The Worthington advance., 1879-01-30
THE CAPTAINS STORY.

ago. It's goin' on now eight years ago
that my father died. He sailed out OF
Gloucester; had his house there; and af.
ter he died, mother she Jest KEEP on in
the old place. I went down at first to
see her fixed up right, and after that
went down now and then, and now and
then sent money. Well, it was about
Thanksgiving time, rs it is now, and I'd
been down to Boston, and was coming
back pretty we'll loaded with the
things Id been buying in Boston for
Thanksgiving at home: raisins and sugar,
and all sorts of West Ingy goods, for the
folks in Harpswell. Well, I meant to
have gone down to Gloucester to see
mother, but I had SO many ways to run
and so much to do l was afraid wouldn't
be back on time; and SC I didn't see
her.
"Well, we was driving back with a
good stiff breeze, "nd we'd got past Cape
Ann, and I'd gone down and turned in,
and was fast asleep in my berth. 1t was
past midnight one on the schoon-
er asleep except the mate, who was up
on the watch. l was sleepin' as sound as
ever I slept in my life, not
a dream nor feelin', no
more n if had been dead, when sud
denly walked square up; my eyes
flew open like spring, with my mind
clear ana wide-awake, and sure as ever
see anything, see my father standing
right in the middle of the cabin looking
right at me. I rose right up in my berth,
and SAYS I:
"Father, is that you?"
"'Yes,' says he, it is me-
"'Father,' says ], what do you come
fora:
"'Sam,' says he, do you 60 right back
to Gloucester and take your mother home
with you, and keep her there US long as
she lives
sAnd says I, Father, I will And as
I said this he faded out aud was gone.
I got up and ran up On deck, and called
out, Bout ship Mr.. More-he was my
mate then-sta1ed at me as if he didn t
believe his ears. ''Bout Ship says l.
I'm going to Gloucester
"Well, he put the ship about, and then
came to me, and says, what the devil
does this mean2 We're way past Cape
Ann; it's forty miles right back to Gloa-
ester.'
"Can't hep it, said; to Gloucester
must go as quick as wind and water
will carry me. I've thought of matters
there that must attend to. no matter
what happens
"Well, Ben More and I were good
friends always. but I tell you all that
day he watched me in a curious kind ol
way to see if weren't with a fever OF
suthin, and the men they whispered
and talked among themselves. You see
they all had their own reasons for want.
ing 10 be back to Thanksgiving, and il
was hard on 'em.
"Well, it was just about sun up we got
into Gloucester, and ! went ashore, and
there was mother looking pretty poorly
Just making her fire aud getting on bel
kettle. When she saw me she held ur
her hands and burst out crying.
"'Why, Sam, the Lord must "a sent
you. I've ben sick and al: alone, having
q drefful hard time, and I've felt as it
couldn't hold out no 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
swell, took hold and helped her, ano
We put things together lively, and packed
up her trunks and tied up the bed anc
pillows and bedclothes, and took he,
rocking chair and bureau and tables anf
chairs down to the sloop. And when
came down, bringing her and all he
things, Ben More seemed to see what
was after; but how or why the idea cam,
into my head l never told him. There
things that man feels shy of tellin', ant
I didn't want to talk about it.
swell, when we was all aboard th
wind sprung up fair and steady, and VI
went on at q right spanking pace, an,
the fellows SAID the HarpsweI girls ha'
t got hold OF our rope, and was pulling u
with all their might; and we came in al
F., right the very day before Thanksgiving
And my wife was as glad to see mothe
- if she'd expected her, and fixed up tn
, front chamber Of her, with stove in 4
!, AID plenty Of kirdlings. And the chi
I dren was all SO glad to see graodms, an
I We had the best kind of Thanksgiving
4, ,I-%Hnnkie AonthLn