Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-03-10
Vol XVI Whole No. 1888 Na 10.


TO extricate myself from the unpleas.
ant position into which it has been my
misfortune tn be drawn can you help
me?"
Hem hey ?-what i-unpleasant
position what's upon yer beam
ends ?-breakers a lee? anchor drag
ging. and Jeems Rice to paw exclaim-
ed the half awakened nautical. as he
stumbled out of his birth and COM
menced fnmbling his vest pocket, bring.
ing up from its depths an old tobacco
pipe and huge piece of dry tobacco.
The latter, he Immediately began to
rub up, in his left hand, by means OF
certain peculiar gyrations of the right
fore finger and thumb, known only to
old smokers; filling and emptying,
alternately, the pipe bowl, which he
held between the thumb and fore finger
Of the left hand. This was a peculiar
ity of the Captains. when engaged in
any convers alton which interested him.
or which enlisted his sympathy. 1t
was, therefore, with pleasure that
Charles noticed the energetic convolu-
tions of the old mans fingers and
hand.
NO, Captain, am not quite ship
wrecked yet ; but 'Jeems' Is to paw not
! Rice but Jenkens."
'Jenkens! Blarst the scoundrels
rig, from truck to keelson, | saw!
Pity somebody wouldn't shiver his fig
ger head, and knock in his headlights
for him"
That is just what I've been doing,
Captain Stubbs - and Charles related
the particulars of the encounter.
Starved him right; by the great hook
block !" exclaimed the old tar, filling
mis- pipe with renewed energy but ys
haven't killed the lubberly son of sea
jelly, have ye?'
II hope not out let the case turn as
it may, | shall be arrested on the
charge of assault, or may be man
slaughter, unless l can keep beyond
the reach of the police for while, until
the affair blows over"
"Ics. yes; yer'll have a school Of
land sharkes in yer wake, after ye,
taut bowline but starn chase is
hard one so let EN- come on with ther
salt and battery, or manslaughter, or
whatever they like; they'll find old
Ethan ready to repcl boarder..
Wen change that program little,
Charley well make up case of whale
slaughter; darn my eyes if we don't.
I'll give yon the bow oar in nv boat.
Nearly two years after, while on his
return trip. Charles, to to his great joy,
learned, by the way of an outward
bound wlalcship. that jenkins had re-
covered, but with the loss of an eve.
Ills long confinement. and doctors
bill! had consumed the whole of his i'll
gotten gains, So that he was obliged
again TO betakc himself TO the sea.
The idea. that he had taken the life
of fellow creature had caused yourg
Edwards a constant feeling Of disquiet;
during the long months which had in
tervened since the afray; but this well
come intelligence seemed to lift .
weight from his spirits so light hearted
he now appeared, that Captain Stubbs
plavfuly advised him TO ''shove lit
tie ballast into the run of his coat pock
ct, to keep him from going up" But
his happy mood was of short duration
on arriving in New Bedford. he learned
the sad story of his fathers death from
delirium tremens Sorrowful and
heart-sick, he left his native place. and
turned his footsteps towards Millridge,
where his only known relative, with
the exception of Mrs. Mitchell, and
cousin. living in Liverpool) his mother,
had found n home during his absence.
He remained in Mrs. Mitchel's family
but few weeks at this time he how
ever never failed to receive a cordial
welcome whenever he returned from
voyage.
The lovely Mary Bramford, just
budding into womanhood, and young
Edwards were thus very often brought
into the congenial sphere of each others
society; it is not at all surprising,
therefore, that the warm feeling Of
friendship, so formed, should grow into
a tender regard for each other, and at
length blossom into the fathomless love
that binds two souls in deathlcss union.
Several years passed quietly, when
another event overwhelmed the young
man in sorrow this was the sudden
decease of his mother. after brief
illness.
IL am alone, all alone !" he exclaim
ed. in the bitterness Of his anguish.
..say not alone" said Mrs. Mitchell
we shall continue to claim you as one
of as. Here make Your home and so
far as a mothers place can be filed by
another. let me be instead Of the friend
you have lost"
Aud will always be your own SIS