Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-09-23

hinSula was much smaller than that To the
right, and, being removed from the puri-
lying effects OF the mountain rivuet. il
vas stagnant, deep. with soft, sticky bot
tom, producing abundance of eels, pike,
tadpOes, and leeches. \ belt OF rusbX
wattf-grass, conctniric with the irregular
outline of the loCh extended from the shore
10 distance of about eighty yards, ter
mlhaung in cleanly y-defined border, and
leaving in the middle a circle of clear wa
ter, 50 deep that the bottom could not be
seen on the clearest summer day At a
spot on the land near which The water
grass had been cut away to a depth of IA
few feet beneath the water, the black
smith's wife usually carried on her wash
ing and bleaching, and here the necessary
Implements-including huge tub, the
source Of SO much grlef-were kept in "a
small wooden hut.
Alec lay peerng from his leafy eleva-
ton for several hours, and he was about
to descend in order to fetch some dinner.
when suddenly he sped Quentin walking
slowly and OBVIOUSLY from the house, but
evidently making in the direction of the
unhappy washing utensii. W ithout thought
or care but for the safety OF his friend, he
remained III the tree, palpitating with eX-
| element for he knew we'll how ignorant
y reckless Quentin could be at times, and
how useless it would be to interfere until
the proper moment had arrived. He de-
cided to let matters take their coarse so
long as Quentin confined himself to coast
ing, upheld by the water-grass, and in
danger OF nothing but dirt aud temporary
sufiocatlon in the event OF capsize; but
should Quentin exhibit any signs of max
ing for the clearing in the middle OF the
loch, he was positive in his determination
to alarm the household. and so either to
lrighten Quentin from etfectipg his dan
gerous purpose, or to have the boat
brought round rs speedily as posi- BILE from
its position i'll rear OF the manse. But the
latter, Alec knew, would neces sarily be a
slow performance, for the distance was
| considerable, anl so he was obliged re-
luctantly to trust to Quent:n's own very
questionable discretion. All his good
plans, however, were frustrated by the
precipitate haste with which Quentin
who had, meanwhile. arrived at the wa
ter's edge-launched and rugged his craft,
and pushed away from the land. Let us
approach the latter gentleman and exam
inc his strange vessel.
The tub is certainly large one; but.
although it possesses to a certain extent
the quality OF buoyancy, it is quite desti-
tute OF that equally essential property of
equilibrium, which is the characteristic of
beast and bird, but which is often so sadly
wanting in man and the work of his hands
1t was neither round nor square, but sort
of jagged elliptic, of which the material
composing one side was immeasurablv
heavier than that OF the olher. 1t was not
an ordinary tub, built of ribs and hoops
neatly fitting; but it was of patchwork,
rough boards. osier, tin, nails. old horse.
shoes, cement, and putty. in glorious con-
misunderstanding well enough It's legitimate
purpose, but n sorry shelter against wind
aud wave. 1t was the sublime emanation
of Pryses vivid brain, aud the handiwork
of at least decade. But we know that
he did not intend it for a merchantman--
that he did not get it classed at Lloyd's
A tor term OF years, and retain its de-
nomination after the term was expired :;
aud therefore we freely acquit him OF that
specially tiendish sort OF malignitv that at
taches TO the characters of those suave and
honorable gentlemen who murder while
they smile"
Quentin dragged the thing into the
water--it WAS tEuch too heavy to lift-and
then, taking up pltChfork which he had
secured, he embarked and pushed vigor-
ously off. Using the only handle which
the article possessed as a rowlock through
which he drew the end of the long pitch
fork. Quentin sat down on one knee. and
while graspng the side of his vessel with
one hand in order to steady himself, he
managed to make considerable progress
to sea with the other--thanks to the pitch
fork, which served in the double capacity
OF propeller and director His madcap
purpose was but too evdent--he was max
ing straight for clear water. When with
in few yards of the inner circle, a pierre
ing scream was heard. Alec had alarmed
the household, and 10 and behold the
worthy minister's wife rushing down to
the water. Now, the minister's wife was
"a doughty woman when reused; in her
ordinary mood she was meekness itself,
but when excited by opposition from her
interiors, by danger to her offspring, or by
any other strong emotion, she was terrible.
See her now, stout and tall and furious,
with "mutch" thrown back, and black,
streaming hair, with sleeves upturned, eX-
posing giants arm, while in her hand
she brandshes long garden-hoe as she
shouts warning to Quentin Her sou, put
oil his guard by this c0ntrefen1pS, made a
false move, lost his balance, aud tumbled
into the water. The tub filed and sank
like stone.
lie stood there a moment up to his neck
in water surveying the position, and tnen
attempted to make for land, He might as
well have tried to fly. There, as in a
nightmare, stuck his feet fast in the mud
at the bottom, and although, after super
human effort he managed to extricate one
leg. it was only to return il quickly again
to the mire-and oil course the attempt to
swim with his legs thus entangled, could
only result in selt-destruction. Meantime
his mother, hoe i'll hand, calamity plunged
into the water, and slowly but surely made
her way through all obstacles to the young
rascal who, quite disregardless of his own
aw wkward and perilous position. stood con-
vulsed with laughter at his mothers APP
pearance and behavior. Inch by inch the