Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-08-05
HOW THE "GULL" WENT
DOWN

Dan came and took q turn at swabbipQ
while his father went up to put on his
Sunday clothes. Connoy set on the
sand, watching him.
Take the crabs out of the fo'castle
Dan, she ordered.
Dan went to the bow, aud peeped into
the little black hole.
Conny waded out at once, and threw
them into the water.
do you think my mothers agoing
on journey with lot of shedders and
busters ? she scolded on, while Dan
sat down contentedly, splash into the
water and punched his toes lazily into
the mud. Conney always had her own
way.
Presently, Ben and Mrs. Van bort
came down, ready to set off. The
children did not heed their fathers
going, for he started to the Barnegat
fishing banks every morning before
three O'Clock, and seldom was back
until dark but it was great event for
their mother to leave home. Twice a
year Ben took her down to Shark River,
to buy calico and sugar and shoes and
such ''trade." These voyages were
each a crisis in the family history. The
children hung about her, stroking her
white cotton gloves and looking ad-
miringly at the pink rose in her bonnet.
Come, hurry in, Jane" called Ben.
"We1l have considerable of blow be-
fore we reach Sharks River"
But Jane ran back once more to kiss
Conny and hug Dan. She tried TO say
"God bless you, children !" but the
words would not come. Only the min
lister ought to say solemn things, she
thought
mind and say your prayers,
Conney,' she whispered, land take
good care of Dan and baby"
''One would thing you are agoing to
be gone a year" grumbled Ben.
"Good-by, you young vagabonds, }"
nodding as he pushed the boat out be-
yond the first breaker.
1t was a warm, clear day. The ''Gull"
danced over the low, sparkling waves,
light as a feather. Conny could see
the blue line of paint below her taffrail,
and even the rose in her mothers
bonnet, until they were out quite into
deep sea water.
II tell you, Dan - she said. Lets
not 20 10 DtV 10 O-ulgut- LCt udNc
supper ready for tnem."
Dan nodded. Reckon I'll histe a
lantern to light 'em in"
ITO light father in - MOI He's bin
a-coming in here every night since he
was a boy"
"Mother hasn't then. 1t was her 1
was going to light in. Anybody'd hev
knowed that -
Dan went on composedly picking up
great blobs of broken ielly-fsh from the
sand.
Throw them horrid things away,
DanI Van bort r. for Conny wanted to
air her new authority. "You stuff EN-
in yer pockets till 1 can't abear your
towsers in the house at night" cover
ing her nose with her apron.
Dan smiled at them with an air OF
relish.
They won't shine until We keep 'em
awhile. I've got my lighthouse most
built, an want these for lanterns.
Better come and hely, Con. Here's
big un you may put in" holding it out
to her.
Conny paused wishfully minute !;
then tossed her head.
"Light house, indeed I've got to
keep house and mind baby. I've no
time for play"
Baby was easily taken care of through
the day; she lay playing with Dan In
the sand, as he built his light house,
and only kicked her fat legs when any
body spoke to her. Conny had plenty
of time to make ready the supper she
had plenty of things with which to
make it ready, too. Not half SO much
money came into Ben's cottage as into
many of the wretched rooms where
beggars live in towns, but there was al
ways an abundance of meat, potatoes,
and fish in the cellar, and a Sunday suit
apiece for the whole family up stairs !;
and the house itself,-with its rag
carpets and big wood fires, and painted
wooden chairs. and colored prints IA
hundred years old) on whltewashed
walls of King George and Queen
Caroline, and the Animals going into
the Ark,-was as bright and clean and
shining as the white sand or blue sea
without. When person has such fish
ing and sea and weather and beach to
think of out-of-doors, he really has no
time to care for sofas or clothes or
those unnecessary things
Conny set the table, and made hot
cakes and put the soft crabs down ready
to boil: and then she rocked baby to
sleep until morning; so that Conny
could shut the door and run down on
the beach to see the '-CiGll" come IN.
The evening was damp and bold but
the sky and sea were one blaze of fierce
yellow light. She stopped to look at it.
81 never saw anything like that be-
fore Dan"
"It's mighty curious"
1 Dan grunted, as if he could say
great deal more if he chose, and if she
were not girl.
Tae white caps we're all gone. The
sea was coming in, in deep, dark swells,
with a dull threatening roar. Conny
saw all the fishing boats liutteriRg into
the little cave. although it was an hour
before time. Men were running down
the village to help the fishermen haul
them upon the shore. They worked
quickly, but, like sea-coast people with
ont a word.-lowered the sails, un-
shipped the masts.
"Now we're all in, said Captain Job,
the WIechluR -ludoeSis 40 AAS AHSN 49,
pulled up. "Van bort weren't at the
Banks to-day"
"But he's at Sharks River, with
Jane" some one said.
Nobody spoke; the men looked at
each other, then out to sea, and,
glancing at Conny, drew apart, and
whispered.
"Is the "Gull" in danger, sir q She
pulled Captain Jobs sleeve. He did
not look down at her.
danger, nonsensel You ought to
be in bed, child. GO to the house. and
take Dan. Go at once, tell you!
Conny did not go. She saw sail
close reefed, out in the gray distance,
like the flicker of birds wing.
"There's father now J" she cried.
At that moment there was a sharp
cracking in the air. The yellow light
was gone. The sea rushed IN as IL