The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-08-07
THEAcApEMY BOAT RACE
BY MARY DENsEL.

Wulollc iOuuu uhubCu thO ihOAhJ WttNs ohs
the boys actually stamped with impatience
Do you suppose that college men are t.
have all the glory as far as boating is con
cernedP Hallowell Academy shook its hea,
and said, "No" Miss Belinda Crockett shool
her pretty head and said ''No" also.
Who was Miss Belinda Crockett?
Why, she was the very loveliestyoung lad
In Maine-some say in all the world. Their
was not man or woman from eighty year
old and downward who did not say, "Bles
herp when Miss Belinda appeared. 1t wa
Miss Belinda who got up all the picnics; wht
sat up at night with sick people; who wor,
the prettiest gowns in the village; who sanl
In the choir; who took two babies home ant
kept them month till their mother couls
get well of fever; who made her fathe
food the pond so the boys could have stead,
skating, and then gave half of them skates
rockers" at that; and who always came tt
the baseball matches with a dozen lemons fol-
the players.
No wonder the lads all adored Miss Be
linda Crockett. Tom Tyrrell, aged IA, in 6
frenzy of gratitude and affection, had ever
made up" a poem in her honor, and hat
pTtSbubtu III W utE Ou gilt paper.
Oh, lovely Miss Crockett
Your eye in its socket
Is bright as rocket
just taking a start.
When Shyly you cock 1t,
All, mel what shock II
Right through my vest pocket
sends into my heart!
Perhaps 1t was because she was pleased by
this tribute that. one evening in March. Miss
Belinda took the youthful Thomas into her
confidence.
"Do you ever row, Tom?" asked she.
Observe, Miss Crockett never called Tom
Tyrrell Tommy" as so many thoughtess
persons did. Sometimes she even addressed
him as "Tyrrell" upon which Tom seemed
to grow an inch.
Because / have plan, Tom. In which l
need your help. Would you please give me
your arm? This hill is hard to climb. You
row, did you say?
"Yes," painted Tom, quite breathless with
the honors thrust upon him. "Yes, do,
sometimes in my fathers punt"
do you suppose there are enough acad-
envy boys to form three crews of, say four
oars each, if my brother would train them
when he comes from Europe in May?"
"Miss Belindap gasped Tom, "how good
you are! Why, there are twenty who'd go
three boats / know Of to hire. Do you sup
pose your brother would coach us?"
Miss Belinda nodded.
II think 80. What's more, you shall have
a supper after the race. And there shall be
three prizes, too, Tom, so no one need feel
he has rowed for nothing. You arrange
matters, will you, and make out list of the
crewsq"
Every boy in town knew of Miss Crockett's
offer the very next morning; and long before
lied.
Tom Tyrrell was captain of one; Solomon
Gibbs, the celebrated woodchuck trapper, Uf
the second. while the third was under the
control of Theodore Elder, commonly known
as "Twig" Elder.
The river being at that time frozen, as
we'll as under several feet of snow, the
crews, boiling with enthusiasm, resorted to
Mr., Gibbs's barn to exercise on several sets
of horizontal bars. Here!they turned and
twisted daily to raise their muscles, against
the advent Of Mr.. II. Algernon Crockett.
There was some doubt as to whether so
august person as III. Algernon, ESQ.,, would
condescend to train dozen country lads.
But when Mr.. Crockett at last appeared all
fear vanished. he fairly took the crews by
storm.
To be sure his mustache, with its waxed
ends, was wonderful to behold, and ring on
his little finger was a vision beyond any that
ualloweli had hitherto imagined, 1t was
WCl hnOWhs tnOAOOfCis tuds ulis LIZ AA6CA-
non had actually taken off his hat to Queen
Victoria; that he had played billiards with
full-blooded Italian count; that he had
been "hand and glove" with all ''the old
masters" whoever those worthless might beg
and that ne had even taken trip to Egypt
TO patronize the sphinx.
But in spite of all his superiority and
clothes, Mr.. I'll. Algernon Crockett was a
cordial, gOod.natured young man, with a
great, hearty voice, and laugh as contagi-
GUS as the measles.
He fell in with his sisters plans, and un-
dertook to coach" her boys with much good
will.
Train them he did, and that with no sham.
He made them run, and he made them pull.
He insisted on their eating meat, and he for
babe their even looking at pie or a dough-
nut. Indeed. he turned one boy right out of
Twig Elders crew because he partook Of a
mince turnover. he would not allow Tom
aSo. g." which would certainly have broken
Toms heart had not Mr.. Crockett consulted
him at snch rate that Thomas actually be.
lieved he had proposed the change himself.
Two of Solomon Gibbs crew and one OF
Twig Elders gave out at the end of the week.
They declared they were not galley slaves
and would not be treated as such. But there
were ten other boys on fire to jump into their
places, and when the sun rose on the day OF
the race he had the pleasure OF shining on
twelve as spare, brown, tough little fellows
ing from China to Peru.
They were to row mile for the prizes, the
first of which was to be-here was richness!-
anew cedar boat the second. some bats and
balls; the third, four blue caps and four blue
shirts for rowing costumes.
All the country folk, from near and from
far, had heard of the race and were coming
to see it.
Philemon and Romeo Augustus Gibbs Sol
omOn's younger brothers) had scraped their
rahn ofrfN fnOh lion md
cheer, something between sneeZe and a
howl, for the occasion.
All the academy girls had decked them
selves with red, white or blue ribbons, the
color depending on which craft each lassie
The race was to be the event of the season.
50 u was very provoking that that breeze
should choose this very day to churn the
water into froth.
Mr.. ii, Algernon Crockett looked grave.
fNo race to-day" said he. '''"'0
The rowers were In despair So it semeed
was Mr. I'll. Algernon and Miss Belinda's
father. He was a hot headed old gentleman,
and it was he who had ordered the supper
He declared the festivity could not and
should not be put OIL.
"But, father, the waves will certainly
swamp the boats" argued his son.
"Tut. tuti nonsensep' cried Mr.. Crockett
"If the boats do swamp. haven't those ras
cas- pluck enough to swiTY 1 ne y0g tn1nl
that ice cream is going LOT notning' LIE
the race take place, J. say.
"HurrahP" shouted the boys.
SsHnrraho shouted the bystanderS.
Mr.. Ii. Algernon again looked grave; bn
ne might as well have tried to turn the plan
cts from their courses as to attempt to max
Mr.. Crockett change his mind; so the boat
were made ready.
The boats were pulled into the middle o
the stream. There was breathless paus'
disturbed only by Romeo Augustus Gibbs
who, overpowered by his emotions. brok
into the new fashioned cheer and wa
promptly choked by Philemon. The OAR
were held suspended. Every ear wa
strained for the signal.