Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-08-09

Of Marblshead.
BY CHARLES RICHARDS DODGE.

" "'Tws. nothin'. Ned, nothin' out O. the way.
And you'd ha' done the same. or johnny, here.
! saw tn flaw WAS comm, and heard
Their shouts o. ear, less laughler.-even
thought
To warn '-m, but didn't, for il seemed
They couldn't be quite fools. And then saw
L .trike-down went her starb'd gunnei, and
Her keel was uppermo-t.
God spare me. Ned.
hope I'll never hear N woman scream
Again in terror, while live. know
Twas cowardly. but for = little space
OF iime-ten second, maybe-I wss faint,
Aud wished | had not seen ii. Then their
cries
Awoke m. TO my duty, aud-of course
only tried To do my duty. simply
Man 'ard man. As Christ taught to His fol-
lower.
And friends, the fishermen of Gxlilee.
In such moment all the lines are down
And cen the poorest fisherman, with strength
Aud nerve. Is richer than n drowning prince.
tried 10 save 'em bot. and might ha' done
IL too. but that the terror-strickeu men
we're thinkins only of their own poor lives.
hardly blame 'em; 'twa- an ugly sea,
And neither coul swim well.
Twice she sank:
And when caught b. r. b, her pretty hair.
And held her imp form ON arm, and saw
She Was not dead. felt ,trong and sure
| thought to land her would be only play.
The breeze was nlowin' stif then, aud my boat
Wa drittln' fast to >ra. aione,-I knew
Twas ssim for shore OF sink.
Twas tough work. Ned.
Twice WAS sh" swept away from M. and tvs ice
| ieit n Kind y sinkin' here: aud then
A somethin' whispered twas IA human life,
A pr. ciou, lie that Heaven had given me
To save OF lose.-snd Heaven helped think.
They laid was UNCONSCIOUS; that the girl
LAY with her arms clasptd round my neck,
her hair
A streamin' out upon the sand just where
The last wa,e left u. well, it may be 50!
| wish II might have ended her.
On some accounts.
"oh. ye-. they psid me well.
Ard moneys always useful. Fishermen
Thst have no families, even, dont build
But oh. how mean felt TO take their gin
When but the simplest word of thanks from
her
Were better ihsn 1t all!
'Th'y worked ii fine
She gave il with her own fair hands, and said
Twas but Il trifl,.; something from the guests
To buy watch ~ token not al all
A. pxy.-a souvenir 30 call 10 mind
Bow hish the word holds braNciy IN a man.
Twas n,'ihin Ned nothin' OUT q the WAY,
And you'd ha' done the same. or Johnny
And Ihen-she-
Tears You're on the wrong tack.
While .oriin' msckerel. bit ago,
| mu>t ha gt s"IIie salt brIn' in my eyes.
But
There. Ned am y fool own il.
Though you'd ha done the same. or Johnny
here;
For ALT r giNin' me the money-she-
Her voice became unst. ad, hk.; aud then
She ; id -h. wasn't rich enough To psy
The debt he owed me. >ay. with gratitude,
And then l. like great big Ounce, stopped
down
To kiss her hand
Il don't know how she did il,
For, before | Ane~, her warm pure lips
just touched NV cheek second, -he said
ith Quiyerin' voice, that woman best knows
how
To honor n brave deed
my hands are rough
And used To toll, but, Ned. know now what
| never felt befure-that toll and clothes
Don't make the difierenc. in men and too,
There's some thing. even money cannot buy.
I'm poor. Ned. but to me that one pure Kiss,
Straight from . grateful womsu's heart, were
more
Than all the gold her father owns. That's
true
We've a | got hearts ~ every ship nj sea
Has got u compass: and If he compass
Ana the heart are right. as sure as God rules,
Ship or man wilt never 20 adriu,
But keep their true course bravely into port"
MdgnOItd Ledres.