Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-10-17
AN IDYL FROM NANTUCKET
DY REV. ROBERT coLLYER.

BY REV. ROBERT CoLLYER.
venture to send to the Leeds Mercury
Weekly Supplement this charming letter
found this summer in the collections of my
friend, Frederick Sanford, native of Nan
tucket, lonely island away out in the ocean,
off the coast of Massachusetts, and haunted
by the ghosts Of ancient whalers who made
the place famous in their time, and wealthy
by securing the seas in search of this most
noble game. They lost their grip on ii
good many years ago, when the game was
getting scarce; ; set their sails for San Fran.
cisco in 40, when the news came to the
island that gold had turned up there and for
tunes were TO be made in year; and since
then Nantucket has had to take back seat, +"
with about one-third of the population which
swarmed on her in the earlier years of the
century. But the place has been discover
ed again, and is coming to the front as a
refuge from the fervid fires that smite the
mainland in July and August in all ways is
pleasant place, with wild fresh downs run
ming the whole length of the island, a bit of
white heather here and there and sweet fern,
briar roses and blackberries, little lakes of
sweet water fed by springs; and then all
about the zone of the sea, where you catch
blue fish, scup, plaice, and sharks, good for
tilth TO the land. The letter | send tells what
a little maid Of of ours always demanded
"a truly story"-when set her on my knee
in the far away times cher little maid will be
demanding one presently; and then, be-
side this, it holds picture of rare and
sweet grace of the life on this little island
seventeen miles by five on the average-in
the year when Prince Charlie made his IA
nous raid on England, and came leaping
southwark as far as Derby in quest of the
crown he must never clutch, God having
reserved some better thing for US" than the
rule OF his forlorn and forsworn race.
"STARDUcK PLANTATION, NANTUCKET,
September Goth, 1745.
"Ny OnH dedr mother.
1T seems a long time since you and nv
honored father and my ever dear brothers
and sisters started for your new home but
| suppose you have not yet reached your des.
tination, and think of you every day and
all day long as marching, and marching fol-
lowing the lonely trail through the forests.
and sometimes l am tempted to repne in
that my father thought it best to remove to
that far-away settlement But my grand
father tells me that the entertaining of this
sentiment would be unworthy the daughter
of pioneer, and since it was thought best
for me to remain on the island for a season.
must improve my time to the best advant-
age; and this l try to do with cheerfulness,
and Aunt Content is so kind as to say that
am of service to her in our household duties
and in spinning and weaving.
"PeTadventure, my letter shall be a puzzle
to you, so hasten to say that indite par
agraph or two upon leisure, and whenever
anything comes into my mind I desire
you to know straightway go to my uncle's
desk and set it down. l do this, dear moth
er, thatyou may share in my pleasant thoughts,
and may know of my life; also that my
brothers and sisters may in a measure par
take of my enjoyment.
The principal news l have to tell is that
my cousin, Nathaniel Starbuck, Jr., has re-
turned to Boston from his late long voyage
to China, and is now hourly looked for here,
where there are divers preparations being
made for DAis welcoming. My grandfather
walks Testlessly up and down with his stout
stick peering anxiously up and down the
roadway by which the traveller must come
Uncle Nathaniel says, with pride, The boy
will have many stories to tell Aunt Con-
tent fits about with q smile on her face, and
anon with tears in her eyes, concocting the
dishes of which her son seemed to be so
fond while dear old grandmother knits and
knits, because she says, 'Thaniel never yet
wore any stockings but of my make, and
must have a supply for him to take on his
next voyage ! while am to have a new blue
gown made from my aunt's last web, which
is the finest and sOftest piece of flannel ever
made on the island.
my cousin has come. He is tall and 1.-the,
with handsome hair and eyes, and his com.
plexion is bronzed by the open winds and
| eastern suns. He says it seems TO him like
| a fairy tale that am the same little dump.
| ling of cousin he used to toss in the all
wheh he was last home. He is much grieved
to find you are all gone, and is planning a
hunting expedition, whose objective point
| shall be your faraway settlement.
1.-The neighbors all oongregated around
our kitchen fire to hear his wonderful stories
and adventures, which he was relating all day
long and far into the night and for all he
has travelled almost over the whole world, he
is as pleased as a boy to be at home on the
dear old Nantucket plantation again. We
| are all as happy as we can be with our divid-
| ed hearts, and all have frequent thought
and wish for our wanderers, while grand
father remembers you each morning and
evening at the Throne of Grace.
"My cousin has brought great many Gu
riosities and presents for us all. One is g
silken, creamy shawl for me, woven and EN-
broidered with beautiful flowers. Another il
gown of foamy Canton Grape as white at
snow, and they are so pretty l am sure
shall never dare to wear them. Grandma
says they shall be kept for my wedding
Aunt Esther says it is not seemly for sucl
thoughts to be put into maiden's head, but
Aunt Content gave me the other day a whole
piece of linen from the fall bleach to be kept
she said, for day of need.
"At all events, my fnery is packed away
in gums and spices in a foreign box, and i
not likely to turn any silly maiden's head a
present.
"Cousin has returned to Boston, and yes
terday he sent by trusty messenger anothe
sea chest. 1t is a large box of tea, the frs
that was ever seen on the island, real Chinese
which Nat himself procured in China. 1t I
of a greenish color, with little shrivelle'
leaves, and when eaten dry has pleasant
spicy taste. Perhaps when l send this lette
can enclose some that you may see what
is like. He also sent a letter saying tina
when he returns TO Nantucket, the owner o
the ship in which he voyaged Capt. Morris
will come with him from Boston TO pay US
visit.
"We are again making master preparation
for visitors and if you will believe it, tn