Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-07-28
hearty embrace was given to his NTH

1T Is Gods meal TO- night, my boy,
said the vrow, her hand in both OF his
and her blue eyes beautiful in their ex-
preston Of matrouly pride and love.
You have not forgotten?"
"Mitherkin! Dear Mitherkin !" re-
piled the boy, raising her hand to his
lips, and bending his head over hers,
IL have never forgotten. not once, that
Gods work pays sure wages"
Auke was still "bov" to her, whom
he addressed by that tenderest name,
Mitherkin--a word for which we have
no anonym; but his bronzed face and
sturdy frame gave him almost the look
Of middle age. As he sat there in his
sailors dress Of canvas, with his
Danish pipe in full play, he might have
passed for one OF those old-time sea-
men for whom skipper Lane had
been named.
There was time when Karl Hofdt
had speculated on match between
his partners son and his own and only
daughter, and the young folk did not
think that event impossible yet. But
Karl was thinking otherwise Auke
made good wages, to be sure. Hawse
temperate aud industrious. If it were
not for his fathers large family he
might lay BY something, but as it was
he would never be worth a silver.
Joan must do better than that was
the conclusion to which he was coming
when the news Auke was telling his
mother over the beer turned his mus
ings TO another channel.
The captain and owner of the Zuv
der Zee" in which craft Auke had al
WAYS sailed, was Jacob Stevenson.
who. by carrying cheese aud gin to the
Baltic towns, aud salt fish back to
Amsterdam, had realized sufficient
gains 10 open a trade with England.
Its late King had been Hollands
standholder. and London had market
for tea and Chine Sc silks, Of which
Amsterdam was the emporium. But
the "Luydcr Zee" would not suit En-.
glish trade. and he had offered to sell
her 10 Auke, 10 be paid for in yearly
instaliments, with interest at five per
cent.
Take her = said Karl. and will use
all my interest with the Schenijams
aud cheese-buyers 10 get up the first
cargo"
But she is slow satIor and rough
IN the rigging" replied Auke, skill
fully taking the cautious side.
''shell 20 well enough before the
wind. won't she and she ladies' better
than any craft in the river. You had
better close the bargain with Jacob.
give her coat Of paint and call her
"Hammerman Van Harderhold," after
onr East India Director. I'll 20 the
first trip with YOU. Auke."
That's all very WELL" replied Auke.
Ill take the Zuyder Zee and paint her,
and you, Mynheer Karl. may freight
her. But she is nv ship, and As long
as sail her she goes only by one
name. and that is the ..Frsian Vrow."
for my mother"
For many weeks Auke and Karl. the
one at the ship and the other at the
cargo, were busy in getting ready.
Everything sped. Neighbors furnished
"entures of linen. Country folk
brought in their cheeses. Schnapps in
bottles, Hollands in delft. aud gin in
barrels and hogsheads, were carefully
slowed away in the ships hold. Her
bottom was newly coppered, new
fgure-head, presented by Jason keef
for good luck, set gracefully under her
bow, and she bore in large letters on
her stern "Frisian Vrow." By the
middle of July she was ready to sail.
Fare thee we'll, my boy !" said his
good mother as she took leave of him
at the door in the gray of the summer
morning. Forget US not at home. aud
in all thy goings, remember that Gods
work has sure wages.
IL will remember that, and all the
good things you have taught me moth
er; but keep brave heart and take no
disquiet for me good-byev' p said the
young skipper. and within the hour he,
on the deck Of the ''Frisian Vrow." was
sailing down the Amstel.
| The newly painted ship was high
popped, broad-sided bark, of heavy
build, but fair wind carried her down
the Zuyder Zee, over the North Sea,
and up the Sound SO surely aud steadi-
ly, that Karl got the length Of remark
ing that q seaman's life was the easiest
he knew. Their destination was the
port Of Revel, where the Dutch traders
had found . market ever since their
sails were first seen even in the Baltic.
AT this time Peter, afterward called
the Great, was home from his three
years travels. He had worked as a
ship-carpenter at the Zaundam dock.
yard; had learned rope making, sail
making, and smith-work had worn the
dress OF workman, made his own fire,
boiled his own pot, swept his own lodg-
ings carried timber on his shoulders.
and conforme1 in every respect to the
customs Of the yard and be was now
carrying out results in Russia such as
In any other way ten centuries would
never have accomplished. He had
created q fleet, disciplined an army,
established university, and was now
engaged in laying the found ations of
city 70 be called after his own name.
Fixing upon Cro0stsdt - the location
for the fort tO protect the mouth of the
river upon which the capital OF all the
Russias was to stand, and preparing
the drawings with his own hand, he leit
its execution to one Of bis engineer
officers while he returned TO St. Peters
burg to push forward those almost
superhuman works, which, 1t the cost
Of nearly halfa million lives, have made
It what it is. The eastern coasts Of
the Baltic, formerly divided l,etvae,.