Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-06-06

man of many occupations beside that
OF fisherman.
Going blue-tishing. SIP said the
Captain, as they overlook him.
"Ya-as, eff | can find boat: it S a
good day for t, drawled shiftless 81.
Capt. Charlie thought of the wife
and two little children to be supported
by his uncertain earnings, ana good
naturally offered him a place in his
boat, which was accepted, and they
Were soon off and ready for business.
Boys, did you ever 60 blue-tishing?
If so. YOU would have said there could
not be a finer day for the sport than
that which Frank and his uncle had
taken. Ii was cool day in early au-
tumn the sky was deeply blue, the
sun often obscured by flying clouds,
and the northwest wind blowing brisk
| ly. On such day step into youI 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 take them III as fast as you please:
is not this better than to float lazily
about, hour after hour, in the common
way of fishing?
The sport proved to be all that the
day had promised. Back and forth
through the bay the boat tlew-the
| fish Shoaled behind the fishers had all
they could do to attend to the lines,
and did not notice that the clouds be-
came darker and more threatening.
until gust of wind tipped the boat SO
much that the water poured over her
side.
1--WE must haul in sail,' cried the
Captain, springing up and shouting
out orders to Frank unlocking a fish,
and the slowmoving '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
ard they made for the boat. which
floated keel up, and supported them
selves us well as they could upon the
sloping bottom. The next thing to do
was TO take a review of the situation.
and determine what was best to be
done. They were in the channel. dis
tant about three quarters of mile
from the main shore, and somewhat
nearer the Meek Ga long, sandy
cape, inclosing the bay upon its north
ern side. The water was intensely
cold, and SO was the wind, as it blew
upon them wet to the skin. No other
boat was out--their only hope seemed
to be that some one might see them
from the shore and come to their res
cue. But how long would this faint
hope sustain them? how long could
they keep their hold with this icy
numbness creeping over them?
They waited at first full of impos-
| sible plans for escape, then silent.
Who can tell what thoughts came to
their minds in those fearful minutes
Did not the Captain think of his broth
ers, yes, and his father before them,
! to wonder if the sea would be his
! grave as it was theirs ?-and the poor
! tisherman-did he not feel, in a mock
| ing dream, the warm, clinging arms of
! his babies around his stiffening
neck? But Franks thoughts were
all of his mother swelling his
! boyish heart till it seemed ready
| to break, as he fancied the bit
/ terness of her grief if he never came
back to her. The towns-people often
| called him mother boy not only
because he had grown up under her
| sole care-and it was evident that he
was the one precious thing she had
| still to live for-but also because OF a
! certain neatness in his dress at all
/ times, and gentleness and refinement
| in his speech and manners, which
! might have come from that constant
womanly influence. Many feared that
| his character might lack the many vir
| tues of courage and decision; and even
! his schoolmates, when the love of
| teasing was very strong, would call
him ''mother's baby" and "Frankg,"
| laying an insulting emphasis upon the
| last syllable, so that he had begged his
mother to call him Frank, which she
did. unless in moment of tenderness
the old baby name slipped from her
| tongue. If the veteran seamen of the
| place could have known the situation
of this forloln and shivering trio,
/ what hope of rescue would they have
| found in the disabled Captain, the in
efficient Smith, or the boy who, ac-
cording to their prophecy, "would
never be good for much brought mp 50
soft by women
The clock in the steeple of the vii
/ lage church struck; the sounds We're
! FAINT but they could count tie strokes.
Uncle Charlie" said Frank, lis
/ that twelve o clock? %
Yes
Don't the tide turn about this
/ time?' asked Josiah.
1T has turned" replied the Cap