Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-06-25
The Secret Of the Sea.

The story am about to relate de-
scribes an actual occurrence.
The recompense that came so speedi-
Iy, and in such a singular manner. to
the principal actor in the events that
are portrayed, will no doubt suggest to
sanguine temperlDeuts a Providen-
tial interference. 1he real names OF
the persons thus Brought to the notice
of the re0dcr, | have, Of course, WITH
held.
Uncle Simon, Us lie was called, lived
on q small island in Casco Bay, on the
coast of Maine. He WAS simple
minded but hard working fisherman, of
great Integrity Of character.
During tho SIMMER months, large
schools of hake frequent the muddy
bottom of the bay, atiording q rich har-
vest to the fishermen along the coast.
As these fish take the hook best in the
night, it is the custom of the fishermen
to go in their small boats to the fish
ing. ground about sunse: aud fish till
daybreak, or somewhat later.
One forenoon in July, Uncle Simon
was returning to the shore from baking
after successful nights work. The
his heavily-laden boat steerlge- way,
and, weary from his toll, the Old man
was noddipg at the helm. Suddenly
his half-closed eyes caught sight of a
dead body in the water, just ahead of
his beat.
So startling o sight reused Uncle
Simon thoroughly. He opened his eyes
wide, for just one moment, then lowered
his sail, and reaching out his boat.
hook, drew the dead body towards
him.
1t proved to be that of man, float
ing face downwards. The skirts of his
coat were thrown up over his shoulders,
and from deep inside pocket of the
skirt protruded large leathern pocket
book
All that prevented this hook, from
falling out was the lining of the pocket,
which was of cotton cloth, and being
saturated by the water. held IL II at
once attracted Uncle SimOn's notice.
ard he drew it forth, and placed it in
the beat.
The body had been so long in the
water that it could not be taken into
the boat, but Uncle Simon, by means
OF a rope towed ii to the island.
On examining the pocket-book he
found that it contained a large amount
of money in bank bills, which were
soaked with w,ter, but not otherwise
injured.
Uncle Simon was poor man. He
had nothing but poverty to look for
ward to in his old age. This money
was like mine Of wealth in his eyes.
Men have been murdered, and souls
have been lost, for a smaller smuunt
than that pocket book coAi.Iuu.
What was to hinder him from calling
at his own? No living creature was
within five or six miles of him. He was
utterly alone. AS he towed the body
to the land, how easy it would have
been to have kept the book, and then
to allow the voiceless ocean to swallow
up the dead body. Who would have
known his guilty secret?
But 1t is the inward inclination that
gives force to temptation, and there
was nothing in the nature Of this simple
fisherman that could so incline his up
right mind as to make it yield. He
took the pocket-book with him, and
after reaching home lie dried the bills,
and tLen carefully recounted them.
There were nine hundred and fifty
dollars.
From letters and bills in the book.
he ascertained that the body was that
of Capt. Small, who some weeks be-
fore had run his vessel on HALLWAY
Rock Ia dry ledge midway between
Cape Elizabeth and Cape Small point),
and had lost her.
He also ascertained that the vessel
was owned in North Yarmouth, neigh
boring town. At once he sent word to
the owners. one of whom came to the
island. They knew what freight money
the captain had in his possession. for
ne had written them from his last port
OF departure. On counting the money.
1T was found the right amount to q
dollar.
About a fortnight after this, the cid
man was going home in his boat from
Drunken Ledge. where he had been to
hsh for rock-cod, when he came across
raft OF drift-wood. There was but
little wood on his island, and Uncle
Simon, like most of his neighbors. was
obliged to purchase his fuel.
de took IL sail and set to work pick
ing upthe wood. While thus occupied.
lie saw something bobbing upand down
IN the water that excited his curiosity.
and which proved to be the handle OF
maiiet, the rallet itself being under
water.
DE drew it towards him, and after
examining 1t with some attention, said |
to himself, " Its master heavy. Some
foreign wood. guess. 1t don't look as
II 1t bad been used any. / declare
wouldn't believe i. could aoa. If /
hadn't seen it sith my own eyes. 1t
did,t but just float. though. ANYHOW.
It's a good mallet, and it'll como handy
in the shop"