Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-07-19
NO. 1863
Calls and Skstehes.
THE FISHERMAN's TREASURE.

4
frain, Row, brothers, row." Martins
singing was wonderful. His great gruff
voice, heard above all others, mid the
fiercest bowling of storm and tempest,
softened now as he sang, into melody as
magically sweet as the breathings of
flute. His weather-beaten face lighted
up as he sang. He was so glad she was
coming home-his joy, his treasure, little
"Ocean Pearl"
He watched the little dory as she made
for the shore. As the keel grated upon
the pebbly bottom, the girl bounded like
an antelope from the bows and knelt on
the sand by Martins side.
so papa Martin l have got SO much
to tell you. Don't you think-did you
know that-that they-O. dear, dear me
| can't say it right at all''
"My child'-he drew her to him as he
spoke, smoothing tenderly her wind-rough-
ened locks-"have the sights and sounds
OF the great city turned completely this
little head P''
"Wait till tell you all about it, Marty,
dear" replied the child, breathlessly.
''But you know you went on business;
let US hear about that first"
Nene-that was what Martin had named
her, for it was what her own baby lips had
lisped the night he found her-Nene had
drawn herself up with dignified air.
"Did you bring me the check from the
bank P'
Very Importantly she brought from the
deepest recesses of her pocket a folded
bit of paper.
1.-The letter, you carried that P''
A brisk nod for answer.
Ibid you pay all the bills ?'
"Yes, very short.
'Let me see," he went on; "You are
sure you remembered the buther."
"Yes, yes, yes, the butcher. the baker,
the candle-stic& maker, | remembered
them alln
did my little housekeeper get the
bed-screws and the new soup-ladle ~
"They are all in the boat"
80, know what you forgot My dark
lantern"
But didn't, though"
Meme was hopping on one foot with i'm
| patience, somewhat vexed at this treat
| ment. Just then she caught the twinkle
| in Martins eye, and then Miss Meme took
justice summarily into her own hands by
pouncing like u little sea-gull upon the
half-fnished net and racing desperately
after him in the net.
Now, you naughty man, you're caught.
What shall do with my pretty little 0,
| know. You shall stay Just so, while
tell you the news. That shall be your
punishment"
1.-The big "fish" stayed very composed
ly in his cage, while Meme told her story.
81 shall begin at the very beginning,
papa. AS went up the river, l saw the
flags flying from the steeples, and all the
ships had hoisted their colors. Nearer
the city, the water was alive with little
boats. o, it was brave sight Every
one was dressed in their best, and every
body nodded at me gaily. 'Ah, here
comes little Ocean Pearl come up to see
the lords and ladies. too,' they said. So |
rowed along slowly, and by -and-by came
to the grand ships, and there were beauti-
iul ladies on the decks, and bands of mu-
sic playing, and alongside there were
barges moored, with si.ken cushions the
color of the sky, and rows of white oars
tipped with gold. They didn't seem
strange to me at all, only nice. know |
have seen just such boats sometimes be-
fore. You see they had come from Spain
to visit the Lord Mayor"
And what has Spain to do with little
Ocean PearlP" asked Martin.
"Spain9 Did you say it was my coun-
try, and that some time you would take
me therep am tired waiting. Oh,
want you to go back in one of those ships.
| know ] shall find my mother. l feel it
way down here"
"Child, child !" Martins voice trembled
but his face was hid behind the meshes of
the net. "Why should You care for your
motherp Cannot you be content with old
Martin the fisherman Has he not been
father and a mother both, to you, these
ten years P"
IL shall never leave you, you know, but
Oh, Marty. do want my mother, besides"
She unwound the net as she said this,
and clung round his neck. The tears
rolled veriMartin's cheeks as he took her
in his arms.
lit is ten years ago tonight. ten years
and just the same appalling look in your
baby eyes. And l, heart broken, des-
pairing man, whose sutferings had led him
to shan the world as mockery, who
courted every danger, prayed for death,
felt my heart bound and melt within me
at sight of you. l prayed to live then.
Yes. thank God the last ten years have
made up for all the trials that came be-
fore.'"
''You have been very good to poor
Meme. Was that all the word l could
say that night-Nene pn
'Yes, and when you had said 1t
you shut your baby eyes smilingly. and
fell fast asleep as content with my rough
nursing as with a mothers lullaby"
"Now tell it all over. won't you?"
Martin could never resist the child's
pretty coaxing.
at was a dreadful storm ?" he began
with shudder; "there has not been such
a one since. The great waves rose up
mountains high, and lashed against the
rocks, white with fury. The night was
black as death, except when the lightning
would shoot athwart the heavens. BY the
lurid glare saw the ship driven among
the breakers. launched my lifeboat. ]
knew there was hardly chance, but
courted death then. | could hear the
ships guns booming; but when the next
light came she had sunk. ALI on board
went down with her."
.Only me. You saved me. you know,
said Name with ewes of vivid spiendor