Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-11-03
ssMOther>s E0yr ut sea.
nv NvDrYo MA DrrJN rn

ssNIother's Boy'' ut sea.
BY CYRUS MARTIN, JR
Barry was duckling who sometimes
preferred staying in the water.
don't know what Barry thought
about it, but his mother often felt that
Mothers Boy" was growing out of her
reach. He had been brought up at her
side. It gave her little pang to see
him FESTIVE when she tried to keep him
there. And it must be said when Barry
climbed up to the ledge called the
'White Boar" and sat looking off on
the ocean, he had a vague longing to be
out on that lovely sheet of water, shin
ing in the sun, tumbling into bright
green waves, and stretching so far, so
far, down to the sunset, where the red
rays blurred out the horizon. Some
where beyond that crystal gate in the
south was his fathers big ship-sailing
among the spice islands, may be; or
gliding by the shores where strange
birds and beasts and painted savages
were dotted along, as in the pictures of
a geography.
The Sagadunk fishermen used to 90
out of the harbor early in the morning
and return late at night. Barry some
times saw them from his chamber win
dow as he dressed himself at sunrise.
They spread their sails like wings; the
soft morning breeze sprang up. and as
they sailed away and disappeared down
the far-of horizon, they seemed to
sail into the sky.
One day, Barry privately inquired OF
''Old Hutch, who was fisherman of
Sagadunk, if he ever saw his fathers
ship, the Flying Fish, out at sea- The
old fisherman said: s'Never, so far as I
knowed of, which was not satisfactory
to Master Barry. He thought that
"Old Hutch must see the whole
world when he got below the dim hori-
Zon.
81 know my papa's ship, and if I
were to go with you might show her
to you, and find my papa" said Barry.
Old Hutch laughed. ssBut your mar
wouldn't let you go so far away, my lit
tie man."
Barry's countenance fell, but he ex-
planned:
'sShe would be so glad if ] brought
back my papa, that she wouldn't care
if l did go without her knowing it."
Barry was on dangerous ground for
mothers boy"
After many mysterious talks and
Old Hutch agreed that Master Barry
should get up early some fine morning,
and steal away to the boat al the wharf;
At night, Barry scarcely slept at all;
and when he dreamed, it was OF curious
and often frightful sights in foreign
lands t.hen day broke, he was in
such haste that he scarcely dressed him
self. He might have gone out at the
door; but, creeping past his mothers
chamber, he got out by the hall win
dow, stole down through the orchard,
scrambling over the stone wall, slid
down the bank, and soon on board the
Polly Ann, commanded by Captain
Hutch.
It was all adventure. He was going
to sea in search of his father. His heart
was little heavy when he looked back
al the old farmhouse where he had left
his mother. But the Polly Ann was
under way, and, with curious sort of
feeling in his throat, he watched the
village fade away. He was at sea.
It would not be pleasant for me to
tell you of all the troubles that ..befell
Master Barry that day. In the first
place, he was very hungry; and he ate
great deal of nice luncheon which
one of the fishermen produced from a
big basket. strangely like one of his
mammals. Then, when he had satisfied
his hunger, his luncheon did not agree
with him at all. He felt very queer.
Everything seemed going around. His
stomach was all in whirl. He was
sea sick, and he lost all interest in what
was going on about him. The Polly
Ann was very lively, and, although she
was anchored on the fishing grounds,
she bounced about at great rate. The
sun was hot, and, as Barry looked
over the edge of the bulwark where he
lay, he saw nothing but horrid, tumb-
ling waves everywhere. No land in
sight, unless low cloud on the dull,
gray horizon were land. He was home
sick; and if he cried silently behind the
illsmelling tarpauln that screened him,
I do not think any of my oy-readers
should laugh at him. Ihave been in Just
such a plight, and probably did just as
Barry did.
What was worse, there was no sign of
the Flying Fish. or anything that look
ed like her. Once in while, brown
sail crept up from the horizon, drifted
along against the sky, and melted away
into the dim distance. It wasss Down
East coaster loaded with lime" Old
Hutch would say, unless he was too
busy with his fish to say anything
Barry only wanted to get home once
more.
sob, what will poor, dear mamma
say 2" he moaned. y1fra s.efsf.,e
. You onghter thought OF that afore, !"
Captain Hutch made answer. And so