The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-09-11
ONLY A FISHERMAN.

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rough, lonely point of land, near to
some treacherous bar, that shoots its
deadly tongue far out into the bosom of
the ocean, stand these houses of the
ast-guard. A long, low building is
there, containing surf-boat, life-lines,
rockets, mortar, and all the appli-
ances for saving life, when, struggling
through the foam and spray, some
staunch ship goes to pieces.
At the southern extremity of Barne-
gat Bay stands Barnegat Light, and
near to it is one of these mentioned
stations. There was O time, not so
many years ago, when no beacon was
here to warn the sailor of the treacher-
ous coast upon which he was journey
ing. Often when sailing down the
beautiful bay in the moonlight, have
we listened to the stories told by some
old weather-beaten coaster of the days
and doings of Barnegat. But now all
is changed /; nightly the bright light in
the tower flashes out over the water,
warning the mariner miles away of the
sands and hidden dangers at its base.
Should a vessel go ashore, (as they,
alas! sometimes do, for winds are
mighty and waves engulfing,) kind
hearts and strong arms are always
ready to aid in the noble work of saving
human life. No matter how dark the
night, or how fierce the tempest, the
wreckers are ready when called upon.
Around these stations little settle
| ments have sprung up, the families of
men who find their living in the broad
: Atlantic. Rough, uneducated fisher
men, who know all about the tides, and
can read the signs of the weather by
the sky who are familiar with every
line and sail of vessel, and who can
handle their tiny craft in the naTows
and channels when tall ships make for
the open sea; but who are ignorant of
all else, and have never been many
miles from home in their lives.
In one of these settlements on the
shores of Barnegat lived two young
men, fishermen, who might well be
compared to David and Jonathan, so
great was their love to each other.
Together they owned the boat in which
they made their excursions after the
different fish, and "share and share
alike did they divide the proceeds of
the catch when sold at the neighboring
towns. From boyhood these two had
been bosom companions and as they
grew up the intimacy cemented in q
strong and lasting friendship. They
were named Amos and James. Other
names they probably possessed, but it
may be questioned if even they them
selves remembered what they were !;
Amos was Amos, and James was Jim !;
and nobody asked for more.
/ Amos, was domineering, sometimes
cross, but the other had sweet tenn
n per. Nothing provoked Jim he never
gave his partner an angry reply, but
y with CHEEKY "All right, old fellow"
went on with his work. No fair
7 weather friendship was it either, for
they had stood by each other when
death, in it's most appalling form,
stared them in the face. 1t was the
talk of the whole place, this love that
outlastcd the change of years.
Led by a mutual feeling, or by some
b other similar instinct, they both fell in
love with the same girl-Hetty, the
e belle of the place. For the first time
in their lives, cloud threatened to
d come between them-a cloud no bigger
than woman's hand. For a short
k while there was GOODNESS but one
night, when Amos went to visit the
7 girl, Jim took his lantern and started
y off to fish for bass by freight. The
next day, when he came in, he quietly
t told Amos that he should think no
more of Hetty, and that he had better
g secure her for himself. And he seemed
so unconcerned that Amos nor anybody
s else dreamed of the struggle that had
taken place in the bosom that beat
5 under that dark red shirt. Jim was a
true gentleman and Amos, feeling re-
e assured on the subject of Hetty,
thought he had been mistaken, and
G went in and won the girl.
Amos married Hetty, and his friend
q went home to live with them. From
that moment, Hetty was to James as a
sister, Just as Amos was his brother.
Years passed. Children came. The
neighbors said they would wean the
fathers heart from his early companion.
But they seemed to make no difference
whatever-the two friends were one in
love and in life.
S The last born was little boy, whom
they named Denny. No one could
: ever understand why it was that James
took such fancy to this child. If it
= had been his own he could not have
loved the little fellow more. The house
4 was filled with beautiful shells and sea-
plants, brought by him from long dis
tances for his darling to play with
Often when he returned, tired and
. hungry from hard days toll, Denny
u would run to meet him, crying for a
sail in the boat ; hunger and thirst
It would be forgotten, the sail would be
hoisted, and together they would go
6 skimming the clear water, far out
among the white caps that tossed and
d fretted on the bar, only to return when
darkness had set in. 1t was Jim's de-
II light to explain to the boy the secrets
of their simple navigation to show
a him how to set the sail, and tack and
steer; to teach him how to take the
y fish, and tell him stories of the wrecks
> which lay, like skeletons, with theil
ribs whitened and bare all around
70 them.
Amos and his wife sometimes asked
1t their bachelor guest why he didn't ge
married, and have home of his own
; but he would laugh and say he was to'
we'll suited where he was.
10 One Sunday evening, after day o
quiet and repose, the little family wer
!, all assembled in the one room tina
IL served the purpose of parlor and kitch
en-. Denny had fallen asleep in jim
Us lap, his head resting on the broa,
bosom, while around the child's nee
was thrown brawny arm blackened b.
>. exposure. Amos was reading the Bible
f" his custom on Sunday night.