The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-03-29
4 FoGeY NIGHT.

"A DIo"t, Diuc IIVer, ripping ana
sparkling on its way to the sea. Widen
ing, too, as it flows on, first between high.
wooded banks, then by low-lying farms,
and then, just before 1t reaches the narrow
inlet, spreading out almost lake. Here
the stream is broken into many channels
by sedgy islands half covered at high
water. Flocks OF snipe and red-winged
blackbirds fly to and fro, or settle down
among the sedge, the red epaulcttes glanc-
ing gaily in the dark green or against the
dark blue sky. Among the islands tine
water rushes deep and swift, at ebb-tide
hurrying down to meet the breakers; the
white sea-horses" that gallop in over
the bar, tossing their flowing names, and
at flood-6de going back with almost
equal force to where the wide stream
flows more gently over the 81 ndy shadows
and into deep coves and bends on the low
shore.
had come down at the end of a hot,
dusty summer in town, to the old farm
house by the river, where my Cousin Nor
ris and his wife had been passing the sum-
mer, and this land by the sea was to me
Paradise, place of restful beauty, Lo-
husband of peace.
Such at least were my first impressions
on the evening after my arrival. when.
having spent the afternoon and evening
on the water, VIC left the river and walked
up through the dark, sweet.smelling cedar
grove. On reaching the house, Norris
proposed that should be introduced to
our host and hostess. / readily agreed,
and we went into the large old fashioned
kitchen, wnere we found Captain Wilson
and his wife sitting by an open wood
fire, for the August night was chilly. Be-
ing duly presented, sat down with them
to enjoy the comfortable blaze, and be-
gan to speak of the beauty of the coun-
try and the pleasure had had that day
in the boating. Indeed" remarked,
~ felt as though could float on there
forever"
"It's all good enough this kind Of
weather." Mrs Wilson said, ''but come
down here in the spring and fall rains, or
rainy spell in winter. l guess you'd
not like It SO well then. For my part, l
never could see why people set such store
by the boating. am sure l cant see the
sense in it, and ! haven't been in boat
for fifteen years, would you believer
us it possiblel Why do you dislike
boating SO much 81
"Well, never did like it, but was In
boat once too often, and I've kept out Of
them since"
Il tell my wife," said Capt. Wilson,
"if she wants 20 sec the sense in boats,
she'd better be down at the shore in big
n0r'easter in winter, and see the wreckers
go out to q vessel and bring 10 land the
whole crew safe.
wreckers, and their work on this danger
GUS coast, and many evenings after that
the old sailor entertained US with accounts
of his adventures at sea ana in the wreck
ing service. But did not forget Mrs.
Wilson's allusiOn to an adventure of her
own. and one night toward the end Of my
visit l referred to it, and again asked her
why she had not been in boat for so long
q time
"Well," she replied, :. was in a boat
once when l had too much Of 1t. |
wouldn't be paid to 60 in one now. But
that's long story"
Do let US hear IL, then, by all means. y
Perhaps you won't think it's much of
story after all" Mrs. Wilson said, apol-
ogetically, "but it's something I'll never
forget as long as l live. II was about fif.
teen years ago this next November that
got word my sister was very sick and they
wanted me to come over at once and zee
her. She lived then nearly vopposite our
landing on the other side of the river
maybe you've noticed the. white house
back among the trees. Well, my husband
wasn't hOme-he'd gone to the village,
and didn't dsre walk til he got back.
SO left word for him that I'd be home
for supper, gave the baby intQ the care OF
the hired girl and started across the <ivel
with my oldest boy, Ned. He was about
twelve years old. It was three o'clock
then, and l remember thinking we'd be
back by tes time. We got over safe
enough, for Ned pulled d strong oar, and
the wind was in our favor. I found my
sister very low, and IHtayed with her till
near six O'Clock, forkl couldn't bear to
leave her. But at laSt we started home,
for knew they'd be expecting us back
| for supper.
When We came ost Of ~ house II waa
nearly dark, and lkefe wsS such ~ thick
| fog, We cuullt hardly 80 om otm1 Elength
| before y. ~ if h.llnst Beea ~ ~ baby
Ira have infh6a hack /; = 4 NJ i wanted
Win u Bus NSd W6uldn8 near to It;
he hsisls5 he could nv h1ek Is we'll ~
n0e, and 4 he pl1lEcd 1&eody e was easy
enCuRh 70 keep . DfT1lKtt 5lne across. %
No e0s into ths boees - po.hef pf y
sfWkak ~ y 1 TIL ~ 1tE I asked
+ "Why, O. Uf thoee If1tl6, Nat bottomcd
/ boats, you klfW. 4 never did like 70 Be-
fr one Of Nom they tip over % cay
Wen, M 0f1S I f'Cuu1o ~ sN0d ~rUwfnl
stsedy, but tne fog seemed to9fPw a,icksl
ard thlcker, eTeepine up ittG. ~ "a, III
| II had spreed ov0 tie dAto and wrapped