The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-07-03

Tor the approaching wedding, and Silas
YVES noticed to have look in his eyes of |
solemn gladness, and his friends we're |
forever finding him strangely preoccu-
pied; but they marveled nothing at it, but
thought it quite natural, in that he was
soon to be made happier than was ever
man IN Saltport before. And he deserved,
they said, and had right well earned all
his good fortune, and more, for had be
not been the most faithful of sons, the
truest of friends, the bravest of men; had
he not ever had kind word for the I'M
fortunate, and helping hand as well?
1t was but just, then, that he should be
we'll treated by Providence. Before his
schooner was completed Silas made the
only speculation of his life, whereby he
greatly increased his store in the savings
bank. He found that while there were
so many fish in the Boston market that
the price was very low, there had been
great storm near New York, which
prev ented the fishermen from landing
until their fares were quite spoiled, and
the price of fish was higher than it had ever
before been known to be. With the money
he had saved he bought all the fish he
could buy, at three cents a pound, and
loaded great three-masted lumber
schooner full of them, and sailed away
to New York, where he sold his whole
cargo at fifteen cents q pound. After
paying off his crew, and paying for the
use of the vessel, he found that he had
made three thousand dollars. He was
now able to take quarter interest in the
new vessel and have enough remaining
TO build himself house.
On the day that the house was finished
| Silas learned from the builder in Bath
that his schooner was ready, and he, and
Mary, and the men who bad invest
ed money in the new vessel, went to
Bath to see her launched. She was
christened the Mary Frances of Saltport,
and her new owners rubbed their hands
together and congratulated each other,
for surely, no fairer vessel had ever sail
ed from Essex county, and was not Silas
Proctor to go in her as skipper? Truly,
their money was safe and would produce
large returns. By the time that the
Mary Frances was rugged, the house was
furnished, and Silas and Mary we're mar
ried. 1t was not quiet wedding, but
the gsyeet ever known in all that region.
Mary was more beautiful than even Silas
had ever believed she could be, and no
Drawer looking lad ever walked up to
minister to be wed than this clear eyed,
joyously solemn man. Then great pitch
ers OF cider were brought in, and dough-
nuts, and huge wedding cake, and every
one kissed Mary, and all the women kiss
ed Silas, and then they were alone, and
then their cup of happiness was full.
1t had taken longer to build the
schooner than had been expected, and it
was not until the first day of April that
they were married, so for a wedding
| journey they went to Bath with the crew
| selected for the nav vessel, and sailed
back in her to Saltport. For several
days Silas epent the nights at home, for
he had to lay in stock of salt and ice,
| provisions and water; and then came the
parting. It had always been hard to say
good-by when Silas was going away on
a fishing voyage, but now it was almost
liker death than any mere temporary sep
aratioD, and Mary went and chung to her
husband, and Silas was not equal to CIV
ing her any comfort, but folded her in his
arms, and kissed her again and yet again,
and tore himself away from her, and ran
to the beach like madman, but surely
no man can censure him for that. Bnt
Silas came back in safety, and had made
a successful trip, and kissed his wife gay
ly many times and said to her, if every
thing should keep on as it had begun,
he could give up fishing before many
years, and they would then never part
more, and Mary was comforted again.
Three trips did Silas make, and the
balance in the savings bank, which hsd
grown so small, was beginning to take
goodly proportions to itself, when one
day Mary said that they would do well
to take some of their young friends on
sailing party before the vessel went away
again. Silas entered into the plan with
all his heart, so the schooner was scrub
bed clean from the fish scales from deck
to keel, and on the morning of the first
day of June, that being Mary's birthday
a score of young men and women rowed
off from the beach to the Mary Frances
in dories, and they sailed away with
laughter and song. The wind was from
the southwest and blowing but a moder-
ate breeze, and, under full sail, they
bowled along right merrily, while Mary
was here and there and everywhere on
board, with a smile for this one and a
word of jest for that one and was the life
and soul of the whole company.
When noon came there was a chowder
served in the cabin, and every one went
down below to eat. Even the helmsman,
the breeze being SO light and so steady,
having made everything secure, went
down, and then the cabin rang with
laughter and gay speech, in the quaint
phrase of Essex county, until Mary, who
was filled with Joy, said that she would