The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-06-21
THE MYSTERIOUS WIDOW.

nURING the war of 1914, Commo-
~ dore Samuel Tucker had been sent
around to Penobscot Bay to protect the
American coasters, and while the British
sailed up the Castine, he lay at Thomaston
1t was a schooner that the Commodore
commanded, but she was a heavy one,
well-armed and manned and that she car
ried the true Yankee grit the enemy
had received from them too many proofs.
On the morning Of the 2Sth of August,
a messenger was sent down from Belfast
with the intelligence that British trig-
ate was coming from Castine to take him.
Tucker knew that the British feared him,
and that also Sir John Therbrook had Of
fered large amount for his capture.
When the Commodore received the in
telligence his vessel was lying at one of
the wharves where he would have to wait
for two hours for the tide to set him off,
but he FASTENED to have everything pre-
pared to get her off as soon as possible,
for he had no desire to meet the frigate.
The schooners keel was just cleared
from the mud and one of the men had
been sent upon the wharf to cast off the
bowline, when wagon drawn by one
horse came rattling down to the spot
The driver, rough-looking countryman,
got out upon the wharf, and then assisted
middle-aged woman from the vehicle.
The ladys first inquiry was for Commo-
dore Tucker He was pointed out to her,
and she approached him.
"Commodore," she asked, "when do
you sail from here 2"
"We sail right off, as soon as possible,
madam"
"Oh, then I know you will be kind to
me-" the lady urged in persuasive tones.
My poor husband died yesterday, and |
wish to carry his corpse to Wiscasset,
where he belongs, and where his parents
will take care of it"
But my good woman, shan't go to
Wiscasset"
"If you will only land me at the
mouth of Sheepcot, | will ask no more.
l can easily find 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 tears. &C. have
a sum of money with me, and you shall
be well paid for your trouble"
" Tut, tut, woman; if accommodate
you, there won't be any pay about it."
The kind-hearted old Commodore was
not the man to refuse favor, and though
he liked not the trouble of taking the
woman and her strange accompaniment on
board, yet he could not refuse. When
he told her he would do as she had re-
quested, she thanked him with many
tears in her eyes.
Some of the men were sent upon the
wharf to bring the body on board. A
long buffa 10 robe was lifted off by the
man that drove the wagon and beneath il
there appeared neat black coffin. Some
words were passed by the seamen as they
were putting the coffin on board, which
went to show pretty plainly that the af
fair did not exactly suit them. 1t may
have been from prejudice on their part
but then, seamen should be allowed lit
tie prejudice once in while, when We
consider the stern reality they have tC
encounter.
Hush, my good men," said the Com
modore, as he he heard their murmurec
remonstrances. Suppose you were t.
die away from home, would you not wish
that your last remains might be carried
toyourpoor parents Come, hurry up,now.