Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-06-18


I'd give my world for cradlc-song,
And kiss from baby-only ono.
| From the st. Nicholas.
HOW THE "GULL'' WENT DOWN
| BY REBECCA H. DAVIS.
Ben had pulled his boat up on shore
and swabbed it out, SO that his wife,
new blue calico might not smell of fisl
when they reached Shark River. Thel
Dan came and took u turn of swabbing
while his father went up to put OH llis
Sunday clothes. Conny sat on the
sand, watching him.
"Take the crabs out of the fo'castle
Dan," she ordered.
Dan went to the bow, and peeped in
to the little black hole.
"Reckon won't. Them crabs nigh
soft" he said.
Conny waded ont at once, and threw
them into the water.
"Do You think my mothers agoine
on q journey with lot of shedders and
busters ?" she scolded on, while Dan
sat down contentedly, splash into. the
water, and punched his toes lazily in.
to the mud. Conny always had hel
own way.
Presently, Ben and Mrs. Van bort
come down, ready to sot off: The chill
tlrcn 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, sugar, shoes and such trade.
These voyages were each crisis in the
family history. The children hung
about her, str0king her white cotton
gloves and looking admiringly at the
pink rose in her bonnet.
"Come, hurry in, Jane," called Ben.
"Weu have considerable Of blow be-
fore we reach Shark 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 such solemn things,
she thought.
"Mind and say your prayers, Conny, d
she whispered, "and take good care Of
Dan and baby"
Zone would think you were agoing
to be gone a year, ," grumbled Ben.
''GOod-hye, you young vagabonds,' y
nodding as he pushed the boat out be-
yond the first breaker.
It was q warm, clear day. The Gull
danced over the low, sparkling waves,
light as feather. Conny could not
see the blue line of paint below he,
taffrail, and even the rose in he1
mothers bonnet, until they were out
quite into deep sea water.
II tell you, Dan,' she said, "let's
not go to bed tonight. Let's. have
supper ready for them"
Dan nodded. "Reckon I'll histe O
lantern to light 'em in."
"To light father in? No! He's bin
a coming in here every night since he
was boy"
"Motier hasn't then. 1t was her
was agoing to light in. Anybody'd he,
knowed that"
Dan went on composedly picking up
great blobs of broken jelly-fish from
the sand.
"Throw them horrid things away
Danl Van bort, " for Conny wanted tt
air Eer new authority. "You stuff en-
in yer pockets till I can't abear you
trowsers in the house at night" cover
ing her nose with her apron.
Dan shifted at them with an air O
relish.
"They won't shine until ye keep 'en
awhile. I've got my lighthouse mos
built, an I want these for lanterns
Better come and help, Con. Here's .
big un you may put in," holding it ou
to her.
Conny paused wistfully a minute
then tossed her head.
Lighthouse, indeed. I've got tt
keep house and mind baby. I've III
time for play"
Baby was easily taken care of through
the day; she lay playing with Dan il
the sand, as he built his lighthouse
and only kicked her fat legs when any
body spoke to her. Conny had plent,
Of time to make ready the supper; sh,
had plenty of things with which K
make it ready, too. Not half 80 mucl
money came into Ben's cottage as int
many of the wretched rooms wher,
beggars live in towns, but there wa!
always an abundance of meat, potatoe.
and fish in the cellar, and a Sunday
suit apiece for the whole family M
stairs and the house itself-with it,
rag-carpets and big wood fires, ant
painted wooden chairs, and coloret
prints (a hundred years old on til,
whitcwasl'ed wall, Of King George ant
Queen Caroline, and the animals goin1
into the ark-was as bright and cleal
and shining as the white sand or blu,
sea without. When q person has sucl
fishing and sea and weather and beacl
to think of out of doors, he really ha'
no time to care for sofas or clothes o.
those Unnecessary things.
Conny sat the table, and made ho
cakes and put the soft crabs down read!
to boil and then she rocked baby t.
sleep, AMI tucked her into bed. Sh,
was sure to sleep until morning =,
that Conny could shut the door and ru,
down on the beach to sec the Gul
conc in.
Tho evening WAS damp and cold bu
the sky and sea were one blaze O
fierce, yellow light. She stopped t,
look at it.
II never saw anything like TINT be
fore, DAN"
Its mighty curious" Dan grunted
as If he could say great deal more i
he chose, and if she were not girl.
The white caps were all gone. I'll
sea was coming in, in deep, darl
swells, with a dull threatening roar
Conny saw all tlr. fishing boats 1luttcr
ing into the little cove, although it wa
an hour before time. Men wore run
ming down from tho village to holp tn
fishermen, haul them upon shore
They worked quickly-but, like sea