Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-01-29

well, you done 1t, honey, shuah
nuff, but l wouldn't try no more SIGH
experiments. If you'll frow me de end
OBJ de rope what's lynn ies inside de do.
and tie de odder end TO dat ar pos. I
reckin ] can pial myself up outen de
water"
Arthur quickly did as directed, and
in few minutes more had the satisfac-
tion of seeing his dear old friend res
cued from his perilous position, and
seated safely on the deck. As the
water-soaked man sat there, recovering
from his exhaustion, and grateful for
the warmth of the bot morning sun, he
shook his head and said:
81 allus heerd tell dat sailorin' was a
resky bizness, an dat dem what goes
down into de sea in ships sees wonder
full tings; but | never spected ole
Phin Dale ebber sperience it all fer his
own sef.n
After his strength was somewhat
restored, Uncle Phin instructed
Arthur to keep sharp lookout for
any more bridges. and went into the
cabin to light fire and prepare break
fast. A good supply of dry wood and a
box Of matches having been provided,
he quickly had cheerful blaze crack
ling in his rude hearth. While it was
burning down to bed of red Goals he
mixed the meal. salt and water that he
intended should be transformed into a
corn pone, set the coffee water on to
boil and cut two slices of bacon. The
smoke OF the fire found its way out of
the cabin through a square hatch that
Brace Barlow had cut in the roof direct
ly above it.
In less than an hour the bed of Goals
had done its duty. The corn pone had
been baked on Hat stone previously
rubbed with bacon rind, and set up at
a sharp angle in the hottest corner of
the fire place. The slices of bacon we're
done TO turn and four fresh eggs had
boon fried with them. The coffee was
hot and strong, and there was maple
sugar TO sweetcn It, Taken altogether,
l. was breakfast that would have
pleased n much more fastidious person
than hungry little Arthur Dale Dustin,
ana he enjoyed il as. it seemed to him,
lie never had enjoyed meal before.
Uncle Phin's delight Mt seeing his
iii marse" eat so heartily was UNI
bounded. and they both found so much
pleasure in their novel housekeeping
that the misbap OF an hour before was
forgotten and they would willingly
have agreed t. drift along in this happy
way for the rest of their lives.
After every scrap OF food had been
eaten and only grounds remained in the
coffee-pot, Oncle Phin began to clear
the table, which was an empty packing
box, shake The table-cloth, which was
newspaper, and wash the dishes,
while Arthur set to work to tidy up the
cabin. He made the beds, which only
took about one minute each, placed his
precious book carefully on one Of the
shelves and then looked about for
broom with which to sweep the floor.
There was none.
"Why, Uncle Phinr' exclaimed the
boy. "If we haven't come off and for
gotten the broom
80 we has, honey so we has." re-
piled the old man, pausing in his work
and assuming an expression of mock
dismay. 81 rickollec' now, when de
furnichure man putten in dem elergent
brack walnut bedstids he say: Alisto
Phin Dale, doan' you fergit somefnT
An say: No, Misto' Furnichure Man,
/ reckin not Now, he mus err been
meanin' de broom all de time, an now
we is come off an lef it benin"
"You are making fun of me. you know
you are, laughed Arthur; "but really,
do need broom very much, for | can't
make this place look tidy without one"
"You must have one, of cose," said
Uncle Phin, IAN wen jes' run inter de
sho'. and fin some white birch trees, an
Uncle Phin make you a twig broom jes'
de fines you ebber seen
They were both glad of an excuse to
stop and make a landing, for they were
enjoying their voyage so much, that
they feared it might come to an end
more quickly than they wished it to. So
they went on deck. and watched for
good opportunity to run ashore.
At last they drifted close in to grassy
hank, above which we're number Of
huge oil tanks. brick building, and
neat white cottage. 1t was pumping
station on ono of the great pipe lines
through which crude petroleum is con-
yeyed from the wells OF the oil region
to the distant seaboard retineries. At
that time it was thought necessary to
have relay stations Of tanks, and pumps
to force the oil along from one
to another every five or six miles. OF
late wears. however, the pumps have
grown larger and stronger, until. on
recently pipe line leading
into Chicago. one immense pumping en-
CINE forces the oil along the entire dis
lance Of two hundred and fifty miles.
As the ark drifted slowly along in
front Of this pleasant-lool1ing place,
Uncle Phin, directing Arthur how to
steer. loosened the side sweep that was
furthest from shore, and by rowing with
it, headed their craft in toward the
bank. In a minute more she was SO
close to 1t that active little Arthur could