Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-01-14
The Punt That Was Upset.

"Oh, dear!" thought Ted Merrill,
looking out of the window of the old
kitchen in the Merrill farmhouse, Il
wish father wouldn't read such a long
chapter in the Bible this morning. Sam
and want to be off on our trip to the
shore"
Farmer Merrill, an honest, worthy
soul, finally closed his Bible, laid it
deliberately on it's little stand, took Off
and deliberately wiped his spectacles,
laid them away in their old-fashioned
tin case, and then laid the case on q
shelf under the kitchen clock.
"Oh, DEAR" inwardly groaned Ted,
ut does take father so long to get those
spectacles in their case"
The family now bowed for prayer,
and Farmer Merrill's voice was heard,
voice that was husky and hesitating
attirst, but it grew clearer and steadier,
and then rose W thout q break, like
wings that, struggling for moment,
mount without faltering. The wings
of Ted's thoughts beat the other way,
down toward the floor, which he dis
contentedly eyed.
Such q long prayeri' thought Ted.
long chapter in the Bible, but Ted
was impatient to be away. His mother
did not feel 20. She was thinking how
these moments of prayer were like
breaking O the clouds OF anxiety and
care gathering in every household, and
through this rift streamed down the
light from the shining OF a Heavenly
Fathers countenance. The prayer
went on.
BE pleased, oh Lord, to keep us this
day from harm and danger" PRAYED
Farmer Merrill.
Il doriC see," thought Ted, "what
harm and danger We people here will
run into. Nothing ever happens in our
house." However. day after day, that
petition had been woven into the family
prayer.
Gall ready, now, l hope, SAM" was
Ted's exclamation of relief after the
family worship. Sam was an elder
brother. He now nodded his head.
1t was bright, beautiful morning.
The marshes were level floor of green,
with stripes OF crystal where the water
from the sea ran, at the swelling of the
tide, two miles into the country. Ted was
hopeful also. Sam walked soberly
along the narrow footpath that threaded
the marshes.
"Anybody going down to the fish
house, Sam?" asked Ted.
"Juct we two, Ted"
"Then whatever fishing there is, we
two can have it, Sam"
Il think so, if the fish will only come
to our lines"
Il just want to get off soon as | can. ="
ave won't be long in getting off,
Ted"
"Oh, while you are getting bait
ready and so on, just let me take the
old punt and go OFF to our lobster
nets. | mean my nets, the little ones
that can handle"
"The old punt? She is ticklish
thing"
Il can manage it.
abe extra careful, Ted, then. The
old thing turns before you think.
Charlie Blake was off in her the other
day, and she almost capsized. Ran
against a rock, you know"
"Oh, don't you worry, Sam. | can
manage her, and Charlie can't. That
makes all the difference in the world,
you know"
Yes, l am aware of that"
They reached the fish-house. It
stood on the borders of the marsh and
not far from it ran river. O, so blue
and 0, SO treacherous, might we'll be
added! When the tide was running
either way in its strength, there was
sometimes turbulence to the current
around hidden rocks and over sunken
Lodges that made the river n terror to
navigatorS. Ted was Young navi-
gator, and on this account had the less
terror. 1t was the very reason WHY he
m ght ha had deep-seated and
wholesome fear of this strong, obsti.
nate, unreliable river.
Ted took the old punt while Sam
was busily preparing in the tish-house
for the more iaborious work of the dav.
"Ah, this is something like business !"
proudly thought Ted, gripping his
paddle when seated in the punt, and
boldly reaching out for the lobster
grounds. Splendid, splen-whew!
strong current"
The energy of the current was sur
prise to him. Menacing green whirls,
streaked with foam, seized the punt,
and without mercy would have flung it
about, but Teds paddle restrained
these threats of violence Still, his
face was c'ouded with rather anxious
look when he remembered that series
of such twisting, whirling eddies might
stretch between him and the lobster
grounds.
"Tm good for it, though" exclaimed
the young paddler, but not so conf
IDENTIFY as at first. Suddenly, without
the least warning as it seemed to him,
in the most unceremonious way, his
boat began to tip.
Il have hit something's he said He
rose in his boat as if to ward OF this
invader. The boat struck the interior
ing object second time. Ted main
tanned his standing with extreme dii1i-
Guilty for single moment, and then
ceased to maintain it at all. Over into
the water he went. Down, down, he
sank