The Portland daily press., 1879-02-08

BY HARRIET BEECHER STOWE.
Among the pleasantest of my recollections
of old Bowdoln is the salt air flavor OF its
sea experiences. The site of Brunswick is a
sandy plain On which the college build ings
seem to have been dropped for the
good old Yankee economic reason
of using land for public buildings
that could not be used for anything else.
The soil was a fathomess depth OF dry, sharp,
barren sand, out of whose bosom nothing but
pitch pines and blue-berry bushes emerged,
or ever could emerge without superhuman
efforts of cultivation. But these sandy pines,
these pine forests were neighbors to the great
lively, musical blue ocean whose life giving
presence made itself seen, heard and felt
every hour of the day and night. That beau
tiful popularity of the Maize coast, where
the sea undergraduates the land in pictur-
esque fiords and lakes brought constant
romantic element into the landscape. White
winged ships from India or China came Gid
ing into the lonely solitude of forest recesses,
bringing news from strange lands, tidings of
wild adventure into secluded farm houses
that for the most seemed to be dreaming in
woodland solitude. In the early days of my
college lite, 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 commerce, had apparently,
''suffered a sea change
Into something rare and strange"
There was quietness, shrewdness, and vi
vacity about these men, half skipper, half
farmer, that was piquant and enlivening.
1t was In the suspicious period of approa CHI
ing thanksgiving that my chum and re-
solved to antidate for few days our vaca-
ton, and take passage on the little sloop
Brilliant, that lay courtesying and lettering
on the bright waters of Marquoit bay, load
ing up to make her Thanksgiving trip to
Boston.
1t was bright Indian summer afternoon
that saw US all on board the little craft. She
was laden deep with dainties and rarites for
the festal appetites of Boston nabobs; loads
OF those mealy potatoes for which the fields
of Maine were Justly famed; barrels of ruby
cranberries; boxes of solid golden butter,
ventures ola thrifty house mother emulous to
gather kindred gold in the Boston market
Then there were dressed chickens, turkeys
and geese all going the same Grand; and
there were sides and saddles of that delecta-
BILE mutton for which the sea islands of Maine
were as famous as the South Downs of En-
gland.
Everything in such stowage was sugges-
tive of good cheer. The little craft itself had
sociabie, friendly, domestic air. The CAP
tain and mate were cousins the men we're ali
neighbors, SONS of families who had grown up
together; there was 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
Wilder Toothacre's butter, concerning which
tions, but which was handed and cared for
with the consideration the Maine sailor boy
always gives to "the widder;" there was a
private keg of very choice eggs, over which
the name OF Lucindy Ann was breathed BY a
bright-eyed lively youDgster, who had prom
ised to bring back the change ane as to the
precise particulars of this change many a
witticism was expended.
Our mode of living on the Brilliant was of
the simplest and most primitive kind. On
each side OF the staircase that led down to the
cabin, hoped strongly to the partition was a
barrel, which On 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 a
king. l make no mention here of ginger
bread and doughnuts and such like orna-
mental accessories which were not wanting,
nor of nuts and sweet cider which were to be
had for the asking At meal times swing
shelf, which at other seasons hung fat
against the wall was propped up and our
meals were eaten thereon In Joyous satisfac-
ton.
A joyous, rollicking set we were, and the
whole expedition was frolc of the first
water. One of the drolles. features OF these
little impromptu voyages often was the woe
begone aspect of some unsuspecting land
lubber who had been beguied into thinking
that he would like trip to Boston by seeing
the pretty Brilliant courtesyng in theesmooth
waters OF Marquoit, and so had emba rked in
innocent ignorance of the physiological re-
suits OF such enterprise.
l remember the first morning out, As we
were driving ahead under stiff breeze I
came on deck and found the respectable
Deacon Muggins, who in his Sunday coat
bad sereney embarked the day before, now
desolately clingDg to the railing, very white
about the gills, and contemplating the sea
With very suggestive expression Of disgust
and ht rror.
"Why. deacon, good morniDgi How are |
yonp Splendid morningV' said mallciously. |
BE drew deep breath, surveyed me with !!
a mixture of Indignation and despair, and
then gave vent to his feelings; "Tell ye
what; there was one darned Old fool up to
Brunswick yesterday; but he amt there now,
he's here" The deacon. in the weekIv
prayer meeting at Brunswick, used to talk Of
the necessity of being 'emptied of selfp' he
seemed to be in the way of it in the most
literal manner at the present moment. In
few minutes he was extended on deck, the |
most utterly limp and detected of deacons, |
and vowing with energy, If he ever got out % |
this 'ere, you wouldn't catch him again. OF |
course, my chum and were not seasick We |
were prosperous sophomores in Bowdoin COL |
ege, end would have scorned to acknowl-
edge such weakness. In fact, we were in
that happy state of selfopinion where we
everything in creation as birds do
rom above, and were disposed to patronize
we met with a pleasing conviction
hat there was nothing worth knowing but
what we were likely to know, or worth do
ing but what we could do.
Capt. Stauwood liked us, and we liked
nm; we patronized him, and he was quietly
amused ~ at our patronage and returned it in
Alna' ne was good sea captain in those
early days In Name; man in middle life.
tai,' tnln, why and active, full of resources
aDo snreWd mother wit; "a man verv conf.
dent IL his opinions, because his knowledca
vas all got at first hand the result Of a care.
ul use of bis own five senses. From his
be had followed the sea, and a. he
grew older made voyages to Archangel. to
Messina. to the West Indies, and finally
% und the Horn and having carried a very
'harp aud careful pair of eyes, he had ac-
luired not only snug competency of worldly
soods, put large stock of facts aud induc-
ions which stood him instead of an educa-
ion. de was master of a thriving farm at
darpsWell, and being thetbered Somewhat
~ love OF wife and children, was mostly
tatlonary there, yet solaced himself by run
ling little schooner to Boston, and driving
taI1VIng bit of trade by this means. With
nay reverence tor learning which never de-
elts the New Highlander, he liked us The
'elter Tor being collegians, and amably con-
eded that there were things quite worth