Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-08-18
CHAPTER III
SEpkR

All Eastpolt was aStir next morning to see
the Ann Mary Ann off. Eastports single
long wharf was crowded with relatives and
friends of those departing-relativeS IS the
most proper term, for this was long settled
community, dating its first planting but
twenty years after the landing ut Plymouth.
The names of the first settlers were still the
predominant ones, both in our village and
the towns" as we called the exclusively
agricultural villages few miles back in the
country. Eastport was the harbor for these
their commercial city on very small scale:
Every old family could trace some degree of
consanguinity more or less remote with
every other family through marriage, per-
haps, in this century or the one preceding.
1t was no idle throng upon that wharf, at
tracted by mere curiosity. There were fathers
and mothers, sisters and brothers, aunts and
uncles, first, second and third cousins, grand
fathers and grandmothers, sweetheartS and
wives. The sailing of a whaler with score
of townspeople on board was no new thing,
but the mission of those leaving in this case
was different, and the seventy on board rep
resented. as to life and enterprise, the very
elite of the place, myself excepted.
had shipped before the mast, and coming
on board about nine in the morning, dressed
in my best, had been Immediately pounced
upon by Mr.. Pell, our second mate, and Or
dered to take off them duds and turn to in
my working toggery." So buried my broad
cloth suit in my chest, babe it adieu, and.
making my appearance on deck in white duck
trousers and flaming red flannel shirt, was
ordered by Mr. Pell to catch the ships pig,
,bo nd
him in his pen."
Mr.. Pell was a tall, gaunt, tough, hard
ened man, with one eye, and hand and arm
tanned by exposure to tropic suns to the
color of mahogany. He seemed all bones
working bones, and the one impossible thing
for Mr.. Pell to do, while awake, was to sit
still. and the next impossibility with him was
to allow others to sit still, if it was in his
power to prevent them.
Mr. Pell belonged to one of our second
class families There were first and second
class families in and about EaStport, and Il
certain unnamed, untalked distinction al-
ways existed between them, and had SO done
for generations. More than one of the older
families could produce well attested evidences
of lineage with the ariStocracy of the mother
land, and no change of fortune or station
could ever rid them of certain bearing say
oring of blood and pedigree. They might go
before the mast, serve as boat StcererS, learn
the trade of cooper, the principal mechanical
calling of the place, but the manner ever
chung to them.
Now Mr.. Peli was not one of these. He
prided himself on being common mana
very common man. Anything in the least
degree bespeaking ''puttin' Oh airs, as Mr..
Pell expressed it, was very repugnant to him.
The Pells had always lived in an unpainted
frame house on the back street," and in
their sandy back yard pig weed' seemed to
grow more luxuriantly than elsewhere. The
shore Pclls fshed and dug CLANS for living.
The sea Pells would rise to the position of
second mate, seldom any higher. As boys
the Pells learned almost in their infancy to
chew tobacco. At the district school they
received the hardest whippings with the
most unconcern.
This was Sam Pell, second mate of the Ann
Mary Ann, and l was one of the ancient
house of Holders, Scampel'nS under his
orders after an obstinate pig, and all this III
full view of various members of the proud
Holder fanily-and not only the Holders,
but the Talmadges. the Osbornes, the Wester-
bees, the Hilyers, the Carys, the WickhanH
and the Rysams! caught the brute ut last
by the hind legs which he worked to and fro
with the vigor and regularity OF piston rod,
setting up at the same time squealng that
rose far above the rest of the clamor and di-
rected every eye upon myself. Mr.. Pell, l
think, enjoyed this, and to prolong it took no
notice of lie and sent no one to my assist
ance, though short time previous he had
found time and opportunity every few min
utes to give additional directions regarding
this marine boar chase.
In the midst of this ridiculous situation my
eve fell Oh Blanche Seton, standing by a
wharf post, little apart from the crowd.
Her face wore an expression of sadness.
There was some laughing and gutfawing