Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-06-04
NO. 134.
From the st. Nicholas.
HOW THE 'GULL" WENT DOWN.
BY REBECCA HARDING DAVIS.

Ben had pulled his boat up on shore.
and swabbed it out, so that his wife's new
blue calico might not smell of fish when
they reached Shark River. Then Dan
came and took turn at swabbing. while
his father went up to put on his Sunday
clothes. Conny set on the sand, watch.
ing him.
"Take the crabs out of the fo'cas'le
Dan," she ordered.
Dan went to the bow. and peeped into
the little black hole.
Conny waded out at once, and threw
them into the water.
''Do you think my mothers agoing on
a journey with lot of shedders and bus
ters?" she scolded on, while Dan sat
down contentedly, splash into the water.
and punched his toes lazily into the mud
Conny 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 start
ed to the Barnegat fishing banks every
morning before three o'clock, and seldom
was back until dark; but it was a great
event for their mother to leave home.
Twice year Ben took her down to Shark
River, to buy calico and sugar and shoes
and such trade" These voyages were
each crisis in the family history. The
children hung about her, stroking her
white cotton gloves and looking admiring-
ly at the pink rose in her bonnet
"Come, hurry in, Jane" called Ben.
"We'll have considerable of blow before
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 minister ought
to say such solemn things. she thought.
mind and say your prayers, COMFY"
she whispered. land take good care Of
Dan and baby"
Zone would think you were agoing to
be gone year." grumbled Ben. Good
by, you young vagabonds," nodding as
he pushed the boat out beyond the first
breaker.
1t was a warm, clear day. The "Gulr'
danced over the low, sparkling waves,
light as feather. Conny could see the
blue line of paint below her taffrail, and
even the rose in her mothers bonnet, un-
til they were out quite into deep sea wa
ter.
II tell you, Dan :" she said. "Let's
not 60 to bed tonight Lets have sup
per ready for them"
Dan nodded. "Reckon I'll histe Ian
tern to light 'em in.''
ITO light father in No. He's bin
a-coming in here every night since he was
a boy"
Mother hasn't then. 1t was her was
agoing to light in. Anybody'd hev
knowed that !"
Dan went on composedly picking up
great blObs of broken jelly-fSh from the
sand
Throw them horrid things away, Danl
Van bort |" for the Conny wanted to air
her new authority. "You stnff 'em in yer
pockets till can't abear your towsers in
the house at night" covering her nose
with her apron.
Dan shifted at them with an air of relish.
They won't shine until ye keep 'em
awhile. I've got my lighthouse most
built, an l want these for lanterns. Bet
ter come and help, Con. Here's big un
you may put in" holding ii out to her.
Conny paused wishfully minute; then
tossed her head. tns.
Lighthouse, 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 lighthouse, and only
kicked her fat legs when anybody 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 cot
tage as into many of the wretched rooms
where beggars live in towns, but there
was always an abundance OF meat, pota-
toes, and fish in the cellar, and Sunday
suit apiece for the whole family up stairs;
and the house itself,-with its rags-carpets,
and big wood fires, and painted wooden
chairs. and cOlored prints Ca hundredyears
old) on whitewashed walls Of King George
and Queen Caroline, and the Animals GO
ing into the Ark was as bright and clean
and shining as the white sand or blue sea
without. When person has such fishing
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 unneces-
sary things.
Conny sat the table, and made hot cakes
and put the sOft-crabs down ready 10 boil;
and then she rocked baby to sleep until
so that Conny could shut the
door and run down on the beach to see the
'Gulr' come in.
The evening was damp and cold; but
the sky and sea were one blaze of fierce,
yellow light. She stopped to look at it.
II never saw anything like that before
DAN"
''Its mighty curious"
Dan grunted, as if lie could say great
deal more ii he chose, and if she were
not girl.
The 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 fluttering into the little
cave. although it was an hour before time.
Men were running down from the village
to help the fishermen haul them upon
shore. They worked quickly, but. fike
sea-coast people, without word,-low-
cred the sails, unshipped the masts.
"Now we're all in" said Cap'n Job,
the wrecking-master. as the last was
pulled up. ''Van bort weren't at the
Banks to-day"
"But he's at Sherk's River, with Jane,n
some one said. sf