The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-07-17
SeIetted Storp.
HOW THE GULL" WENT
DOWN.
BY REBECcA H. DAVIS

BY REBECCA n. DAVIS
Ben had pulled his boat up Of
shore and swabbed it out, so tina
his wife's new blue calico might no
smell of fish when they reaches
SHARK River. Then Dan came ant
took turn of swabbing while hi
father went up to put on his Sunda,
lclother. Conny sat on the sand
watching him.
"Take the crabs out Of the focas
tie, Dan," she ordered.
Dan went to the bow, and peepeC
into the little black hole.
"Reckon 1 don't. Them crab'l
nigh soft" he said.
Conny waded out at once, ant
threw them into the water.
"Do you think my mothers ago
ing on a journey with a lot of shed
ders and husters" she seolded on
while Dan sat down contentedly
splastel into the water, and punched
his toes lazily into the mud. Connl
always had her own way.
Presently, Ben and Mrs. Van
bort come down, ready to set off
The children did not heed theil
fathers going, for he started to the
Barnegat fishing banks every morn
ing before three o'clock, and seldom
was back until dark; but it was q
great event for their mother to leave
home. Twice a year Ben took hel
down to Shark River, to buy calico
sugar, shoes and such trade. These
voyages were each a crisis in the
family history. The children hung
about her, stroking her white cot
ton gloves and looking admiringly
at the pink rose in her bonnet.
"Come, hurry in, Jane," called
Ben, "We'll have considerable of s
blow before we reach Shark River"
But Jane ran back once more tc
kiss Conny and hug Dan. She tried
to say ''God bless you, children, y
but the words would not come. Only
the minister ought to say such sol
emn things, she thought.
"Mind and say your prayers, Con
n.y." she whispered, "and take good
care of Dan and baby"
"One would think you were going
to be gone a year." grumbled Ben,
"Good-bye, you young vagabonds, y
nodding as he pushed the boat out
beyond the first breaker.
1t was warm; clear day. The
Gull danced over the low, sparkling
waves, light as a feather. Conny
could see the blue line of paint be
low her tafrail, and even the rose
in her mothers bonnet, until they
were out quite into deep sea water.
81 tell you, Dan," she said "let's
not go to bed tonight Let's have
supper ready for them"
Dan nodded. Reckon I'll histt
lantern to light 'em in"
"To hight father in? No! He's bir
a coming here every night since he
was boy"
"Mother hasn't then. 1t was hel
I was a going to light in. Anybody'd
hev knowed that"
Dan went on composedly picking
up great blObs of broken jelly-fist
from the sand.
"Throw them horrid things away
Dan1 Van Dort," for Conny wanted
to air her new authority. "Yor
stuff 'em in yer pockets till 1 CAM
abear your troWsers in the house al
at night" covering her nose witt
her apron.
Dan shifted at them with an air o
relish.
"They won't shine until We keeI
'em awhile. I've got my lighthouse
most built, an 1 want these for Ian
terms. Better come and help, Con
Here's a big un you may put in,
holding it out to her.
Conny paused wishfully a minute
then tossed her head.
Lighthouse, indeed. I've got tc
keep house and mind baby. I've ne
time for play.
Baby was easily taken care o
Through the day; she lay playing
with Dan in the sand. as he built hii
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 O
things with which TO make it ready
700. Not half so much money came
into Ben's cottage as into many o.
the wreched rooms where beggari
live in towns, but there was always
an abundance of meat, potatoes an6
fish in the cellar, and Sunday sui
apiece for the whole family up stairs
and the house itself-with its rag
carpets and big wood fires, and pain
| ted wooden chairs, and colored print;
"a hundred years old on the white
washed wall, of King George ant
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 fishing and sea ant
weather and beach to think of out
of doors, he really has no time tC
care for sofas or clothes or those un
necessary things.
Conny set the table and made hot
cakes and put the soft crabs dowr
ready to boil; and then she rocked
the baby to sleep, and tucked hel
into bed. She was sure to sleep un
It'll morning; so that Conny coulC
lshut the door and run down on the
Ibesch and see the Gull come in.
The evening was damp and cold
lbnt the sky and sea we're one blazl
lof fierce. vellow liOht. She stonnef