Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-09-25
A FIsherman's "raII Yarn ;"

Sixty miles from Brooklyn, on Long ISL
and there is small village well known as
a favorite resort for fishermen. It's natives
all own boats, and are celebrated for their
skill with the hook and lIpe,porI art sKaak
the nrritHr and friend s'--,rs. i'm admiration
upon large fleet of fishing boats, which
were anchored thereon. While thus en-
gagged we were joined by low-sized wealth
cr-beaten son of the sea. lie approached
us slowly, raised his battered straw hat, and
said:
'tJust arrived, gcn'lmcn9 Reckon you've
come down to take hack at the blue fish. \"
THAT is our intention" we said. ''Have
you boat fit for the purpose2"
''Wall, you're right, genl'men. Doyou
see that sloop yonder +" and the old man
extended a stump of foretinger in the di-
rectlon of ranky-looking, small-szed
boat lying at anchor all alone, as if she did
not deem herself fit company for her more
modern looking sisters. She was painted
a dirty yellow, with faded blue streak
above the water line, and she possessed a
decidedly unprepossessing appearance. This
was suggested to the old man in a manner
which was not calculated to hurt his feel
ings.
"I'll allow she amt much on style, y"
said he, ''and if yer want boat with vel
vet cushions, where yer kin lay with yer
head in yer gals lap and MUNICH candy
while she reads po'try to yer, she amt the
craft for yer but if yer wants solid craft
that amt afeerd of wind or water to do yer
fishing in, there's your boat and I'm the
man kin sail her."
There was something in the force of his
argument that led us to place confidence in
him, and in two minutes satisfactory bar
gain was made. We trudged back to the
hotel, at which, under the inspiration of
sundry potations, the old man grew conf
dental and voluble.
''Gen'l'men," said he, "when you've
heerd what Pm agoing to tell yer you'll al
! low there an't no better boat in the bay
than the Sary Matilder. | calls her Sary
Matilder after the youngest gal of Scuddee
Conkling, who owns that big house down
on the Pint, | git an odd job now and
then during the winter down to the Pint
aud named the boat out Of-of-"
Gratitude" was suggested.
"That's the word, gen'rmen. Well, as
was a saying, few summers ago there was
a couple OF young student chaps came down
from York, and they hired me for week
to take 'em ffshin' and sailln'. Well, the
fust lay we kctched sixty-five blue-tish and
Spanish mackerel, and when we got home
sir, them fellers' hands, as waSn fused to
hard work, was all cut and , lstered.
doctored em with sweet lie and flour, but
they took long time to heal, and they
wore gloves on 'em while they was here.
OF course, this put an end to their fishin' :;
but they were genl'men, and they stuck to
their bargain, and took out their week in
sailin' over the bay. They was very fond
of sailin' along the beach and gatherin'
shells and gull's eggs and beach plums and
sea-weeds, and all that kind of trash"
''Well, I don't think it'll hurt me-" he
said, in answer to an interruption, and he
poured out half tumbler of Medford rnm.
''Well, we was a-saiIin' along one after
noon, huggin' the shore pretty close, when
heerd tremendous screechin and t1utter-
in of wings, and l looks up, and there
over the Pint was more'n million gulls
actin like they was crazy"
''What's that p says my passengers.
"'Gulls a-feedin', sez |. Mayhap q
school of bunker or some dead sharks is
a-comin' through the inlet and the creatures
is a-feedin' on 'em. Howsomever, wei
run down and see.' With that shook the
reefs out'n the mains1, and away she flew
Gen'rmen. when ! got beyond that Pint
see sight what I'll never see ag'in. Righ
in the middle of the channel the waves was
a-bilin' four feet high, and they was alive
with fish; blue-fish, gen'pmen, and whop
pers at that. On both sides of the channe
the water was as quiet as the Ticker in tha
bottle. Now, boys, there amt no sprye
! old man III Suffolk County, if l do say