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

those warm tints of gold that sometimes
slime through and soften 'he gray into
tender shades of heliotrope and pink-were
Visible today, but the cold brooding shadow
seemed to hang over ocean and shore.
The shadow had penetrated into our lit
tie seaside cottage, too; 1t hung Ike
cloud over our spirits, and even cast pen
siye reflection over the sunny counterpart
in 1.-The Bower" We felt, with one &C
cord, that there were too many shoes un
der the stove, and too many nonde'cript
garments hanging on the walls. Classic
literature had become dull, and seaside
novels even more trashy than usual, SO
when some bright spirit suggested, Lets
70 and see Aunt Euaice." our exodus was
rs united and complete as that Of the chill
dren Of Israel when they started for the
Promised Land
The spirit Of peace always brooded over
Aunt Eunice's cottage IL stood Oh
point of land stretching out into the little
land locked harbOr, sheltered on either
side by tranquil cove. The long slope IN
front Of the house WAS always green and
smooth, and the flowers in the little gar
dun blossomed to order in neat and sym
metricai rows We entered through the
shed place. rs Aunt Eunice called it
the summer parlor, in our own nomen-
ciature. Here the floor shone with the
very polish Of neatAess. \ wide hammock,
u7ly with chiutz cushions, hung in the cen
ter, while by the window stood the little
clawfooted table where Aunt Eunice sat
with her work in the sunny afternoons,
and one or two quaint, high backed rock
ers, that always seemed to hold ia their
sleepy "creaky craw" the echo of old time
cradle songs On either side "A wide door
opened, showing on the one hand little
forest shaded cove, on the other the broad
Atlantic waters, reaching across 10 meet
the Camden hills
The house WAS q veritable treasure trove,
ard Aunt Euuice herself, a quick bright
eyed little woman, was rs delightful.as a
book of fairy tales She could tell Us all
about the queer, foreign china in the
dining room cupboard, and the story Of
.grnnd'ther's knee buckles and Crandma's
luce vandyke. that were carefully treas
Un,d in the quaint, little cnbDy hole
hy the sitting room chimney. There
was the story Of the English man-of-war
Rover, whose Gingy picture hung on the
dining room wall. a high shouidercd old
craft whose tim bers have long been whit
eniny on a Spanish beach Then in the
low chambers, out Of the drawers under
the lockers" Capt Eph called
thcm-came stores Of bomespun linen,
marvellous old bed quilts in many pat
terms, hand woven counterpanes in rich
nue., our grandmothers knew the secret
OF. and each had its story, its thread Of
human interest, Of love and life. woven
into warp and wool
On this dull afternoon Aunt Eunice was
sitting by the cheerful blaze of the sitting
room fire, and We all gathered around her
We're tired Of being outside barharians,
aunt Eunice," said Nan pensively, "anG
~ we came over here where it seems sort
OF civilizedr'
Yes" said Mollie thoughtfully, "and
srp want you to tell us about your an
ccstors Over on the mainland we haven 7
uiany ancestors-the most Of US just
t,rowed, like Topsy-but here on the island
YOU all have your forefathers and fore
mothers. and we want TO know about
them.n
land to see their pictures" added Ned
mindful Of promise made by Aunt EUnict
on a former occasion.
Aunt Eunice smitingiy opened n shallow
drawer in the heavy mahogany press which
stood near by, aud brought forth the treas
ured contents, silh0Hettes of berulled gen
tlemen and simpering ladies, faded daguer
reotypes Of sea captains who looked IKE
half tanned vikings, queer looking amJro
types and photographs Of staIwart youths
bright eyed m1iieus and chubby chill
dren, a motley and varied collection, ant
last Of all, out Of its wrappings OF s.ivc
pupcr, she brought fdeG velvet cas'
about the size Of a modern cabinet photo
Graph Inside the case, exquisitely monte,
ia a setting Of small pearls, was a pourai
Ysinted on ivory-the portrait Of young
uirl simply attired, with no ornament say,
q kerchief uf fine lace, opening q little q
show the fair throat il grlced-bnt oh! thl
length Of shining tresses, the rose lush OF
the oval cheek. the light AMI lie III th'
great dark eyesl She seemed the verl
spirit Of morning. the embodiment o
happy youth.
as she deadY' asked Robin, Ia Mari
Twain "If she isn't shall marry her my
self"
Yes" answered Aunt Eunice thought
fully. "That is the picture Of my great
aunt Eunice, and she has been dead thi
many year
And has it "A history" questioned Ned
"a history, and romance too" Aun
t,anice replied gravely. 1T was painte
from memory by one who loved her well
She herself never saw g. for when, after tn
death OF the artist, it was sent across tn
,ses to her the grass was already green upO
hcr grave
Robin placed the opel case upon the "a
ble. Just where the Ackerinc freiigh
-houe brightest upon the fair young face
Come, Aunt Eunice," he said, eve wan
10 know the whole story. history, romahc
and all"
IL IS a ong story, Aunt Eunice begaI
5ut then you know love to tell those oil
tales. You see, my Grcatgran ther an
Grandma Coleman were among the earlie'
settlers OF Deer Isle. When they can
there from Massachusetts, about 1895,
inrt,e part Of thut land was still AN ui
lruken wilderness, and II needed st0t
hearts and strong hands to make life ei
durable amid the hGrdships they had
encounter, but Gran'ther Coleman was
iai1.e. powerful man aud gran'ma vi
strong and healthy, AID they took ho
With will and made a home for thcu
sg,lve.,. and children were horu tothem, az