The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-04-29


Within touching distance. 81 say, Dick
Swing. that you are not going out in
that cockle-shell of your'n this morn
ing he announced
Il certainly am, Captain Rose re-
turned the boy. +" "lts little rough,
but like rs not the wind will come right
around before l get halfway to the
ledge, and | should think you would
know better than to scare my little
mother here half to death. See,
MOTHER he said, gayly, Il have an
extra oar and one tholy-pin, yes, two of
them, in case row-lock gives way, and
I've got lot of extra courage about me
that can't exactly show you unless you
come with me.n
This he said looking out to sea, for he
did not feel like looking either at his
mother or Captain Rose.
Dick said Mrs. Swing, approach
ing the pier edge as the owner of the
little boat proceeded to bestow his
lunch-basket and extras under the bow.
"Well, mother" returned Richard,
looking up.
wish you would not 60" she said,
her tones full of beseeching.
w lily, llObHCTE DO YOU NdllJ
seven new lobster-pots to be carried OIL
to seaP" he asked. How could you
have the heart to ask me? If this wind
keeps on blowing | shall lose them every
one"
That's true" calculated Captain
Rose. II never thought of that. it,
just right. this wind is, to drag them
off, but you never can haul them in
alone. You'll be sure to be dragged
overheard. =" .......t -
"No, l shan't. Come along with me
if you want to help" laughed Richard.
{" Humph! should sink that craft be-
fore we got out of the harbor," said the
Captain; " though if wasn't so heavy
1 would 60" Captain Rose weighed a
trife less than three hundred pounds,
and had left the sea after fifty years OF
| faithful service. aNA N-ss-
Not another person was in sight.
"rll tell you what I'll do" said the
Captain. eff you insist on going, II
stop ON my way up and ask Captain
Danforth to look out for you, and if he
thinks you're getting into trouble tC
sail after YOU" 7'' ... ...
"Thank you, Captain" ... .-
"Dick," said his mother, "can't you
let the lobster-pots go?'
Couldn't possibly" smiled the boy
could you have the heart to ask mel
Will you castme off, motherP" he called
q second later.
"Wait minute" exclaimed Mrs
Swing. "Fetch your boat close up.
want to speak to you, Dick 80
The boat received the necessary i'm
petus. and touched the side of the pier
Mrs. Swing had seated herself on the
topmost layer of logs forming the wharf
and leaned over as though to speak con
tidentially to her son.
"Dick," said his mother, "hold fast
I'm coming" and into the boat she
dropped before either Captain Rose or
the dock or Captain Richard in the boa
had knowledge of her intention.
"What under the sun, mother" crieC
the boy, " do you mean?'' p H.a..
"Im going with you, Dick, to keel
you from tumbling overheard when you
haul in,' and she seated herself in tn,
stern, calling back as the tide floated tn,
boat out: ''We depend on you, Captain
Rose, to send after us if we-if it get
too rough" she gasped, with a dash o
spray IN ner lace. ...
faye, ayei" cried the Captain, and h,
took off his hat and swung it, he scarce
ly knew why.
OF all the women in Dell Haven, from
the eldest to the youngest, Mrs. Swim!
most feared the sea. To live beside it
to watch its every mood delighted her
but to venture on it for pleasure she wa
never known to do. a' ..
i A moments peace she never knew
when Richard, her only son, was ex
posed to the treachery of the waters, bu
rather than mar his wild delight in win,
and waves this mselfish mother con
cealed as much as possible her anxiet
for him.
Richard was not selfish, and had h
imagined what his mother was at tina
moment suffering would have put tn
boat about and tied it forever at tn
stake rather than cause her this agony
Just as the boat got well into the TOT
of the waves the sun arose shedding sue
brilliance on the waters that Mrs. Swing
who sat facing it, was dazzled and we
nigh failed to see in time gill net int
which the boat was running. .t r..
"See any boat ahead, motherP" ques
toned Richard, You must keep a goo
lookout for me. I've got my range
right and can fetch the lobster ground
sYery time" ..a4... ,.......'D..
lis it far?" questioned the mother
shudderingly. ...... ......
"Not very; just outside Dull Head.
reckon Wen fetch it," said the lad, dip
ping his oars for a full stroke and the
letting the boat slide up to the SUNNI
of a rolling wave, a trick he had caugh
} from Captain Hezekiah Danforth, tn
} master boatman of Dell Haven.
The wind grew stronger and stronge