Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-04-12

IhereupOn WOnderment told the stor1
of Captain Mereen's death and the sin
gular disposition of his worldly sub
stance.
''This is q strange story" said Cap
tain Polly, ''and 1 must think it owe
before 1 say anything about it. Ant
now, Wonderment, did you come OUT t.
take Pet over the bar?"
81 didn't come fur that" said the ole
man, inspired by the grog:; "but, though
I'm not a pilot by trade, I've been ovel
this bar back ards and for'ards as Otter
as any man hvin'. If any one of the
reg lar pilots had been In town sup
pose they'd a come; but they're away
and here l stand ready for the job"
"AE right" said Captain Polly; ''yor
shall take us over"
l was not at all satisfied with this de
cision. When he came aboard, Won
derment had supposed that Captain Abs
was in command, and, knowing the
channel, would scarcely need a pilot.
took Captain Polly aside and explain.
ed the matter to her.
SIT will soon be high water" she said,
''and / don't want to wait outside twelve
hours more. There is nobody else here,
and am certain old Wonderment would
not offer to pilot US if he did not know
the bar. He can't help knowing it; he
has lived here all his life"
1t was not long after this that the
sails We're set to a fresh southeastern
breeze. and we were steadily moving
along toward the narrow entrance to the
harbor. Wonderment stood leaning
against the foremast, his feet wide apart,
and his frequent orders were passed to
the man at the wheel We had now al
most reached the bar. On either side
of us stretched long expanse of sandy
beach, with a gentle surf rolling up on
it.
"Hard-a-portl Starbu'dl Hard-star-
bud Starbu'dl d. shouted Won
derment. And then there was a CRATE
and grind, and the vessel stopped. We
were aground on the north beach.
The next day after this L was sitting
with Polly in the parlor of little house
in the town where she had taken lodg-
ings. Captain Polly WAS much troubled,
but kept up a good heart and blamed
only herself for trusting Wonderment.
felt anxious to help her in every way
that l could, and L was now discussing
with her what was best to be done. The
Coppering Pet was high and firm upon
the north beach. Every effort had been
made by the crew and the inhabitants OF
the town to get her off, but all were un-
avaiing. 1t had been decided to send
to a more northern port for steam tug,
and in the meantime Polly and her wo-
man, Sarah, had taken lodgings in the
town.
Two weeks elapsed during which the
Coppering Pet remained firm upon the
beach. The tug had arrived, but it had
been found to small too move the vessel.
Another and larger one had been sent
for, and in the meantime the cargo was
being taken out and removed to the town
IN lighters.
Daring this time saw much of Polly,
and became indeed, her most trusted
adviser. She had no relatives in the
town and turned to me as if / had been
an old friend. To me she was q very
charming woman, and 1 soon became
more than friend.
One day told my love. Polly hsten-
ed to me very quietly. 81 am glad you
told me this, she said, ''after you know
how poor 1 am. but can not consent to
drag you down.
Polly" L cried, ''this has ceased to
be question of poverty or riches, All
ask is this-do you love me?"
L looked IN her eyes, and then tosk
her In my arms. The matter was settled.
In the course of another week the
larger tug had arrived, and during three
high tides it hauled and pulled at the
stranded Pet, but WAS unable to move
her. Her Captain had been paid with
a portion of the cargo, sold at a sacri-
fee in the town, and he had gone away.
When everything had been done, and
Polly's affairs had been placed in the
hands of q responsible business man of
the town, Polly and were married.
1t was not necessary for us to stay at
this place any longer. The Pet would
be disposed of to the best advantage, and
the crew would remain In the town until
money should come to pay them off.
1t was our last dsy IN the old town,
and as we were walking along the water
front of town We saw little boat ap-
preaching, with man in it rowing vio-
lently,
"It's old Wonderment," said Polly.
And we stood to await his coming. He
ran his boat ashore, and when he land
ed and saw us he was SO excited he could
scarcely speak.
s'Shes off, he grasped; ''the Copper
ing Pets afoat. There was the highest
tide this afternoon we've had for seven
year, and the men working on board
have got her off the beach. Shes an
chored now just outside the bar.
THE Coppering Pet atoatl cried
Polly, grasping me by both hands, while
her eyes sparkled with delight. "Where-
ever we go We go in herl"
and go in her We did.
On a lovely afternoon late in the sum-
mer we sailed out of the harbor. Owing
to his repeated and earnest requests old
Wonderment was with US; but this time
he did not pilot us over the bar. We
sailed, and we sailed over summer seas
and were very happy.
One beautiful moonlight evening We
were sitting on deck, old Wonderment
near by. "Well, said Polly. 81 think,
for poor people, we are about as happy
and independent as anybody could be. !"
"f you're poor" said the old man.
'it's your own fault. Your father left
you everythin' ne was worth, ana all you
had to do was to take ii.
If he had left me any thing in regu-
lar way" said Polly, quietly, 81 should
have been glad to have it. But l
will never dig in his grave to see what l
can find. 1 am glad that every tempta-
ton of the kind il left far behind US.
''Tain't so far behind either" said
Wonderment. CAS- you are actin
through agents, 1 made myself your
agent in thus thing, and here's the box .
And he dramatically arose and pointed
to a small iron box on which he had
been sitting.
Polly sprang to her feet, her eyes
ablaze. .'Wonderment, she cried,
s'throw that box overboardl"
Il nj