The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-09-03
Through Fire.


other of the various watering places in
the vicinity Of that city.
In lS4S spent few weeks at Baby
Ion, village on the south side of long
Island, in order to enjoy the blue fishing
Tor which that part of the coast is IA
nous.
Ia most small country places in the
United States there will be found some
lazy ncer-do-weel, some "shftless loaf
err" to use au Amcricanism, who nei-
ther obtains nor seeks for regular employ
ment, but is content to pick up precari-
Gus subsistence by fishing and shooting
after the manner of our old friend Rip
Van Wrinkle, leaving his wife and family
If he had any-to get a living as they
best may.
The individual in Babylon who enjoyed
a monopoly Of the advantages to be de-
rived from being the only loaicr in the
village was half-breed known as "ln-
dian John " He was bachelor, and so
expert with both rod and gun that, hav-
ing no one to provide for but himself he
might have done very well but for his in-
corrgibc lazincss and his love of fire
water" So long as he had dime in his
pocket. or, failing that, could get credit
at the village store for pint Of rum or
whiskcy (thc time Of which [ speak was
before the Maine law had been introduced
into the State of New York;, no money
could tempt him to any cxertion Of any
kind. Yet, when absolutel y driven to it
by necessity he would work, and work
hard. too, Tor brief period; enduring
without murmur far more toll and fati-
que than white man would have borne
under the circumstances But like all
his race, he was, as have said, incapa-
bic of habitual labor. John" he would
say, as soon as he had piece Of silver
given him-"J ohn no work to-day j ohm
got dollar ohm gentleman"
On two or three occasions, when had
been unable to secure the services Of one
Of the regular boatmen, [ engaged John
to accompany me on my fishing cxpedi-
tions But was rather reluctantly that |
did so, for | felt species Of antpathy to
the man, which found some justification
in the singulary repusive expression OF
his countenance. When one looked at
him, indeed, one was reminded of what
Quin said of Macklin, "that if Nature
wrote legiblc hand, he mus. be scoun-
drel."
He was surly,' sulen fellow, too,
rarely speaking except in monosyllables,
or evincing the slightest interest in what
was going on around him. | was, there.
fore, the more surprised at little Incl
dent which occurred on one occasion.
when | found myself alone in the boat
with him.
We had been fishing for sons time
with Indifferent success, when thinking
that we might do better by putting far
ther out to sea. took out my watch
for the purpose Of ascer.ainng how long
it would be before the tide turned. As |
did so | observed the eyes Of the half
breed fixed admlriugly upon it. 1t was
indeed a very pretty trinkct, the face be-
ing engraved with much taste, while on
the back there was a butterfly in blue en-.
amel. incrusted with small diamonds. 1t
was in fact, lady's watch, and belonged
to my sister, who had lent it to me the
day left New York, to replace my own,
of which had broken the spring that
morning. misadveuturc there had not
been time to repair before my departure.
Even the proverhal stoicism Of his
race, apparently, had not power to steel
the halt-bieed against the destinations Of
the object Of his admiration. After a
brief struggle to maintain his dignity he
gave way, and asked to be allowed to
look at the watch | Of course complied
with his request, and placed it in his
hand that he might examine it at his les-
ure. He kept it for some minutes, and it
was fually, with manifest reluctance that
he returned it. | observed him closely,
and could see by the expression Of his
eyes, that ne had become possessed by
one of those almost uncomfortable desires
to which savages, like children, are occa-
sionally subject-it being, obviously, a
positive pain to him to pait with the
watch. However, he had no alternative
but to do so, and there the matter ended
for the time.
On the morning had arranged to re-
turn to New York, the heat was almost
intolerable, and had not important busi-
ness required my presence in the city the
following day, should most certainly
have deferred my journey until the wealth
er was somewhat more endurable. How
cver,I decided to compromise the matter
and instead of taking the II A. NJ. train
for Brooklyn, as | originally intended, |
resolved to return to town by the ono
which left Centreville the nearest sta.
tion), at s p. NJ. by which hour the sea-
breeze would have somewhat cooled the
atmosphere.
Tho railway runs as near as possible
through the centre Of Long Island from
Brook yn to Montauk Point. Thus trav'
ellers from any of the villages on the At
lantic are, or rather were-ior the faclli
ties Of communication have been greatly
improved since the time of which | speak
conveyed to the depots, as stations are
termed in the United States, by means o.
omnibuses owned by the proprietors o.
the various hotels.
| happened to be the only passenger
from the hotel that evening for the traiu
1t was not thought not worth while, there
fore, to make use OF the omnibus bu
Snedicor, the landlord, promised that {
light wagon, Anglics chaise should be il
readiness to convey me to the depot.
At the last moment, however, an un
expected difficulty presented itself WhC
was to drive me? Most OF the inhabi
tants Of the village had gone over to Fir'
Island, it being gala day in those parts
and amongst them the men belonging t'
the hotel.