The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-07-25
THE CAPTAINS STORY.

Liz VAL AIN y DUN l.,
vi can never pass that spot without
thinking Of an event that happened two
years ago." said the captain of the Fly
by-Night, lake passenger boat trading
between Detroit and Port Huron. as he
pointed to small house two miles away
on the American shore of lake Huron.
1t was trim white cottage with green
lattlce-work, well-kept little lawn, and
IN front OF 1t tall tlag-pole set into the
roof of a pagoda-like summer-house.
Below it, at the lake, was a dock, and on
huge sign-post one could read, "War-
ners Landing"
ut belonged" continued the captain,
to old Captain Warner who sailed the
Boscobel He died and left the property to
his nephew, in the State of New York, who
brought his wife and little boy with him
TO 1--we there. He was a gentlemanly
young man, well educated, and on the
right side of thirty. His wife was as
trim little lady as ever saw pretty as
picture, and as light hearted as a school
girl. Not one of your mandy PANTY
fashionable young women, but fresh,
healthy girl, with a woman's heart and
mans courage.
"But the gem of the family was their
boy Willie, who was nearly seven wears
old, and l do think the cheeriest and
most sensible little fellow in the State.
Sailors have always a soft spot in their
hearts for children, and the way that
youngster carried on during the trip
from Detroit, when we brought the
family up here, was a constant pleasure
and surprise. He was the king of the
boat. The stewards cabin, the pilot
house, the porter's pantry, the ladies'
parlor-hc appropriated to himself free
pass everywhere, and used it literally.
he found snug corner for himself in
the hearts of all on board. Why, re-
member one day, after the family had
been in the house there about three
months, deck hand, a surlv fellow who
never had a civil word for any one, lug
ging out of his pocket a colored picture
book and leaving it at the landing, with
For Willie, with Joe Prices love- writ
ten on it.
sit was lonesome spot for such peo.
pie to settle in, and | often wondered
how they could reconcile themselves to
it, until learned that Captain Warner
had made it condition of his will that
they must live at the landing two years.
lone day, when they had been there
about six months, we took up the river
from Detroit to them a small pleasure
skiff with The Willie painted in gilt
letters on the stern.
81 never saw child so pleased. He
took to that boat like duck to water.
We used to see him on nearly every trip
as we passed, sculling himself about in
the slip like born sailor. don't be-
heve in allowing children to be too ven
turesomc on the water, and so | told his
father; but he laughed, and he said he
thought Willie was sensible enough to
take care of himself.
Zone day, we were signaled to STOP
at Warmers landing. William Warner
was going to New York. His wife and
boy were on the dock, wishing him as
fearful goodbye as if he were on two
years voyage to Greenland.
ole, too, was in low spirits. He came
and sat by me in the pilot-house, and
looked as glum as if thered been "A death
in his family. AT last he said, very sol
emn and earne t, DO you believe in pre-
sentiments of evil, Captain Kenyon
Nor | said, quite sharply, for |
don't like to see man give way to such
nonsense.
''IIc went down on deck then, half-of-
Tended, and left the boat at Detroit with
out even bidding me good bye. We
were late leaving on our return trip that
night, and | was surprised to see, Just
before we started, Warner come on board.
He had a small parcel in his hand.
Captain, he said, 4 want you to be
sure to leave this at the landing on your
way up.
al can't, said, for | saw it was
only an excuse to get me to call and see
that his folks were all safe. We're late
here and at Port Huron we've lot of
slaves to take on, which will make us
laters till
"But he persisted, and when saw
how down hearted he looked | told him
to give the parcel to the clerk and |
would see what would do when we ar
rived opposite the Landing. We left Port
Huron in the middle of the following
day. 1t had been very hot all the morn
ing, but as the afternoon advanced. a
stiff west wind accompanied by
drilling lain, began to blow.
A" 1t was so late when we approached
the landing that | had quite determined
not to call; i'll fact, we stood out in the
lake mile further than our usual course
l was taking dogsnooze in my berth,
when the mate awoke me.
There's women, sir, on Warmers