Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-03-26
NO. "A.
Gales ano Skettbes.
uow raE "GrLF- wExr powx,
BY RERECcA HARDING DAVIS.


Ben had pulled his boat up on shore.
and swahbed it out. So that his wife's new
blue calico might not smell Of fish when
they reached Shark River. Then Dan
came and took turn at swabbing while
his father went up to put on his Sunday
clothes. Conny sat on the sand watching
him.
Take the crabs GU, of the fo'cas'ic
Dan." she ordered.
Dan went TO the bow, and pecpcd into
the little black hole.
.'Reckon I won't. Them crabs nigh
soft. he said.
Conny waicl out out al once. and threw
them in the water.
.Do YOU think INV mothers n going on
4 journey with "a lot of shcddcrs and bust
ers ?" she sco'ded ON, while Dan sat down
conten,edly, splashcd in the water. and
punched his toes into the mud. Conny
had hero way.
Presently. Ben and Mrs. Van Dorn came
down. ready Ia set of. The children did
not heed their fathers going. for he start
ed to the Benegat fishing banks every
morning before three O'Clock. and seldom
was back until; dark but 1t was great
event for their mother to leave home.
Twice year Ben took her down to Shark
River, TO buy calico and sugar and she's
and such ''trade." These voyages we've
each crisis in the family history. Tie
children hung about her stroking her white
cotton gloves. and looking admiringly ut
the pink rose in her bonnet.
| Come, hurry in, Jane.'' called Ben.
'.Wo'll have considerable Of blow before
we reach Shark River"
But Jane ran back once more TO kiss
Conny and hug Dan. She tried to say
God bless you, children" but the words
would not come Only the minister ought
to say such solemn things, she thought.
| "Mind and say your prayers, Conny,
she whispered; land take good care OF
Dan and baby"
Zone would think you were going to be
gone a year." grumblcd Ben. Good by,
you young vaggybonds." nodding rs he
pushed the boat ont beyond the FIRST break.
water.
II was warm. clear day. 1.-The Gull''
danced over the low, sparkling waves,
light as feather. Conny could see the
blue line of paint below her traffrail, and
even the rose in her mothers bonnet,
until they were out quite into deep sea
water.
II tell you. DAM" she said, Lets net
u.
ready for them"
Dan nodded. "Reckon I'll histc Ian
tern to light 'em in.'
ITO light father IMP No! He's bin n
coming in here every night since he was
boy."
Mother hasn't then. II was her I was
agoing to light in. Anybody'd hev know
ed thatr'
Dan went on composedly picking up
great blobs of broken jelly fish from the
sand.
Throw them horrid things away. Dan
Van Dort;' for Conny wanted to air her
new authority. "You stuff 'em in yer
pockets till can't abear your trowsers
in the house at night" covering her nose
with her apron.
Dan shifted at them with an mir of rel.
ish.
"They won't shine until you keep 'em
awhile. I've got my lighthouse most
built. an ! want these for lanterns. Bet
ter come and help. Con. Here's big TN
you may put In" holding II to her.
Conny paused wishtnlly minute then
tossed her head.
"Light-house. indeed! I've got TO keep
house, and mind baby. I've no time for
play"
Baby was easily taken care Of through
the day: she lay playing with Dan in sand
as he built the lighthouse, and only kicked
her fat legs when anybody spoke TO her.
Conny had plenty Of time to make ready
the supper; she had plenty Of things with
which to make It ready. too. Not half 70
much money came into Ben's cottage as
into many Of the -wrctched rooms where
bcggars live in towns, but there was al
ways an abundance Of meat, potatoes
and fish. in the cellar, and Sunday suit
apiece for the whole family up stairs; and
the house ifself,-with its rag carpets, and
big wood fires. and painted wooded chairs
and colored prints "a hundred years old)
on the whitewashed wall, of King George
and Queen Caroline, with the ANIMALS. &c
ing into the ark k.-was rs bright and clean
and shining as the white sand or blue sea
without. When a person has such fishing
. and sea and weather and beach to think Of
l out-of-doors, he really has no time to care
for sofas or clothes or those unnecessary
things.
Conny sat at the table and made hot
cakes and put the soft crabs down ready
to broil: and then she rocked baby to
sleep. and tucked her into bed. She was
sure TO sleep until morning; 80 that Conny
could shut the door. and run down on the
beach to see the "Guli'' come in.
The evening was damp and cold bui
the sky and sea were one blaze of fierce
yellow light. She stopped to look at it.
II never saw anything like that before,
DAM
Its mighty curious
Dan grunted as If he could say grea
deal more If he chose, and II she were no
& a girl.
" The white caps were all gone. The ~
was coming IN, in deep, dark swells. viii
dull. threatening roar. Conny saw 81
the fishing boats fiuttering into the liftlt
cove, although It was an hour before time
Men were running down from the vil1agl
|, tn help the fishermen haul them On shore
>, They worked quickly-but Ike searcoas
people. without . word, lowered the nIl
unshfPped the masts.
Continued to-moErov.l
!: MAMTE0-