The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-02-09
TIKI SECRET OF THE SEA.

THE SECRET OF THE SEA.
The story am about to relate de-
scribcs an actual occurrence.
The recompense that came SO speed.
lily, and in such singular manner, to
the principal actor in the events that are
portrayed: will no doubt suggest to san
guine temperamente providential in
reference. The real names Of the per-
sons thus brought to the notice OF the
reader, have, Of course, withheld.
Uncle Simon, Is he was called, lived
on small island in the Casco bay, on
the coast Of Maine. He was simple
minded but hard-working fisherman Of
great integrity Of character.
During the SUNNI r months, large
schools Of hake frequent the muddy
bottom in the bay, ailoriing rich har-
vest to tho fishermen along the coast.
As these fish take the hook best in the
night, it is the custo Of the fishermen
to go III their small boats to the fishing
ground about sunset and fish till day
break. or somewhat later.
One forenoon IN July, Uncle Simon
was returning to the shore from baking
after successful nights work. The
light wind was barely sufficient to give
his heavily laden boat steerage-way and,
weary from his toll, the old man was
noddng ut the helm. Suddenly his half
closed eyes caught sight Of dead body
in the water, just ahead Of his boat.
SO startling sight reused Uncle
Simon thoroughly. lie opened his eyes
wide, for just one moment, then lowered
his sail, and, reaching out his boat
hook. drew the dead body toward him.
1t proved to be that Of man, floating
face downward. The skirts Of his coat
were thrown up over his shoulders, and
from deep inside pocket Of the skirts
protruded 4 large leathern pocket-book.
All that prevented this book from
falling out was the lining Of the pocket,
which was Of cotton cloth, and being
saturated by the water, held it 1t at
once attracted Uncle Simon's notice,
aud he drew it forth and placed it in the
boat.
The body had been SO long in the
water that IT could not DO taken into the
boat, but Uncle Simon, by means Of
rope. towed it To the island.
On examining the pocket DOCK nefOund
that il contained large amount Of
money in bank bills, which were soaked
with water, but not otherwise injured.
Uncle simon was poor man. He had
nothing but poverty to look forward to
IN his old aee. This money was like .
mine Of wealth i'll his eyes. Men have
hscn mNr1sred, and snula have been lost
for smaller amount than that pocket
book contained.
What was TO hinder HIM from calling
it his own? No living creature was
within tive or six miles Of him. He was
utterly alone. Az he towed the body to
tine land, how easy it would have been
to have kept the book. and then to allow
the voiceless ocean I, swallow up the
dea ,.i body: Who would have known his
But it is the inward inclination that
nothing in the nature OF this SIMPLE fish
erman that could SO incline his upright
mind as to make it yield. He took the
pocketbook with him. and, after reach
ing home. he dried the bills. and then
carefully recounted them. There were
$3.50.
From letters and bills in the book, he
nscertained that the body was that Of Z
Capt. Small, who, some weeks before,
had run his vessel on HALF Way rock q
dry ledge midway between Cape Eliza
beth aud Cape Small POINT. and had
lost her.
lie also ascertained that the vessel was
owned III North Yarmouth, neighbor-
Ing town. At once he sent word to the
owners, one Of whom came to the island.
They knew what freight-money tho
Captain had in his possession, for he had
written to them from his last port Of de-
partnre. On counting the money, il
Was found the right amount to dollar.
About q fortnight after this. the old
man was going home in his boat from
Drunken Ledge, where he had been "a
fish for rock-cod, when he came across
a rift Of drift wood. There was but
little wood on his island, and Uncle
Simon, like most Of his neighbour, wa
obliged to purchase his fuel.
He took in sail and set 10 work pick.
ing up the wood. While thus occupien,
he saw something bobbing mp and dowd
in the water that excited his curiosity,
and which proved TO be the handle OF I
mallet, the mallet itself being under
water.
He drew it toward him, and, after ex,
aiming it with some attention, said Il
himself, Its master heavy. Some for,
eign wood, l guess. 1t don't look rs i
il had been used any. declare
wouldn't believe it could float il I hadn't
seen Il with my own eyes. Itdidnt but
just float, though. Anyhow, it's good
mallet. and it'll come handy in til,
Uncle Simon had q small shop, wher,
he made lobster traps and repaired boat,
in the winter. when the weather Was TO,
bench among his tools, and thought u,
more OF it for months.
A common loiner's mallet is about 81,
inches long, by three In diameter at th,
ends. with Q swell in the middle, On,
is usually made by being turned in
lathe. This mallet was not round, bu
nearly square, with the corners takel
of. It was seven inches long and Sou
inches by five in thickness at the ends
being somewhat larger in the middle.
Az . piece Of workmanship. il N
handsomely made, and was finished pel
fectly smooth. II certainly could mo
have been q long time in the water, 4
there were NO barnacles or grass stick
ing to il, and much of the yarnish wit
which it had once been ceated still n
manned.
One rainy day late in the fall, Uncl
Simon was ut work IN the shop, whel
Jake kilgore, one Of the neighbor'
boys, entered, and seated himself on til
work bench. Soon after, Skipper Hard
ing dropped in.
It was not long before the boy saw tn
maliet. "Uncle, where did you "a
that big mallet?" he asked.
Picked it up adrift." was the brie
reply.
While the old folks were chatting Il
boy kept his eyes on the msllet, il w
such . curious one, and he kept turning
il over and over. At length he said
"Uncle Simon. there's square piec
fayed into one end OF this mAllet: cal
see the seam"
- think its like enough my eye
amt - sharp - yourn. an yours won