The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1874-07-09
Irrom the st. Nicholas.
How the ''Gull' Went Down.
By REpEccA H. DAVIS.

ard swabbcd it out, so that bis vile
new blue cai9o might not smell OF iish
when they reached Shark River. ihen
Dan Gaze and took turn at swabblng
while his father went up to put on his
Sunday clothes. COMFY sat on the sand
watching him.
"Take the crabs out Of the fo'castc,
Dan," she ordered.
Dan went to the bow, and peeped H.
to the black hole. :,
"Rsckon won't. Them crabs nigh
soft" he said.
COMFY wadod out at once, and threw
them into the water.
"Do YOU think my mothers agolng
on journey with lot of shedders ana
bustcrs!", she scolded on, whllo Dan
sat down contenedly, splash into the
water, and punched his toes iazily into
the mud. COMFY always had her own
way.
Presently, Ben and Mrs. Van Dor'
come down, ready to set off. The chill
dren did not heed their fathers goiag
for he started to the Barnegat fishing
banks every morning before three
o'clock, and seldom was back until
dark but it was a great event for theii
mother to leave home. Twice year
Bon took her 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 cotton
gloves and looking admiringly at the
4. bar hnuuaf
"Come, hurry in, jaime" called Ben
"WcIl have considerable OF blow be
fore we reach Shark River"
But Jane rain back once more to ks:
, COMFY and hug Dan. She tried to say
God bless you, children" but Tho
words would not conc. Only the min
lister ought to say such solemn things
she thought.
"Mind and say your prayers, COMFY,
che whispered, sand take good care Of
Dan aud baby"
"One would think you were agoing
to DO gone a year." grumbied Ben
Good bye, you young vagabonds," nod
ding as he pushed the boat out beyond
the first breaker.
It was a warm, clear day. The Gail
danced over the low, sparkling waves.
light as a feather. COMFY could see
the blue line of paint below her tratfral!,
and even the rose in her mothers bon
net, until they were out quite into dcei
sea water.
al telLyou, Dam" she said, slet's not
go TO bed tonight. Let's have supper
ready for them
DIN nodded. Reckon I'll histc !;
lantern TO light EN- in"
80 light father in? No. Hes bin a
coming in here every night since ne was
boy"
aliother hasn't then. 1t was her
was agoing to light in. Anybody'd hev
known that"
Dan went on composedly picking up
great blobs of broken jelly-iish from TIE
sand.
"Throw them horrid things away,
DanI Van Dort," for COMFY wanted to
air her new authority. "1ou stuff EN-
in yer pockets till can't abear your
trowsers in tho house at night" cover
ing her nose with her apron.
Dan shifted at them with an AIR Of
relish.
"They won't shine until ye keep EN-
awhile. I've got my lighthouse most
built, an | want these for lanterns
Better come and help, Con. Here's
big un you may put in" holding 1t ou'
to her.
COMFY paused wistfulIy a minute
then tossed her head.
.Lishtheuse, indeed. I've got to
keep house and mind baby. I've NJ
time for play"
Baby was easily taken care of through
the day; she lay playing with Dan II
the sand, as he built his lighthouse, an.
only kicked her fat legs when anybody
spoke to her. COMFY had plenty O
time to make ready the supper shs
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 beggar:
live in towns, but there was always an
abundance Of meat, potatoes and hsh IN
the cellar, and 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 "a hundred
wears old) on the whitewashed wall, OF
King George and Queen Caroline, and
the animals going into the ark, was
rs bright and clean and shining as the
white sand or blue, sea without.
When a person has much 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 unnecessary
things.
COMFY sat tho table, and made hot
cakes and put the soft crabs down ready
TO boil; and then she rocked baby to
s,eep, and tucked her into bed. She
was sure to sleep until morning.; so that
COMFY could shut the door and run
down on the beach to sec the Gull como
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.
81 never saw anything like that be-
fore Dam"
ats mighty curious" Dan gruntcd,
as If he could say great deal more if
he chose, and if she were not . girl.
The white caps were all gone. The
scS was cOminc in. in deem. dark swells