
words OF explanation--a few questions
hat | know would have been answered .
'reely-would have set all right, and
perhaps have saved the life of as good
md loving woman IA ever lived IN thu