The Portland daily press., 1879-02-08

SAM says he, do you 60 right back to
Gloucester, and take your mother home with
you. and keep her there as long as she lives.'
And says |, Father, will.' And as /
said this he faded out and was gone. 1 got
right up and run on deck and called out,
Bout shipP Mr.. More-he was my mate,
then-stared at nae as if he didn't believe his
ears. Bout shipP says l, 'Pm going to
Gloucester
"Well, he put the ship about, and then
came to me and says, what the devil does
this mean? We're past Cape Ann; it's forty
miles right back to Gloucester
Can't help it, said; 'to Gloucester I
must go as quick as wind and water will car
nv me. Pve thought OF matters there that
must attend to no matter what happens
"Well, Ben More and | were good friends
always, but tell you all that day he watched
me In curious kind of way to see if wern't
TOOK with fever or suthin, and the men
they whispered aud talked among themselves.
You see they all had their reasons for want.
ing to be back on Thanksgiving, and it was
hard on 'em.
swell, it was just about sun up when we
got into Gloucester, and went ashore. and
there was mother looking pretty poorly. lust
making her fire and getting on her kettle.
When she saw me she held up her hands and
burst out crying.
why, Sam, the Lord must "a sent YOU,
Eve been sick and all alone, having dread
fnl hard time, and felt as if 1 couldn't hold
out much longer
Well says 1, mother pack up your
things and come right aboard the sloop; for
Eve come to take you home, and take care
OF you; so put up your things
''Well, took hold and helped her, and we
put things together lively; and packed up her
trunks, and tied up the pillows and bed
clothes, and took her rocking chair and bu-
reau and tables and chairs down to the sloop
And when ! came down bringing her and all
her things, Ben More seemed to see what
was after; but how or why the idea came IN
to my head l never told him. There's things
that man feels shy of tellin', and l didn't
want to talk about it.
"Well, when we were all aboard the wind
sprung up fair and steady, and we went on
at a right spanking pace; aud the fellows said
the Harpswell girls had got hold Of our rope,
and was pulling US with all their might; and
we came in all right the very day before
Thanksgiving. And my wife was as glad to
see mother as if she'd expected her, and fixed
up the front chamber for her, with stove
int, and plenty of kindlings. And the chill
dren were all as glad to see grandma, and we
had the best kind of Thanksgiving.
SWELL" said l, nobody could say there
wasn't any use in that spirits coming-f
spirit it vast had most practical pur-
pose"
SWELL" said the Captain, Eve, been all
round the world, in all sorts of countries:
seen all sorts of queer, strange things, and
seen so many things that l never could have
believed if hadn't seen 'em, that l never
say I won't believe this or that. IfIsee a
thing right straight under my eyes. I don't
say it couldn't been there cause college folks
say there amt no such things"
HOW DO you know it wasn't all dream ?"
said my chum.
Show do l know? cause I was broad
awake, and gently know when Pm awake
and when Pm asleep. think Mr.. More
found NE pretty wide awake"
1t was now time to turn in and we slept
soundly while the Brilliant plowed her way.
By daybreak the dome of the State House
was in sight.
'''ve settled the Captains story" said nv
chum to me. SIT can all be accounted for on
the theory of cerebral halIucination -
"All right" said |; Shut it answered the
purpose beautifully for the old mother.''