The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-11-10
TEE BREAK IN THE SAND.

Old Dan Sutpben stopped at the
door Of the Widow Bree's cottage,
and with his hands on each jamb
thrust in his big grizzled head.
"Evenin', Chloe. Tell Pen the in
let's to be opened, an to be on hand
tomorrow mernin' with his team
You've got a sand scoop, | reckon?"
Yes, Cap'n. I'm mighty glad it's
goiu' TO be done. I'm at my wits
cad for somethin' to put on the table
Eve got boarder from the city, you
know" lowering her voice, and
glaDcing back at the thin, pale boy,
who sat drawing at table piled
with books and maps.
Dan nodded, and was staring curl
ousIy ia at him, when Pen Bree
came 40 outside and pulled him by
the elbow.
Don't speak to that chap. He'll
keep you answering questions till
night, Just lock at them fancy
clothes, and the size Of the legs un-
der the tablet
Everybody can't be porpoise,"
said Dan, with thrust of his fist in
to PENS burly back.
He's a natural idiot!' growled
Pen, his pug-nose shifting he air con-
temptnously. 1T alIays comes of so
much book larning, | tell mother.
The sight of that fellows enough to
sicken one of school. He went out
iishiu' with me, Yesterday, an bad
box Of jimcracks made out Of feath-
ers and cloth for bait instead of
worms. He said be mover saw the
sea before, an that be learned to
Eswim in room, with a rope under
his arms, and a Frenchman calm
out; 'One two, tbreen | think l see
it," with roar of laughter
His mother called Pen to supper
just then, aud be went in, and sat
guIping down the corn bread and
slices of bacon swimming in gravy,
and looking contempt at the boarder's
slice Of bread and glass of milk.
The boar1er, whose name was
MeNulty, and who always had a
quiet, amused twinkle in his eyes
when Pen grew most eontemptuous,
began as usual to ask questions.
"po the fishermen go to sea all
the wear round, Mr.. Bree?"
"You don't expect them to work
all wiuter-hey?" muttered Pen.
"Hush-h." said his mother. THE
most of 'em runs sehooners in the
coast trade in fall, Mr.. McNulty, an
cruises about in the southern waters
till spring; then they fishes and crabs
here for the New York market. But
on account of the inlet being closed
this summer, the Gsh an crabs isn't
fit for use"
Il don't understand precisely
about the inlet's closing?"
No sir? Well, you see this river
is but sort Of 6ackwater from the
sea, an the tides keep film it up
with sand, an maxim the openin'
sballerer an shaIlerer, till it finally
shuts up altogether?"
And the river becomes a lake,"
Well, a big pond, or sech. Once
in every four or five years it closes
up. Then the folks hyarabouts hey
to wait till it hes a good head Of
water on, from rain, so that when
they dig a trench through the sand
TO the sea it can force its way though
it. s long as the inlet's closed, the
waters prime onhealthy, and the fish
and CLAIMS and oysters can't be eat
But it takes a powerful head of water
to open it"
"And you do that tomorrow ~
turning to Pen.
I'VE begin to do it. You don't
Suppose it could be finished in an
hour?" with su insulting laugh.
The bright face and gentle voice oi
he other boy acted on Pen like red
II q Duis
SIS mother called him aside, after
per, and rated him sharply.
There's no use of my tryin' tc
earn anything by takin' boarders, e.
you won't be civil, Pen Prea,;' she
said
Il hG;e s..r.-men,"
+ But Pen was under his mother.
control sufficiently to curb his hates
when occasion required, and the next
morning he invited young McNulty
to 90 with him and see the men Al
work.
McNulty went, thrusting a book il
Que pocket and a sandwich in tbs
other, before starting. lie spent the
day usually on the beach, to Pens
amazement and disgust, who won
dered continually what the fellow
found to lock q, in the water,
/ There were about twenty men al
work which was looked upon as q
great crowd on Squaw beach. They
began TO remove the sand by large
wooden scoops, drawn by two horses.
! and the trench thus commenced was
dug to the level Of the river by men
With spades, standing knee-deep il
the water
McNulty had been hard-working
student at home The gray, drowsy
atmosphere, the melancholy calm oi
the scenery, the very idleness, slow
words and slower thoughts of the
fishermen, brought a new, keen de
light to bis tired brain, They all,
on their part, felt liking for the lit
tie fellow, without any share of PENS
!, contempt.
Capt. Dan Sutphen and be became