Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-12-09
THE MY.TERIOl. WIDOW.

TIE MHsTEKIOis WIDOW.
Durinp the summer OF l-4l the British
had not only laid claim to all that pOr-
ton Of the district OF Maine lying east
If the penobscpt, but Admiral Griifet
and Sir John Sherbrooke (the latter
being the Governor General Of Nova
SCOTIA had been sent with heavy
force TO take possession. and occupied
the town Of Ca-,ine, which place com
ynands the entrance to the Pcnobscot
river. Shortly before the arrival OF the
English squadron Commodpre samuel
Thicker had been sent around 10 Penob-
scot bay To protect the American coast
era. and while the British sailed up TO
Csstine he lay at Ihomaston.
1t was schoons that tue commodore
commanded. bat she was heavy one,
we'll armed and manned, and she car
ried the true Yankee grit" upon her
decks, Of which the enemy had received
from thera rather too many pro )fs.--
On the morning of the 18th Of August
"A messenger was sent down from Bel
fast with the intelligence that a British
frlgate was coming from Castine to take
him. Tucker knew the British feared
him, and also that Sir John Sher-
brooke had offered Il large reward for
his capture.
When the commodore received the
Intelligence, his vessel WAS lying at one
OF the low Wharves, where he would
have to wait two hours for the tide to
set him off: but he hastened To have ev-
erything prepared to get her OF as soon
as possible, for lie had no desire to meet
the frigate.
h.. 81 u
from tho mud, and one of the men had
been sent upou the wharf to cast off
the bowline, when wagon drawn by
one horse came rafting down to the
spot. The driver, rough looking
cOuntryman, got out upon the wharf
and then assisted "a middle-aged woman
from the vehicle. The lady's first in
quiry WAS for Commodore Tucker. He
was pointed out to her, and she stepped
on the schooner's deck and approached
him.
Commodore. when do you sail from
hereT" she asked.
well sail right off. as soon as posi-
BILE, madam"
"Oh, then, know you will be kind to
me-" the lady urged, in persuasive tones.
MY poor husband died yesterday, and
l wish to carry his corpse to Wiscasset,
where we belong and where his parents
will take care of it,"
But, my good woman, | shan't 90 to
Wiscasset."
IF you will only land mo at the
mouth of the SheepscOt, l will ask ne
more. | can easily find a boat there to
take me up"
"Where is the body?" asked the CON-
modore.
in tue wagon" reformed the lady.
at the same time raising the corner of
her shawl to wipe away tho gathering
tears. ~ have sum of money with
me, and you shall DO paid for your
trouble"
"Tut, tut. woman" said Tucker; "if
l accommodate you, there won't DO any
pay about it,"
The kind hearted old commodore was
not the man to refuse u favor; aud,
though he liked not the bother of taking
the woman and her strange aocompani-
ment on board, yet he could not refuse.
When he told her he would do as she re-
quested, she thanked him with many
tears in her eyes.
Some Of the men were sent upon the
wharf to bring the body on board. A
long buffalo rohe WAS lifted off by the
man who drove the wagon: beneath it
appeared neat black coffin. Some
words were passed by the seamen as
they were putting the coffin on board,
which went to show very plainly that
the affair did not exactly suit them. Ii
may have boon but prejudice on their
part, but seamen should be allowed
prejudice once III while. when we con-
slider the many stern realities they have
to encounter.
"Hush, my good men," said the COM
modore, as he heard their remonstrance.
"Suppose you We're to die away from
home. wonld vou not wish that YOUR last
remains might be carried To your poor
parents? Come, hurry now"
The man said no more, and ere long
the coffin WAS placed in the hold and the
woman shown To the cabin. In less
than half au hour the schooner WAS
cleared from the wharf and standing
out from the bay. The wind was light
from the eastward. but Tucker had no
fear of the frigate, now that no was out
of the bay.
In the evening the lady passenger came
on deck. and the commodore assured
her that he should te able to land her
early on the next morning. She ex-
pressed her gratitude and satisfaction,
and remarked that before she retired she
would like to look and see that her has
bands corpse wassafe. This, of course,
was granted, and one of the men lifted
of the hatch that she might 60 down
into the hold.
II DECLARE" muttered Daniel Carter,
an old sailor who was standing at the
wheel, "she takes on dre'fully."
YES. poor thing" said Tucker, AZ he
heard her sobs and groans.
Dye notice whSt'n eye she's eot?'
continued Carter.
mo; only twas swollen with tears"
said fucker.
my eyes. but they shore. though,
when she stood here looking at the com-
pass"
Tucker smiled ut the mans quaint
earnestness. and without further remark
went into the cahin.
When the woman came up from the
hold, she looked about the deck Of the
schooner for few moments and then
went aft. There was something in her
c6uHtenauce tina. puzzled Carter. tie
had been one of those who objected 70
the coffin being brought on board. aud
hence he was not predisposed to look
very favorably upon Its owner. The
WuLlau n eye over tdt SsuOputI y
deck with a strange qnickness, and Car
ter eyed her sharply. Soon she went to
the taffrail and looked over at the stern
boat, and thea she came back and stood
by the pinnacle again.
Look ont. or you'll jibe the boom"
exclaimed the passenger.
Carter started. and found that the
mainsail was shivcring. He gave the
helm a couple Of spokes aport, and then
cast his eyes again upon the woman.
whose features were lighted by the bin
uacle LAM.
"rhank'ee, u,a am" said Dan. Ha.
hold on; why. bless my soul, there's
big spider right on your hair. No, not
there-here--r ll-ush.'
This last ejaculation Dan made as
he seemed To pull something from the
woman's hair, which he hastily threw
upon the deck with the " Oh above
mentioned.
Shortly after this the passenger went
below, and ere long Commodore Tucker
u