The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-02-17
THE SECRET OF THE SEA.

the principal actor in the events that are
portrayed. will no doubt suggest to san
guine temperaments a providential in
reference. The real names of the per-
sons thus brought to the notice of the
reader, l have, of course, withheld.
Uncle Simon, as he was called, lived
on small island in the Casco bay, on
the coast of Maine. He was simple
minded but Woodworking fisherman of
great integrity of character.
During the summer months, large
schools of hake frequent the muddy
bottom in the bay, affording rich har-
vest to the fishermen along the coast.
AS these fish take the hook best in the
night, it is the custom of the fishermen
TO go in 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 Storage way and,
weary from his toll, the old man was
nodding at 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. He 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 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,
and he drew it forth and placed it in the
boat.
The Douy nau been SO Iong III the
water that it could not be taken into the
boat, but Uncle Simon, by means of
rope. towed it to the island.
On examining the pocket BOOK 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 age. This money was like a
mine of wealth in his eyes. Men have
been murdered, and souls have been lost
for smaller amount than that pocket
book contained
What was to hinder him from calling
it his ownP No living creature was
within five or six miles of him. He was
utterly alone. As he towed the body to
fhn lornI hon
to have kept the book, and then to allow
the voiceless ocean to swallow up the
dead body; Who would have known his
But it is the inward inclination that
gives force to temptation, and there was
nothing in the nature of this simple fish
erman that could so incline his upright
mind as to make it yield. He took the
pocket-book 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
oscertained that the body was that of q
Capt. Small, who, some weeks before,
had run his vessel on Halfway rock "a
dry ledge midway between Cape Eliza
beth aud Cape Small Point, and had
lost her.
He also ascertained that the vessel was
owned In North Yarmouth, a neighbor-
ing town. At once he sent word to the
owners, one of whom came to the island.
They knew what freight-money the
Captain had in his possession, for he had
written to them from his last port of de-
3 parture. On counting the money, it
was found the right amount to dollar.
About fortnight after this, the old
man was going home in his boat from
Drunken Ledge, where he had been to
fish for rock-cod, when he came across
raft of drift wood. There was but
little wood ON his island, and Uncle
Simon, like most of his neighbors, was
obliged to purchase his fuel.
He took in sail and set to work pick
ing up the wood. While thus occupien,
he saw something bobbing up and dowd
in the water that excited his curiosity,
and which proved to be the handle of
mallet, the mallet itself being under
water
He drew it toward him, and, after ex-
Omlning it With some attention, said to
himself, Its master heavy. Some for
eign wood, | guess. 1t don't look as if
1t had been used any. I declare I
wouldn't believe it could float if I hadn't
seen it with my own eyes. Itdidn't but
Just float, though. Anyhow, it's good
mallet, and it'll come handy in the
shop.
Uncle Simon had small shop, where
he made lobster traps and repaired boats
h l.
rough to fish. He put the mallet on the
bench among his tools, and thought no
more of it for months.
a common ioiner's mallet is about six
inches long, by three in diameter at the
ends, with a swell i'll the middle, and
l. usually made bv being turned in a
lathe. This mallet was not round. but
nearly square, with the corners taken
OF. 1t was sevon inches long and four
inches by five in thickness at the ends.
being somewhat larger IN the middle.
AS q piece of workmanship. it was
handsomely made, and was finished ner-
tectly smooth. 1t certainly could not
have been a long time in the water, as
there were no barnacles or grass stick
ing to it, and much of the varnish with
which it had once been coated still re-
NAMED
One rainy day late in the fall, Uncle
Simon was at work IN the shop, when
Jake Kilgore, one o. the neighbours
boys, entered, and seated himself on the
work bench. ooon AFTER, Skipper nard-
ing dropped in.
It was not long before the boy saw the
mallet. Uncle, where did you get
that big mallet?" he asked.
Picked it up adrift, was the brief
reply.
While the old folks were chatting tie
boy kept his eyes on the mallet. it was
such curious one, and he kept turning
it over and over. At length he said
"Uncle Simon, there's a square piece
fayed into one end of this mallet / can
see the seam"
&C. think it's like enough; my eyes
amt as sharp as yourn, an yours won't
be as sharp as they are now when you've
fsAed ss many long nights as ! have"