The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-06-14
Frank: A Mothers Boy.

9
in her sunny chamber, heard but did not
answer she knew by long experience
that the call was only courier, sent on
in advance to announce the coming OF
him whose feet were even then bounding
up the stairs, and who burst into the
room with all the noise it is possible for
an active boy Of IA to make in that sim
pie act.
Mother, Uncle Charlie is going blue
fishing, and wants me to go with him
may II"
Her eyes rested upon him a moment
before she gave consent. He was " the
only son OF his mother, and she was q
widow" His father, and several others
of his kindred, lay beneath the waves.
Perhaps she thought of them as she
gazed so fondly upon his face, glowing
with health and animation. But he had
spent half OF his summerli life in and upon
5he water she did not think of refusing
his request-only added to her consent a
nope that he would be careful
ooh, mother there isn't bit OF dan
ger with such q sailor as Uncle Charlie
beside, if / do get tipped over, / can
win ashore; why, / could swim from
lere to the Neck !"
81 should not want you to try such
win as that, Frankly"
Frank turned to go, but paused; per-
APPS the mother-look drew him back he
tole shyly to the back of her chair, and
gaming over hsr, kissed her forehead
iurriedly and then ran away. The I'M
Usual caress warmed her heart, and the
bought of it was comfort to him before
he day was over.
Capt. Charlie was waiting, and they
Jtarted briskly for their walk of mile to
he shore. The Captain was a young
nan still, but sunstroke, received
while on duty in hot climate, had dis
abled him from active service, and in
Iced from prolonged or violent exertion
pf any kind. Frank liked nothing better
Shan to be with him, he had so many
stories to tell of foreign countries and
hair-breadth escapes at sea; beside, he
could tell him stories of his father-his
brave, noble father-of whom his mother
could not speak without tears. Frank
had seen very little of his father; he
could remember few brief visits, when
he had come like good providence with
wonderful gifts, and the few weeks of his
stay had been one joyful holiday time,
with visits and merry maklngs, the little
boy always at his fathers side, to get
acquainted" the Captain said. Then
had come the parting, and then counting
up of months, and weeks, and days, until
his return Alas the last reckoning
had ended in the bitterness of despair.
But sorrow, thank God cannot stay
long with the young, and Frank, walk
ing by his uncle's side, with many a skip
and bound of OVERLOOKING life, was us
happy as he could be. Before reaching
the shore, they saw a man with lines,
apparently bent upon the same errand
as themselves. They recognized him as
one Josiah Smith, man of many occu-
pations beside that of fisherman.
"Going blue-fshing, 'Si?" said the
Captain, as they overlook him.
" Ya-as, eft can find a boat; it's good
day for ~ drawled shiftless Isl.
Capt. Charlie thought of the wife
and two little children to be supported
10y his uncertain earnings, and good
naturally offered him place in his boat,
which was accepted, and they were soon
off and ready for business.
Boys, did you ever go blue-fshing ?
If so, you would have said there could
not be fuer day for the sport than that
which Frank and his uncle had taken.
1t was a cool day in early autumn; the
sky was deeply blue, the sun often OBJ
scured by flying clouds, and the north
west wind blowing briskly. On such a
day step into your boat, give her all the
sail she will carry, let out your lines
astern, then, as the boat bounds along,
the greedy fish Jump at the bait, and you
have nothing to do but to take them in
as fast as you please; is not this better
than to float lazily about, hour after
hour, in the common way of fishing9
The sport proved to be all that the
day had promised. Back and forth
through the bay the boat few-the fish
shoaled behind; the fishers had all they
could do to attend to the lines, and did
not notice that the clouds became darker
and more threatening, until a gust of
wind tipped the boat so much that the
water poured over her side.
eve must haul in sail p cried the
Captain, springing up and shouting out
orders to Frank unlocking fish, and
the slow-moving 'Siah.
Too late Another and a stronger
gust completely capsized the boat, and
her three late occupants struggled in the
water. OF course they could swim-no
boy nor man in the little sea-coast town
of Dunkirk could not and they made
for the boat, which foated keel up, and
supported themselves as well as they
could upon the sloping bottom. The
next thing to do was to take review OF
the situation, and determine what was
best to done. They were in the channel,
distant about three-quarters of mile
from the main shore, and somewhat
nearer the :" Neck Ga long, sandy cape,
inclosing the bay upon it's northern side.
The water was intensely cold, and SC
was the wind, as it blew upon them wei
to the skin. No other boat was out
their only hope seemed to be that some