Ellsworth American., 1869-06-24
Miscellaneous.
Luey's Cho,es.

tuS tsd - bSAys WV koNS ouuuCU. lay N
her wharf in Nantucket harbor. pre-
pairing for sea. Huge piles Of cord
age. heaps Of spars. harpoons. blubber-
spades and knives, empty oil-barels.
barrels Of water and Of salt junk. box.
es of hard tack. and other stores, Law
around or were being rapidly slowed
aboard. There were supplies for
years. as il seemed. And all would
he needed. for the Polly Was bound for
the arctic seas, where, amidst snow
and ice. she Was TO cruise for whales
and trust to Providence for luck. All
day long the toilers labored, As they
had for many days before, but the task
was nearly done. And when, night
descending upon the town, her Captain
turned TO 60. leaving the greasy tub
that held his fortunes 10 the careful
watch, he rubbed his hands, and said
to me that in three days more we
should bid the old town good-by for
many long month.
Captain John Hoskins was an old
friend OF my fathers. and many . trip
had they taken together in former
days; but my fasher's last voyage WAS
over, and after growing gray amidst
wild scenes Of stormy seas aud crash
ing icebergs, he had laid him down
peacefully at last, his pesils ended, his
rest that should have no end, begun.
/. Abner Skidmore, inherited the Cap
tains affection. and in my turn had
become his shipmate. His home and
my mo,her's-I was her only child
were almost close together. 20 close
that the little patches belonging to
each. and where grew The few light
crops possible TO be raised in that
sterile region, nearly touched. 1t was
not an actually lonely spot, but there
were few neighbors, and my mother
was glad enough that her sister and
her sisters husband lived with her
They have nothing 70 do with the story.
however. AZ was her household dur
ing my fathers long absences and nov
mine, 90 was the Captains.
He was . widower. and be, too, had
but one living child, girl, Lucy, Of
whom have much TO tell. She is
we'll, she was the then-just eighteen.
thought her an angel. Her aunt and
gua-dian didn't, suppose, for she
called her names sometimes, which
seemed to me absolutely wonderful
That pretty Lucy, with her blue eyes
and rosy cheeks and golden hair and
delicately rounded figure, could Be 9TH
er than the best - we'll - the lowell
est Of Gods creatures, appeared to
me impossible. I knew that she was
thus excellent. Well. for that matter,
think 20 still for was in love, -
may be imagined, and am not cured Of
that complaint yet. Did abe know il?
How could tell! Her fathers laugh
ing eyes would often rest upon ~ when
We were together, and l fancied that
he would not ffown upon . match be-
tween US nay, felt % sure that he
read my secret that l could at such
times hardly meet his glance without
blush. You zee, We were simply peO-
pie, more used 70 old Neptune's ways
than those Of women, and I the sim
plest Of them all. On that April even
ing, in fact, thought rather bitterly
that had been On ABSOLUTE fool. Here
was TO leave her in three days, not 70
return perhaps for two, perhaps for
more than two years, and had never
yet courage to speak plainly to my
dear one or to her father. ] dare say
i showed something Of this uneasy,
mortified feeling - We came in sight
Of the two cottages, for the Captain
turned half round and looked At me
with sort Of inquiring wonder. Then
and there I made up my mind.
Captain Hoskins, said ]. abrupt
", Il want to speak 70 you.
.'why, speak away, lad. Some
thing particular, / suppose, to b cali
cd speaking, md di6sssnt from con-
versing, which we've besa doing more
or less all days" and he laughed
heartily.
yes; something that I've thought
Of for years. If Lucy"
"Ay! The winds in thas quarter, is
it, my lad? Well, Eve not bssn blind !;
however, heave ahead.
what yoa say makes II easier for
me, and I I'm very grateful. Nay !
hope that II she Kkss me we'll enough
you will not object 70 our nassyiag
some day? Thsrs, cir re III out, and
Pm glad of Il, fee I have besa aisarar
be enough, kesPing ny secsst.
"Abusr, replied - Capeain, go
lhr - IN eoaeeRnsd, yoa hass ~