Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-01-16

as | said this he faded out and was
gone. | got right up and run up on
deck and called out, Bout ship AIR.
Moore-he was my mate then-stared
at me as if he didn't believe his ears.
Bout ship, saws I. I'm going to
Gloucester
Well, he put the ship about, and
then came to me and says, what the
devil does this mean? We're way
past Cape Ann; it's forty miles right
back to Gloucester.
"Can't help it, said ; to Glouces.
ter must 60 as quick as wind and
water will carry me. I've thought of
matters there that l must attend 10. no
matter what happens
Well, Ben Moore and were good
friends always, but tell you all that
day he watched me in curious kind
OF way to see if weren't took with a
fever or suthin, and the men they
whispered and talked among them
selves. You see they all had their
own reasons for wanting to be back
to Thanksgiving, and it was hard
on 'em.
We'll, it was just about sun up we
got into Gloucester, and went ashore,
ana there was mother looking pretty
poorly, jest making her fire and get.
ting on her kettle. When she saw me
she held up her hands and burst out
crying.
why, Sam, the Lord must "a sent
you. I've ben sick and all alone, hav
ing drefful hard time, and I've felt
as if couldn't hold out much longer. )
WELL says /, mother, pack up
your things, and come right aboard
the sloop; for I've 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 mp her trunks, and tied
up the bed and pillows and bed.
ciotnes, and took her rocking-chair
and bureau and tables and chairs
down to the sloop. And when | came
down, bringing her and all her things,
Ben Moore seemed to see what I was
after; but how or why the idea came
into my head I never told him.
There's things that.a man feels shy of
tellin', and / didn't want to talk about it.
well, when we was all aboard, the
wind sprung up fair and steady and
we went on at right spanking pace ;
and 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 a stove inland
plenty of kindlings And the child.
rem was all so glad to see grandma,
and we had the best kind of Thanks.
giving
WELL said /, nobody could say
there wasn't any use in that spirits
coming,-if spirit it was; it had a
most practical purpose
We'll, said the captain, sI've been
all round the world, in all sorts of
countries; seen all sorts Of queer,
strange things, and seen SO many
things that I never could have be-
lieved if hadn't seen 'em that I never
say | won't believe this or that. If
see thing right straight under my
eyes don't say it couldn't "a ben
there cause college folks say there
amt no such things
sHow do you know it wasn't all a
dream ? said my chum.
'How do | know? cause I was
broad awake and l gently know
when I'm awake and when Tn asleep.
| think Mr.. Moore found me pretty
wide awake
1t was now time to turn in, and we
slept soundly while the Brilliant
ploughed her way. By daybreak the
dome of the State House was in sight
'l've settled the captains story
said my chum to me. st can all be
accounted for on the theory of cere
bral hallucination.'
'All right said l !; 'but it answers
the purpose beautifully for the old
mother