Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-04-05

amid the troublCu8 times OF the heYo!u. I
ton, and we children never used to tire Of
listening to the stirring tales Of her early /
days. Euuioe was about 10 years old when I
the British tool. possession Of the peninsula
of Bugaduce, as Castine WIS hen called,
My grandmother was then about ., and
Sarah still younger, bat although living on
one Of the most bleak and dosolate islands,
an island lying off the coast Of a country
still wild and unsettled, these young PEG
pie. far from finding their lives monotO-
nous. felt themselves to be part and parcel
of a turmoil Of stupendous events. Though
far enough from the actual seat of war,
the British garrison stationed at Castine
furnished food for constant gossip and eX-
element Now and then some stately En-
glish vessel coming through the thorough
fare glided past the island or anchored OIL
the landing; they listened breathiessly to
the echo Of the guns when the tardy Amer
lean fleet reached Castine on its frutless
erraDd Of recaptura; rumOrs Of Washing
toms campaigns of the yalor and suffer
ings Of the patriotic army came vaguely to
their ears, and it was often hard for the
fiery youngsters To observe the spell OF
silence which their more prudent elders
laid upon their lips, mindful of the British
garrison only twenty-five miles away.
Castine was the nearest trading post, and
thither they were obliged to go for all their
needed supplies. My Grandmother was AN
adventurous and imaginative child, and
used TO beg so hard for the privilege Of go
ing to Castine whenever anything was
needed from there that she often visited
the garrison, and it was to this fact owe
much Of my knowledge of my great-aunt
Eunice's romance. Mary Coleman, a cOus-
in of the family, WAS then living at Cas-
tine, and have many times heard my
grandmother tell the story of the memora-
bic Sunday which she and her sister Eunice
spent at that place. Eunice was then
about eighteen years old, in the first bloom
OF her wonderful beauty for she was even
lovelier than her portrait, my grand
mother always used to say. She was On
gagged to be married to Thomas Simpson, a
sturdy young settler, whose clearing ad-
Joined Granther Colemau's; yet she pos
sessed enough Of demure coquetyy to cause
her to adjust her homespun gown and her
lace kerchief as becomingy rs possible be
fore attending the garrison church service
on Sunday morning
DR.. William Crawford had come from
Fort Point TO preach that morning; he was
a man Of eloquent speech and imposing
presence, yet the scarlet coated British
officers looked oftcuer at the beautiful
/ young stranger than Mt the reverend chap
/ lain. But my grandmother noticed most
] Of all handsome, proud looking officer
/ who, coming late into service, with clink
/ ing sword and careless air, sat down Opp0-
site my aunt EuuiCe and herself. He had
/ the look Of one used to command, and on
/ the prayer book that he bore was blazoned
] a coat of arms. At FIRST he seemed like "A
/ man negligent of all things, and weary Of
/ his surroundings, but presently Ills wander
/ ing gaze fell on my Great-Aunt Eunice,
and as he looked n slow red flush rose over
/ his fair English face, and fire kindled in
the depths Of bis cold blue eyes. So might
a man look who had found his hearts de
sire his pearl Of price, and could not be
satisfied with gazing. That afternoon
when my grandmother walked by the
shore with Eauice and Cousin Mary quick
step came up behind them, and turning
they saw the handsome officer of the morn
ing, looking handsOmer still in his fatigue
dress.
"A good day 10 you, Mistress Coleman, ii
he said. bowling cautiously 10 Cousin
Mary, "and a fair day to her also makes
all things fair" he added, still with that
strange fire in his eye, as he looked at my
Aunt Euuice
"That was "A wise discourse Of DIR. Craw
ford's concerning our heavenly home,
said Cousin Mary, as Mai. Howe walked
by the side Of the two ladies along the
rocky shore
"Truly. madam" he answered, but
fear me I was thinking more Of an earthly
paradise than Of a heavenly one thi
morning
The incoming tide crept slowly up tn
beach, the shadows grew purple on the IA
off hills, and still Maj Howe walked b.
Cousin Mary's side, looking ever at m.
Great-Auur Eunice, while he told storie
Of bis boybood, Of his stately Englsl
home. Of the bonny hedgerows and fai
green meadows Of Devoushire.
= 81 have bethought me today he sal,
3 softly to my Aunt Eunice ut parting
that how it might be. should a ma
chance to transplant western lily int
those same green meadows Of Devoushirei
Ny grandmother used 20 tell that IN
Aunt Eunice tossed restlessly on her pill
low that night, and drew once a long, sol
bling breath in her sleep; but she sal,
naught.
The next visit to Castine was on a mos
I important business, being no less an crr,tn
/. than the purchase Of my Aunt Euuice'
small store Of wedding linery, for the tim
Of her marriage was near at hand. Thi
! trip was also rendered more memorable b
: another incident, for my grandmother hay
, ing been sent the day before on ~ errtin
over in "the Webb ueighborhood, bad r,
turned with beating heart aud CLOWN
cheeks, bearing a handbil printed O
, coarse paper, containing the news Of til
surrender OF CORVALLIS. An America
= vessel lying IL the harbOr at Isle au Haul
I, had brought several Of these handbills 70
distribution, and Capt. Settle Webb ha'
. ing just arrived from that port and heal
: ing Of Mrs. Coleman's intended visit t
Castine, had sent the proclamation to he
ia order that she might use her own di
erection in regard to communicating Oh
. news to the garrison there.
Here Aunt Eunicc paused in her stOr,
and opening another drawer In the old M
:, hogany press brought forth paper sole
= with use and yellow and frail with age.
"Well, what next, Aunt Eunice| aske
J. ] ~ ttDsH IA.