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

A STUDENTS SEA STORY.
Among the pleasantest of my recol-
lections of old Bowdoin is the salt-air
flavor of its sea experiences. The site
of Brunswick is sandy plain on which
the college buildings seem to have been
dropped for the good old Yankee eco
nomic reason of using land for public
buildings that could not be used for any
thing else. The soil was fathomless
depth, of dry, sharp, barren sand, out
of whose bosom nothing but pitch pines
and 'blueberry bushes emerged or ever
could emerge without superhuman eff
forts of cultivation But these sandy
plains, these pine forests, were neghbors
to the great, lively, musical blue ocean
whose life-giying presence made itself
seen, heard, and felt every hour of the
day and night. The beautiful peculiar
ity of the Maine coast, where the sea in
terpenetrates the land in picturesque
tiords and lakes, brought constant
romantic element into the landscape.
White-winged ships from India or China
came gliding into the lonely solitude
of forest recesses, bringing news from,
strangelands and tidings of wild advent
ure into secluded farm-huuses that for
the most part seemed to be dreaming in
woodland solitude. In the early days of
my college life, the shipping interest of
Maine gave it an outlook into all the
countries of the earth. Ships and ship
building and ship-launching were the
drift of the popular thought, and the
very minds of the people by this COM
merce had apparently
-. "sutfered sea change
Into something rare and strange"
There was a quaintness, shrewdness,
and vivacity about these men. half skip
per, half farmer, that was piquant and
enlivening.
1t was in the auspicious period of ap-
preaching Thanksgiving that my chum
and resolved to antedate for a few days
our vacation, and take passage on the
little sloop Brilliant that lay courtesy
ing and teetering on the bright waters of
Maquoit Bay, loading up to make her
Thanksgiving trip to Boston.
1t was bright Indian summer aft
ernoon that saw us all ON board the lit
tie craft. She was laden deep with dain-
ties and rarities for the festal appetites
of Boston nabobs; loads of those mealy
potatoes for which the fields of Maine
were justly famed; barrels of ruby cram
berries; boxes of solid golden butter,
ventures of thrifty house mother emu
lous to gather kindred gold in the Bos-
ton market. Then there were dressed
chickens, turkeys and geese all going
the same way, on the same errand; and
there were sides and saddles OF that
choice mutton for which the sea islands
of Maine were as famous as the South
downs Of England.
Everything in such a stowage was
suggestive of good cheer. The little
craft itself had sociable, friendly, do
mestic air. The Captain and mate were
cousins; the men were all neighbors,
sons of families who had grown up to-
gether; there was a kindly home flavor
in the very stowage of the cargo. Here
were Melissa's cranberries, and by
many joke and wink we were apprised
that the mate had tender interest in
that venture; there was Widder Tooth
acres butter, concerning which there
were various comments and specula.
tions, but which was handled and cared
for with the Consideration the Maine
sailor boy always gives to. "the wids
der;" there was a prlvate keg of very
choice eggs, over which the name Of
Lucindy Ann was breathed by a bright
eyed. lively youngster, who had prom
ised to bring her back the change, and
as to the precise particulars of this
change many witticism was expended.
Our mode of living on The Brilliant
~ ha Gin nj go.
kind. On each side the staircase that
led down TO the cabin, hooped strongly
to the partition, was barrel, which on
the one side contained salt beef, and on
the. other salt pork. A piece out of
each barrel, delivered regularly to the
cook, formed the foundation of our daily
meals; and sea-biscuit and potatoes,
with the sauce of saltwater appetites,
made this feast for king make no
mention here of gingerbread and dough-
nuts, and such like ornamental accesso-
ries, which were not wanting, nor of
nuts and sweet cider, which were 10 be
had for the asking. At meal times a
swing-shelf, which at other seasons
hung fiat against the wall, was propped
up, and our meals were eaten thereon
in joyous satisfaction. H IHi 9hi
Al oyouss rollicking set we were and
the whole expedition was frolic of the
tirstwater. One of the drollest features
of these little impromptu voyages often
was the woe-begone aspect Of some un-
suspectiDg landlubber, who had been
beguiled into thinking that he would
like a trip TO Boston by seeing the pretty
Brilliant courtesying In the smooth wa
ters of Maquoit, and so had embarked
in innocent ignorance of the physiolog-
ical results OF such Enterprises " III
i remember the first morning out.
AS we were driving ahead. under stiIf
breeze, came on deck, aud found the
respectable Deacon Muggins, who in
his Sunday coat had serenely embarked
the day before, now desolately clinging
10 the railing, very white about the gills,
and contemplating the sea with a most
suggestive expression of disgust and
horroLoJ y 3lh ~ ! 1I IA t9l4qe
"Why, deacon, good morningl How
are youp Splendid ihorningr' said /,
maliciOusly. eekfg .IIIW0I
He drew a deep breath, surveyed me