Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-08-08

take they made in so quitting their life-pur-
suits.
1t was not long before Captain Baker began
to realize the truth of these observations To
spend the remainder Of his days hoeing pota-
to-hills and turning his mclonsan squashesto
the sun ON thesere soil of the Cape, or oscllatiug
between his house and the village store, with
an occasional trip to Boston, was rather too
placid and mOnotonous change for n man
who had listened all his days to the creaking
of tackle-blocks and the thunderous and fran
tic Tapping Of topsails in Atlantic squalls--a
man, too in whose veins still leapcd a manly
vgor, in whose heart still throbbed an hon
est ambition. The growing uneasiness of
her husband, the restltssness and annoyed
discomfort 80 unusual in his frank and gener-
Gus nature, were not mperceived 10y Mrs.
Baker; she foresaw the inevitable result but
kept her own counsels But when he return
cd one day from Boston with II sober but
brisk and determined air, she was prepared
to hear him sny "Wel mother'-he al
ways called her MOTHER don't s'pose
you'll like it very well, and it comes kind of
hard for me to tell yc, but I'm going on
vyge to Smyrny l sail next week"
II mistrusted something of the sort when
you went to Boston: l knew twarn't for
nothin you We're going up there so often.
But what on airth possesses yu to 90 to sea
again, Ahiiah Here you are everything
just as coy rs can be, and I amt seen much
of We since we stood mp afore the minister
twcuty-sevcn years ago come next October
and here's Johnnie going to be married may
be next Thanksgiving
''Well, you see it's Just here | hate to go
and leave ye. but then what's a man to do
here if he hain't got no trade ashore to keep
him busy And / feel Just as spry as when
/ first took command Of the Wild Rover. |
don't mean to go to sea again for good, but
let me Just 60 one more wage, and I'll get
over this hankcriug for it. Anyway, | didn't
really mean to so again, but when | went in
to Clark a Aliens Office tothcr day they said
to me Captain, you are just the man for
us. Captain Tressle has Just fallen aud lrok-
en- leg and two ribs tain't no kind of use
for him to try to go this wye, und the Jon-
ME Lane win be ready to 90 To sca next week.
You are part owner, and now you've had a
long vacation on shore. here's Il good chance
for you to get your sca-lcgs on again 1t did
seem kind o. providential like, aud after
turning the matter over told them | would
60"
II am afraid you are making mistake,
Abijah | won't say nothing for myself, and
the poor woman put the corner Of her apron
to her eye-it was only a momentary weak
uess-"but l mistrust things won't all 20
right
so you've said before when I've been
a-goin to sail, but nothin ever came Of it.
So cheer up, mother; and il you've got n
good cup of that last tea l brought, 'twon't
come amiss.'
The Lord knows We don't always know
our own minds, or what's good for Us. But
if you must go. Abijah-and now you've Civ
en- your word, it can't be helped must look
over your things. aud if there's anything you
need, I'll send for Mehitabel Wheeler to come
right over and help me do the sewing
The Captain, relieved that he had got over
the difficulty Of breaking unpleasant news to
his wife so easily, and that she took it so
kindly, had to give her II kiss while she, be-
tween smiles and tears said oh yes ;
that's Just the way you are always ready
enough with your kiss il I'll only let you have
your own way" but she was proud enough Of
the old sea captain for all that.
And SO the matter was settled. In a fort
night Captain Baker was once more crossing
the Atlantic, the topsails of the Jennie Lane
swelling with the o&uherant force Of II west
erly gale which rapidly bore him away from
his quiet home and disconsolatc wife. In
ten days they sighted Fnyal, and, after a
splendid run of thirty-siX days, the Jennie
lane had passed from the New World into
the Old World, from the nineteenth century
into the INST ages, from the orthodox tones
of the bell of Park Street Church to the
theistic chant of the mueZzin Of Islam, and
discharged the rum of MedfOrd and the
prints of Manchester upon the wharves of
Smyrna
In another month She was ready to turn
her bowsprt again toward Long Wharf and
the land of the setting sun. Her hold WAS
packed with bales Of wool and rags. The
matches were Lattou,d down, the topsails
were hOistcd and sheeted home and back to
the mast the crew, with a long song had
got the anchor u-trip; the passengers, a mis-
sionary with his wife and four children, were
busy arranging their quarters in the small
cabin; the Greek pilot was on board; and
the setting sun tiugeing the mountain crags
OF Aratolia with rosoate hues, and gliding the
red roofs crescent-tipped minarcts and
crumblng Roman ramparts of Smyrna when
Captain Baker and the consigueo came of TO
! the ship. having paid their last visit to the
consul and the health officers Of the purt.
''AIr. Partridge, you can make sail on her
aud cast OF let me know when all ready
said the Captain to the mate ns he went be
| low for the last consultation with the con-
| sgnce. As the breeze was light. the top
| gallant sails and royals were shected home,
! aud when she was adrift Mr.. Partridge called
| the Captain.
| As the bark fell oil gracefully on the star
| board tack the two brass pieces were fired
! CT plain Baker was a strict discipllnarian he
| kept his vessel trim as IL yacht, and in enter
| ing or leaving port aimed at a man-ofwar
| style rs far as is possible in merchant-slip
"GOod-by, Captain Baker said the con
siguee as he stepped into his boat !; "a pleas
ant and quick voyage to you! When shall
We look for you again =
''Oh, this is my last wye ! amt goin'
to sea any more l promised Mrs. Baker to
stay at home after this v'yge.'
$50 you said the last time you We're here.
Wen see you back again before long
NO, | say good-by to Smyrny now, for
good and all. But l expect to see you in
Boston some time"
Everything looked propitious for pros
porous voyage home but being the summer
season, the occasional gales and squalls they
encountered were alternated 10y light battling
winds aud long calms, always more or less ir-
ritatng to the ruling mind which PAGES the
quarterback but aifording good opportun-
| ty for gcraping the masts, setting up and
slushing the rigging, and painting the ship
! from truck to water-line. In this way the
| Jennie Lane was made to look rs If she were
"intended to be put under glass case,
| while Captain Baker talked theology with the
| missionary, and kept an eye on the barometer
or the offng for a breeze. On the ith of Ju-
ly the bark was suddenly surrounded by field
ice and bergs of enormous size the air,
from almost tropical heat, became wintry
cold and the gleam Of the sun and the moon
ON the glittering masses, while it displayed
their splendor also revealed the extent of the
perils by which they were surrounded Most
fortunately, the weather continued clear, and
they had leading wind, and thus escaped
| the ice unharmcd. And now, for the Grand
Banks and home! Captain Baker had been
impatient all the voyage to reach the Banks,
hoping to see his son there the Gentle An
ME was generally on fshing-grounds about
that time, and the Captain was especially anx-
ious for clear weather, SO that he might not
only see his boys schooner, but might also
thus avoid the danger of running her down
in the fog, peril of the Banks which neither
fog-horns nor whistles nor the utmost vigil
ance can altogether dispel. 1t was a great
relief therefore, when on fine, clear morn
ing, with good offing, Captain Baker saw a
fleet of fishermen at anchor ahead or dodg-