The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-12-17
SELECT STORY.
A FISHERMAN'S STORY.

lie pdTI Vi Jle country lTOu WHICH
l hail was about as wild as this.
No ships ever put in there, for Pen
gethlyn was but fishing hamlet
Nevertheless, many a storm tossed yes
sci bad made for the coast, hoping tc
find safe haven, but finding ship
wreck instead.
1t had been .here many years when
|, youngster, first started in partner.
ship with Owen Penly as fishers. We
had begun life as it were together, for
we were about the same age. To.
gether as lads we had helped the fish
ers to land their fish and dry theil
nets; together we had gone ont in
our fathers boats to fish ourselves,
and together we made plan to save
all the money we could and buy a
boat of our own.
Both of US believed there wasn't a
secret the other didnt share, yet each
had one close locked in his own breast
"a secret that melted us to toll night
and day to purchase ,the boat, which
would make us somebodies with che
rest
But the truth was, we only desired
to be OF consequence to one, and, nm
fortunately, it was the same one
Jessie Redburn, the only child of old
Jack Redburn, the most well do fish.
erman in all Pengethlyn.
Didn't Owen and work A rough
sea didn't scare us. We were the
earliest out and the soonest home, al
ways with good supply; and, finally
az proud as if we were Captains of q
three decker, we became the owners OF
right-and-tight smack of our own.
Wed had the boat about month
when one morning, coming down tc
the beach, l found Jessie seeing he,
father off in his smack. He wanted
fresh sails, also new rigging, and wa.
going to shipwright's at the seaport
three miles along the coast.
"Shall l lend YOU hand, Mr.. Red
burn ?" l asked.
"No, lad; no, thank ye,' he answer
ed. "You'd a hard nights work of it
l hear"
"Pretty stiff" l rejoined "but We
made good hauls.'
"lf you stay gossiping here, daddy
you never be home to dinner sale
Jessie.
He waved his hand, and she stood
using her hand as shade from the
sunlight, watching him round th,
headland.
Never had | thought her so pretty
Clearing my throat nervously, l said
81 wish l was your father, Jessie"
"What! wrinkles, gray hair, snt
all 2" she laughed. "Gracious!-why?
"Because it must re so pleasan
when starting fishing to have some on,
TO see you off, and to know somebody
waiting for you at home, and keeping
the fire bright for your return"
"Then," she replied, "why don't yor
get scme one?"
because" l rejoined, aware tha
my voice trembled, "the one | want
the only one I'd ever have, wouldn'
have me. I'd be like your father
Jessie, wrinkles, gray hair and all, i
she'd be my wife"
81 don't think that would make he
like you any better" she laughed, bu
nervously.
"You should know better than an,
one. l asked her this very moment. o
Jessie and l slipped my arm roun,
her waist-"don't you know that
mean yourself p
"Won't you answer me, Jessie ?"
whispered. Think how painful is m.
suspense !"
She turned, then looked up a MON
ent, then down again, as she murmur
ed, 81 thought, Amos, You knew al
along that ! loved YOU
In my joy | cant recollect what
answered, but | caught her in my arm
and kissed her. | could have sun.
and danced, | was so happy. l wa
aroused by my partners voice.
"pm off, Amos, to the town." h
called, "to add more grist to the mil
Ha! ha! Shall be back in time to star
tonight
"All right" l answered; Il wi
wait"
| Owen Penley in build would hav
made two of me. He was broadly st
and with the strength of a bull ii
could with ease hold tiller steady i
rough sea, when another man had t
strain every nerve. He was dark, geo
looking, with a square forehead, crown
ed by mass of black hair. His eye
were Llack and piercing, his brows a
most met-they say that indicates
violent temper. 1t was right in Owen
case. He kept it wisely under contro
but had seen one or two terrible on
bursts when some fishers had by acc
dent iouled our nets with their boat.
1t wanted rather over half an hol
to our starting that night when Owe
knocked at my door.
"lve come back" he said, looking
"l'll be down on the beach in tim
You see to the boat, Amos, old fellow
/ noticed he appeared in remarkab
high spirits, and the thought can
, into my head that he had been takil
an extra glass.
Taking my hat quilted the cottaq
! As did so | heard Owens voice tro
/ ing out song.
81 never saw him so merry / sa
2 to myself 81 fear that extra gla
has excited him."
Owens high spirits had not lessen
n when he joined me; and when
were flying over the swelling billo
> | jestiugly told him his mirth won
frighten the fish away.
> But, indeed, my mirlh was little |,
, than. his, and We were more like t,
school boys than practical isherm
when wa cast onr nets Aa wa 1id