Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-09-16
Misrtll
A Dark Morning.

pam s't Ats t4t4f AbtA4 .'4AA4 ffrhEl
iso curious specimens Of the genus homo.
The, were brothers. and lived on shore, in
little house as odd in appearance as them
selves near the mouth of the river Here
they kept "bachelor's hall. for. though up
wards Of fifty YEAR, Of age, neither Of them
had ever shown the slightes, desire 10 take
10 himself a wife. content 10 live in single
hle,>edness. Though they sometimes quar-
relied. as all brother, do. they lived for the
most part in peace and each regarded
the other as absolutely necessar, 10 his own
prosperity. they 50 far hung together like
two apples on one stem. In earlier life they
had been fishermen and had followed this
vocation until, by industry and prudence,
they had collected sufficient money to buy
sloop. With which they commenced the bus
mess Of coa.iing
The brothers were much alike in di.po-
.i;ion. bat Joe possessed the most natural
shrv~ducs,. and always contriyed To make
Ben carry the heaviest end OF tho s,iel 4"
v ho. far from seeing this, believed that HI.
brother's labors were much the more ardu-
ous. and after the sloop had been purchased
b. MAS the first 10 propose that Joe should
take command of her. and he himself per
form the duties of mate. cook and all hands.
Thus Joe received the additional title OF cap
tain. while Ben retained the appcl!ailon
which the neishbors had bestowed upon
him
One morning the Little Polly-as the
brothers named their sloop-clesred from
Portland. bound for New York. with a freight
OF lumber The captain had been on bi,
Of a spree the night before. leaving Ben in
charge Of the ,loop. while he. with some old
friends had rather exceeded the bounds Of
moderation in his libations, and 80 only
reached the .loop Just as his brother had
kindled the fire TO get breakfast. He crawled
into hi- bunk and slept for about an hour
which cleared his head somewhat, but still
left him a little the worse for wear" After
breakfast the anchor was hove up, and the
Little Polly got under way, and Ben yolun-
teered to take the "hellum," and let brother
Joe rest himself after his loss Of nights
sleep.
SO Captain Joe busted himself about the
deck in one way and another. until noon.
when he relieved the helm long enough for
Ben TO get dinner. and then he proposed
that Ben should steer until four o'clock in
the afternoon. then be would take his turn
till eight in the evening and that they should
thus alternate through the passage. Ben.
OF course, agreed 10 this. thinking II q fair
arrangement, without observing that i;
would give him eight hours on deck every
night and Joe only four. and accordingly
stood al the tiller all the afternoon. Get
ting supper and clearing It away, mixing
bread for the morning. and other duties, oc
cupiei Ben's time during his watch below !;
and when at eight O'Clock. he again took the
helm, Joe pitched into the cabin. and turned
in with the intention Of making up in quail
iiy Of sleep what he had lost in quantity.
The wind was broad on the beam and blow
ing fresh. and the Polly was walking along
al a beautiful speed. Uncle Ben was tired
and sleepy himself, but he managed to keep
his ewes open by enjoying in anticipation,
the sleep to which he would soon be entitled.
At twelve O'Clock he called his brother, who
was snoring away at a fearful rate. With
some difficulty be aroused him and sent him
on deck to look out for the Polly, and,
simply divesting himself of his boots and
SOU wester. he rolled into his bunk. Before
1.-THE sweet little cherub who sits up aloft to
take care of the life of poor Jack" could
have had time TO wink one eve, he was far
over the frontier Of the Land of Nod"
TIE captain felt excessively sleepy as he
tumbled up the ladder and grabbed the
helm, and instead Of being awakened and
refreshed BY the fresh air, his drowsiness
increased and after catching himself several
times nodding at his post, he muttered:
by thunder! | can't stand this; ! must
make brother Ben steer the craft till get
my sleep out"
Bringing the vessel steady he s,oppered
the tiller with piece of spun yarn. and
creeping into the cabin. turned the hands Of
the clock, which then pointed TO q quarter
past twelve, around to four a. NJ, and then
bawled out TO his brother:
Come, Ben, turn out there; It's four
o'clock"
..Eh-what ?" murmured Ben. "Ah-O,
yes. four o'clock, is il; we'll, here goes"
and he jumped up. well, declare" said
be, Il feel finely refreshed for my nap; and
now. brother Joe, YOU turn in and hope
You'll sleep full as sound as have. Why,
it seemed as if hadn't been in the bunk five
minutes when you called me. How does she
head?"
"Just where she was when you left her I;
she hasn't varied hair for the last four
hours replied Joe. "Don't forget to call
me at eight O'clock" he added, as Ben left
the cabin and went on deck, where the stars
were shining brightly in the blue arch above.
There was no indication Of coming day in
the eastern sky, and it did not look much
like four O'Clock of q summer morning; but
the unsuspieious Ben took his station,
whistling psalm tune which he had often
heard in Methodist meetings, the words Of
which commenced with:
"TAe morning light Is breaking,