The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1869-05-20
TIE MYSTERIOUS WIDOW.

During the summer Of 1914, the Brit
ish had not only laid claim to all that por-
ton Of the district Of Maine lying east of
the Peuobscot, but Admiral Griffith and
Sir John Sherbrooke, the latter then be-
ing the Governor Of Nova Scotia, had been
sent away with heavy force to take pos
scssI0n, and occupy the town Of Castinc,
which place commands the entrance to the
Penobscot river. Shortly before the ar
rival Of the English squadron, Commodore
Samuel Tucker had been sent around to
to Pcnobscot Bay to protect she American
coasters, and while the British sailed up
Castine, he lay at Thomaston.
1t Was q schooner that the Commodore
commanded, but she was Il heavy Cne. well
armed and manned and that she carried
the true yankee grit upon her decks,
the enemy had received from them rather
zoo many proofs. On thg morning of the
2Tth Of August, messenger was sent
down from Belfast with the intelligence
that the British trigate was coming from
Castine to take him. Tucker knew that
the British feared him. and "lza tAes Sir
Sir JUuH ShcrbIrUkU had offered i3TZe
amount for his capture. When the Com
modorc received the intelligence his yes
sci was lying at one Of the low wharves
where he would have to wait two
two hours for the tide to set him off, but
be hastencd to have everything prepared
to get her off as soon 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
T., Nrla !, H.
horse came rattling down to the shore
The driver, rough looking c0untryman,
got out upcn the wharf, and then assisted
niddle-aged woman from the vehicle.
The lady's first inquiry was for Commo-
dore Tucker. He was pointed out to her,
and she stepped upon the schooner's deck,
and approached him.
Commodore" she asked, when do you
sail from here ?"
'.Wc-sail right of, as soon as possible,
madam"
''Oh, then [ know you will be kind to
me-" urged the lady, IL persuasive tones.
My poor husband died yesterday, and
[ wish TO carry his corpse to Wicasset,
where We belong, and where MS parents
viii take care Of it."
But, my good woman, / shan't go to
Wicassct."
If you VIII only land me at the mouth
of the Sheepscot, I viii ask no more.
can easily find 4 boat there to take me up. .
Where is the body ?" asked Tucker.
Gin the wagon" returned the lady, at
the same time raising the corner Of her
shawl to wipe away the gathering tears.
Il have 4 sum Of money with me, and you
shall be paid for the trouble"
Tut, tut, woman If l accommodate
you there won't be any pay about it,
The kind-hearted old Commodore was
not the man to refuse a favor, and though
he liked not the bother Of taking the
woman and her strange accompaniment OF
board, yet he could not refuse. When
she thanked him with many tears in hel
ewes.
Some of the men were sent upon the
wharf to bring the body on board. a
long buffalo robe was lifted off by the mar
who drove the wagon, and beneath it ap
peared neat black coffin Some words
were passed by the seamen as the,
were putting the coffin on board wAicl
went to show how plainly the affair diC
not exactly suit them. 1t may have beer
but prejudice on their part, but then sea
men should be prejudiced once in while
when we consider the many stern realitie
they have to encounter.
Hush, my good men," ssid the Com
modore, as he heard their mumured re
monstrances. Suppose you were to di
away from home-would you not wish tina
your last remains might be carried to you
poor parents? Come, hurry now"
The men said no more and ere long tn
coffin was placed in the hald, and the VIC
man was shown TO the catin. In less tina