The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-09-22

hard winter. which would shut down on
them for tive dreary months, and the
mackerel. catching feet is ready to: start.
Abncr Taft's fishing smack Is moored out
in the bay, everything taut and ready for
the two months of spoliation of the deep,
and two hardy comrades have completed
their final preparations. Let us fancy
the scene of departure on a bright Sep
TENDER morning, as the waves smile and
laugh under the CLINT of the beams Of the
Just risen sun. The air is tull of perfume
sweet clover, and dainty aftermath
of the upland meadows, the fragrant
breath Of kline, and delicate scert of sea
weed, and fresh, wet sand. Martha laf;
kisses her husband for the last time a. he
leaps from the low jetty at the cliff into
his yawl, followed by his men.
''Thee must keep good heart, my LASS
he shouts, as the oars gl;sten III the sun
SWELL come back again before thoust all
the apples strung. It's not like goin' off
to fight the red-coats.'
| Martha thinks ofother sadler partngs,
and smiles gayly in return rs she waves
her red :kerch:ef too stalwart fisherman,
whose huge figure looms up in sharp pro-
! the level rays Of the sun, anxious to catch
the last view Of his wife. .
After all, it was Only as lie said. short
| absence, and there was no danger that a
| tiSherman's daughter, herself bred among
all the hardy associations OF the Sea,
should dread. Had she herself not SaiIe'
away to the mackervl grounds, and ,imc
after time been rocked on the bosom OF
the Storm and the deep? Far from her
thoughts was any such nischancc as that
which was to inspire her husband to per-
form decd, one of the most reularka bic
in the chronicles of the time.
| 1t would be a special article to paint
in words, with the same spirited and pic
turesque touch with which Norton and
De Haas put similar scenes on can vas,
life on board the tishing-aect off tn coast
Of Maine and Massachusetts. The same
now as it was 100 years ago, we can easily
fancy the scene so realistic, yet so poetic
the stanch smacks riding at anchor
looming up Ike phantoms through the
gray mist as they rock on the long, lazy
swell, or dancing on waves that leap and
exult under the fash Of noontide, the
hoarse cries that pass from boat to boat,
the wild life Of the seas tanned down into
shy bondage and sympathy with the hu.
man life, which builds brief village over
its treacherous foam.
But Abner Taft and his sturdy mates
though deeply and dumbly conscious of
the beauty and terror OF the ocean, as all
men Of sea are, lad other thoughts to alb.
sorb them. TO perform their work speed
lily, to catch and pack their boat load OF
fnny food, which meant comfort and con
tent for those they loved, Was the thing
to be done, that they might return and
make matters snug at home for the cold
weather. There was then no patriotic
commissions that lavishe'I money at home
while stalwart men fought in the field, to
give timely assistance to the families Of
absent soldiers. So the fishermen work.
ed on day a''er day, and week after week.
through fair weather and foul, till the
''ca'ch' was completed
The night Of its departure from the
fishing banks, the little feet was widely
scattered by Il storm. Abner Taft )
smack was driven out to sea before the
gale and nearly suffered wreck. The
warning Of the tempest was in his ears in
the long dark hours, as he hurried he
knew not whittier. When the morning
broke on the wild waste OF waters he kne "
that he was far out at STA, for there was
nothing in sight except low down on the
horizon large vessel, which was hardly
noticeable between the confused tumbiing
of the waters and the thick, dark sky.
The sight of ship at sea for the impeiil-
ed crew Of a frall fishing boat is ever a
welcome one.
10 these three men of Marblehead it
was thing more portentous of evil than
the cruelty of the ocean and the frown of
the skies. 1t could not be less than an
armed vessel of the enemy's for the COL
onies had but little merchant marine, and
their ships of war were as yet standing
peacefully IN their primitive woods. To
be captured had but one meaning-a lin.
gering death by Imprisonment in some
dungeon hulk, or possibly 10 be impress
ed into service which they bitterIy alb
horred-in any case, long if not final
parting from all those they loved.
There vas still one chance; their little
boat, lying low, might not be seen, and
the British vessel pass on. This hop
was soon crushed, as the rapidly enlarg.
ing ship came up with clos. recied sails
before the stiff breeze, into which the gale
OF the proceeding night had subsidized
Only few minutes elapsed before shot
was fired and hoar$e voice, roaring
through speaking trumpet, babe them
come alongside.
Abncr Taft and his mates had fallen
into the fate they so bitterly and Justly
dreaded. They were in the mercrl SIS
clutches of the British. Instantly they
had mounted the sides, they were sum.
moned to the quarterback and confront.
i,