Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1870-12-22
THE MYSTERIOUS WIDOW.

During the summer of 1914 the Brit
ish had not only laid claims to all tha
portion of the District of Maine lyin
east of the Penobscot, but Admiral Grit
fifth aud Sir John Sherbroote, the latte
then being Governor Of Nova Scotia
had been sent with heavy force to TAXI
possession and occupy the town of Cas-
tine, which place commands the entrance
to the Penobscot River. Shortly betor,
the arrival of the English squadron
Commodore Samncl Tucker bad beer
sent around to Pcnobscot Bay, to pro
tect the American coasters, end while
the British sailed up to Castinc, he lai(
at Thomaston.
1t was q schooner that the Commo
dorc commanded, but she was a heavy
one well armed and manned and that
she ca. ried the true Yankee grit" upon
her decks, the enemy had received from
them rather too many proofs. On the
morning Of August -, Il messenger was
sent down from Belfast, with the intclli-
gcnce that the British frigate was coming
from Castine to take him, and also that
Sir John Sherbrooke had offered a large
amount for his capture.
When the Commodore received the
intelligence, his vessel was lying at one
of the wharves, where he would have to
set him off; but he hastcned to have
everything prepared to get her off as
soon as possible, for he had no desire to
meet the frigae.
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
bowlinc, when a wagon drove by one
horse came rattling down to the spot
The driver, a rough looking country
man, got upon the wharf, and then as
sisted middle aged woman from the
vehicle. The ladys first inquiry was
for Commodore Tucker. He was pointed
out to her, aud she stepped upon the
schooner's deck, and approached him.
Commodore" she asked, "when do
you sail from h; e"
"We sail right off, as soon as possible,
madame"
"Oh, then, I know you will be kind
to me-" the lady urged, in persuasive
tones. "My poor husband died yester
day, and l wish to carry his corpse to
Wiscasset, where we belong, and where
his parents will take care of it.
"But, my good woman, I shan't go to
Wiscasset."
eff you will land me at Sheepscot, ]
will ask no more. l can easily fud
boat there to take me up
"Where is the body?" asked Tucker
"In the wagon" returned the lady, at
the same time raising the corner of her
shawl to wipe away the gathering tears.
II have a sum of money with me, and
you shall be paid for your trouble"
Tut, tut, woman, if accommodate
you, there won't be any pay about it 3D."
"The kind-hearted old Commodore
was not the man to refuse a favor. He
liked not the bother of taking the woman
and her strange accompaniment on
board, yet he told her he would do as
she had requested. She thanked him
with many tears in her eyes.
Some of the men were sent on the
wharf to bring the body on board. A
long buffalo robe was lifted off by the
man that drove the wagon, and beneath
it appeared a neat black coffin. Words
passed by the seamen as they were put
ting the coffin on board, which went to
show that the affair did dot exactly suit
them. 1t may be prejudice on their
part, but the seamen should be allowed
a prejudice once in a while, when we
consider the many stern rea tiles they
have to encounter.
"Hush, my good men," said the com
modore, as he heard their murmured
remonstrances. "Supposc you were to
die away from home, would you not
wish that your last remains might be
carried home to your parents? Come
hurry now.'
The men said no more, and ere long
the coffin was placed in tm hold, and
the woman was showed to the cabin.
In less than half an hour, the schooner
was cleared from the wharf, and standing
out from the bay. The wind was light
from the eastward, but Tucker had no
fear of the friga'e now he was once out
on the bay.
In the evening, the lady passenger
came on deck, and the Commodore as
sured her that he should be able to land
her the next morning,
She expressed her gratitude and sat
isfac,ion, and remarked that before she
retired she would like to look and see
that her husbands corpse was safe. This
request was, of course, granted, aad one
of them lifted off the hatch that she
might 60 down into the hold.
81 Declare" muttered Daniel Carter,
au old sailor who was standing at the
wheel, "she takes on dreadful
eyes, poor thing said Tucker, as
he heard her sobs and groans.