Ellsworth American., 1880-06-17

dog q hero. he rescued lady. on her re-
turn TO New York, sent narrow gold col
lar. and on it in raised letters she had placed
the name Rough Hero" and so ever after
he was called.
In Nantucket many old customs are clung
to with a ,enacity and fidelity beautiful to
see in these days of change. Ringing cur
few each evening at 8 O'Clock is the most
notable You know the word is from oonr-
rettu, and means cover FIRE" The practice
vas instituted in England, by William the
Conqueror. and was TO guard against the
possible midnigh, assembling Of those iuini-
ical to his interest. Up to within decade
Of wears Nantucket had roundsmen. who.
after the ringing OF curicw, passed through
the town. stopping AZ each door inside of
which they saw a light. Now. although
the significance Of cIIriew l. lost IN dead
past, the bcll-yingcr. far on the down side of
50. pulls the rope as earnestly A. in the
good old DAYS when the sound conveyed an
arbitrary order lie jerks II in mcirical
time, and even strangers can catch the
words it chants.
Lights out-frcs iu-good night ="
When Rough Hero would hear TIL, warn
ing from the tower, he would gc, up from
his evening nap. walk grs,ely 20 The door,
raise the latch with hi- paw to assure him
>clf that the fasicning> were secure. and
solemn, 20 io h.s bod. which in winter Nas
under the steps. in summer on an uplrr
porch.
DO YOU know. my dear readers. What .
latch" Is In these days Of electric bells
and dis;rac,ing gosgs. AIN afraid YOU DO
not. and will therefore call TO your memory
the answer Red Riding Hood's" grand
mother gave the wolfs knock. Pull the
bohhiu and the latch u III ily up"
All the old houses IN Nantucket have on
their from; door a latch. ihcy are very CON
,eT, alive. these good people. and although
knookcr, and bcl,s arr the s'1.c. and ~
most cases u.cd b, them. the lA:ch "a not
permitted 20 hc disturbed. In We o.Gcu
iliuus" Asob. Aud bojIs acre unknown ibc
front door presented an uuhroAen surface. II
except a ,inal. hole ahou, large enough 60
pas, 4 hoIksa Tia cord VA. pat IN this and
hung al; during the daY. l. vas called
.lat,h->,r.ng when a visitor Knocked. he
would hear from the inside q ;he house
some one cali. Pull the bohb,n. he latch
all ~ up" and 4 any one desired to BE-
special, friendly 10 a ucishlor she would
sa,. Com, often, the latch string all p"
- u ~ AAk tNt W. - f.t= tfA' --+'
locking uu vas 10 pull IN the hnlkin aud
burglars nigh, DC dcfcd. Ih.s b, vhy
Rough Hero examined the latch.
Ii Wa IN ;hr month Of January. Thur.
ia,. the l6ih. The morning hal been per.
feet the ,sy was A. blue ~ IN June, the
AR va. ori.p. sharp. exhileTat.ng About
noon iew hcccy rtouds gathered AGAIN"
the horizon and toward them the old y hal
ers would point and ~aS with AT omln0u'
shaAc of the head. Look "u', bays, tor
>iual!. before - hours" Nobody hccd~d
Their cEuaA ugs.
The smith children wcre enjoying half
hui,,ls, the -chpul had bcgE d.-ull,srd 4.
/ > oo.oek b, iher all.ng teacher. and tho,
wrrr gosnE 70 Joiu some companion Al Mr.
NaCy's 10 have tai, polling and A. Tom
Smith c1pr, s>eI i Go ia Tor a h'i!il time.
t,roTgIc. the Youngest, a brght-;arrd. curl,
pate, N hls SIXTH year, vas Devoted Ia tlI,
grandmother, Mr.. folgor, ~ho lived bcsui.d
the mill JUS IA the confines oi one % the
immense tracts OF land called sheep past
ure," r, sembling ala ERsllsh moor, on Which.
III u fog or snow storm, one might wander
IN a circle for daNs wiihout striking tine tTall
to the town. From Mrs. foigcr, door the
sieeples and houses OF Nantucket werc
plainly seen. and IN clear weather no our
would haTbor a thought of danger; II ~a.
only mile and hall from the ,o~n. and
George thought nothing of the distance.
The old lady loved the boy. and asays kept
sweet draw supplied for his Use. The
day Mas 50 lovely that he had persuaded hls
mother to lei hun go to dinner at grand
mas and after the children had started for
school that morning she pat on his over
coat, tied on his worsied cap. covered his
pink ears with warm comforter, wound the
ends about his throat. gave him ''rais n
bun iOr COMPANY, and Kissed hlm many
tunes. She charged the little fellow 10 leave
for home al 1 ogloCk, aud ON no account 70
remain over night Before be lcft the door
he kneit down, and putting MS arm about
Rough Heros neck sad. a. he gave him
squeeze
"Oh Wut, | do love YOU million dollars
and the dog whined a. If he Understood tlr
afieetIonaie cXiraN az anee Oi the boy.
Bless his tender heart" said Mrs. Smith
Is she watched his chubb, figure disappear
ing III the distance. Il hope he will get TO
mothers sately-the cold Is Intense-bui he
has 80 often been by himself. why should
be so anxious :" She busted herself With
her morning duties. At noon Rough
brought the children home TO dinner she
had 4 vague uneasness about George, and
when Mr.. Smith expressed his fears vi
storm before night, she could scarcely re-
press crv Of alarm. Permission was given
for the tAify pulling; old dresses were put
on, Tom borrowed big apron. the mother
gave some almonds for the taify. and they
went of IN high clee 10 their uighbors, the
Macy., where the bully time was to be
found.
As the day wore on, and MONDAY shad-
ows grew TO afternoon length, the air be-
came colder the sun went under; first one
and then another gray cloud, until his bright
ness was killed outright by big, cold.
merciless fellow, who threw out his arm.
like devil fish, and drew the pretty blue
sky into hi, death-like embrace. Mrs.
Smith shuddered as the gloom fell athwart
her scarlet geraniums, a moment before
glowing under the rays of the sun. She
threw coal into the parlor stove, drew her
chair TO the window, and tried to settle her
self.
Ruth Jane. the "help" sang dis,ractingly
in the kitchen, and only varied the sound by
pouring black diamonds into the range un-
III It's power or receiving was exhausted
her voice after little was silent, and pres
emily her head appeared at the door of the
sitting room:
Mrs. Smith, its going to storm awful
hadn't better go and give Nellie her
Chop" and milk Brownie? No use wait
ing for Sam to come up.
III YOU care TO do Sans work, Ruth
Jane, do it, but don't belieye its going 10
Storm"
Deed it is, the clouds are lowerin
every mint, the cows 50 uneasy, and the
chickees Just stewin' round like mad. they
want to get to roost. l guess Ill put EN-
all to bed | hadn't orter do Sans work,
but 'taint time for him to come anyhow.
When | come in must l beat some cakes?
You know Georgie's awful fond of cakes and
treacle."
NO, Ruth Jane, will beat the cakes"
said Mrs. Smith, who felt glad for anything
that would rest her anxieties. She took up
her knitting. soft warm comforter for the
little one, the baby of the household, the
pet of the neighborhood.
At O'Clock Mr.. Smith came in; the
rheumatism made him dread the evening
air and careful to avoid storms He had
followed the sea for years, and did not take