Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-01-10

talk about" said the deacon. in
quavering, uncertain voice; " but
don't know but / may as well though.
at was that winter was up to Um-
bagog. was clerk, and kep'the counts
and book, and all that, and Tom Huly
he was surveyor and matker-he was
there with me, and we chummed togeth-
er. And there was Jack Cutter-he was
jest out o. college; he was there practic-
ing surveyin' with him, We three had
kind o. pine-board sort o. shanty built
out on plain near by the camp; it had
fireplace and two windows and our
hunks, and each of us had our tables
and books and things.
Well, Huly he started with party
of three or four to go up through the
woods to look out new tract. 1t was
two or three days journey through the
woods, and just about that time the In
dians up there was getting sort o. un-
easy, and we all thought mabbe twas
sort o. risky; howsomdever, Tom had
gone off in high spirits, and told us to
be sure and take care of his books and
papers. Tom had lot of books and
thought everything of EN-, and was sort
o. particular and nice about his papers;
his table sot up one side by the winder
where he could see to read and write.
Well, he'd been gone four days, when
one night--it was a bright moonlight
night-Jack and L were sitting by the
fire reading, and between nine and ten
o'clock there came a strong, regular
knock on the window over by Toms
table. We were sitting with our backs
e.. he. Il 1.n T..
who's thatp We both jumped up and
went to the window and looked out,
and see there warh't nobody there.
"'This is Gurus said |.
Some of the boys trying to trick
u.s. says he. Let's keep watch; per-
haps they'll do it again says he. ..
1--WE sot down by the fire, and fore
long it came again.
"Then Jack and both cut out the
door and run round the house-he one
way and | the other. 1t was light as
day, and nothin' for anybody to hide
behind, and there warn critter in
sight. Well, we come in and sot down
and looked at each other kind o. puz-
zled, when it come agin, harder'n ever;
and Jack looked to the window, and
got as white as a sheet
ga For the Lords sake, do lookr
says he. And you may believe me or
not, but | tell you it's a solemn fact;
Toms books was movin'-jest as If
somebody was pickin' 'em up and put
ting 'em down again, just as I've seen
him do a hundred times. ......-
90 Jack, says l, something's hap
pened to Tom!'
tWol tbora bo5 'rbot vow, ,,;oI,t
Tom was murdered by the Indians
We put down the date, and week
arter the news came"
Come now, Captain" said 1, break
ing the pause that followed the deacon's
story, "give us your story. You've
been all over the world, in all times and
all weathers, and you amt man to be
taken in; did you ever see anything of
this sortPn
well, now, boys, since you put it
straight at me, don't care if say l
have, on these ere very waters we're
a-sailin' over now, on board this very
schooner, in this very cabin,
This was bringing matters close
home. Wefelt disagreeable shiver and
looked over our shoulders; the deacon,
in his berth, raised up on his elbow,
and calculated: "Dew tell; ye don't
say So"
'Tell us about it, Captain" we both
insisted. wen take your word for
most anything" E
"Well, it happened about five years
ago.. It's goin' on now eightyears ago
that my father died. He sailed out of
Gloucester; had his house there; and
after he died, mother she jest KEEP on in
the old place. went down at first to
see her fixed up about right, and after
that went now and then, and now and
then sent money. Well, it was about
Thanksgiving time, as it is now, and
I'd ben down to Boston, and was COM
ing back pretty well loaded with the
things I'd been buying in Boston for
Thanksgiving at home; raisins and SUI
gar, and all sorts of West Ingy goods,
for the folks in Harpswell. Well, |
meant to have gone down to Gloucester
to see mother, but had so many ways
to run and so much to do | was afraid
| wouldn't be back on time; and so
didn't see her. ..-.-u ...--.I
"Well, we was driving back with
good stiff breeze, and we'd got past
Cape Ann, and I'd gone down and
turned in, and was fast asleep in my
berth. twas pastmidnight-everyone
on the schooner asleep except the mate,
who was up on the watch was sleep
in as sound as | ever slept in my life,
not q dream, nor feelin', no more n if
1 had been dead, when suddenly |
walked square up; my eyes flew open
like a spring, with my mind clear and
wide awake, and sure as ever see any
thing see my father standing right in
the middle of the cabin looking right
at me. rose right up in my berth,
and says 1:
g" Father, is that youP'
"Yes,' says he; lit is me- rr
Father saysI, what doyou come
forP' '@"-
"'Sam,' says he, do you go right
back to Gloucester and take your moth
er home with you, and keep her there
as long as she lives
"And says L; Father, l will And
as | said this he faded out and was gone.
got right up and run up on deck, and
called out: Bout shipr Mr.. More
he was my mate then-stared at me as
if he didn't believe his ears. Bout
shlp, says L. III gong to UlouceS-
ter U.
"Well, he put the ship about, and
then came to me and says: what the
deuce does this meanP We're way past
Cape Anni it's forty miles right back to
Gloucester
80 Can't help it, l said; to Glouces-
ter must go as quick as wind and water
will carry me. I've thought of matters
there that must attend to, no matter
what happens
We'll, Ben More and were good
friends always, but | tell you ali that
day he watched me in a curious kind of
way to see if were took with fever
or suthin, and the men they whispered
and talked among themselves. You
see they all had their own reasons for
wanting to be back to Thanksgiving,