The record-union., 1893-08-05

wasn't a drin kim man, I wouldn't have
you understand, but he drinked hearty
that night, an l was glad to see him do
1t; he was just as weak as a cat when we
got home, an no wonder.
We'll, that's all there is about the wreck
L expect you won't care nothin' for the
rest OF the story. L never see anybody so
curious about wrecks as you be. Seems
10 me some as It would TO you if 1 was to
lease you TO tell the partic' lars of all the
burryin's you'd been at But tain't no
harm as know OF, so long as you like it.
Folks has different tastes.
That trip OF Dode's was alked of all
along the cape. 1t wasn't 50 much the
gettin' line to the wreck; there was
Others could may be have done that, but
1t was his gettin' the lifeboat across the
dunes-the smartness of him am the
spunk was what took the folks. There
wasn't sailor come ashore hardly but
wnat must go to DOde's to shake hands
with him, an many times after a man
hed gone away they'd find the baby
playln' with a silver dollar, or may be a
gold piece. That's the way with sea-
iarlu' men. \ Ou do one of 'em a good
Turn an they think you've done it to the
whole OF 'em am act accordin' But the
money didn't tickle Dode an Christy
near so much as the hand-shakes. They
was always queer, you know; some said
tools, but l never could make it seem so.
Land! how l got ahead of myself l
never was no great of a story-teller.
ou 60 to father next time; he's a dabster
at it.
Well, the day after the wreck father am
the other two slept till noon, am | didn't
call 'em, for they needed it; but after din
ner IT stopped rainin', an the clonds be-
gan TO look pretty thin, am they started
down street. the Captain to find his men,
an, tue minister TO call on Dode, an
latner 70 the store for me. He stayed
there talkln' some time, an when he
come out there, across the street, he see
Cap'n Zach an the rest of Dode's credit
ors, all goinF along together, kind OF
eager. Father dIdn't somehow like the
looks of 'em, an he snng out to know
what was DOM, am ii turned out they
was hunJin' for him, an the Cap'n says:
It's another business meetin' to
Ayery's, an yoIr're wanted" Father
was mad as a wet hen to have 'em pester-
IN Dode so quick after what he'd done
the night before, but he dassn't anger
'em, Especially Cap'n Zach, on account of
the mortgage, feari n 'twould only make
things worse for Dode, so he went with
'em peaceable enoUgh. The minister am
Dode and Christy was settin' in the back
OF the store when they went in, an quick
as they'd passed the time Of day the
zap II SpOdhS uD3 ISL says ne, w @ re
mere on important business, an so if
Parson III excuse us, Well come to the
point" The minister bowed, kind of
surprised, an the Cap'n tnrns to the
others: Pm speakin' for you with your
free consent, amt To- says he, an they
all nodded; but Iather he was so veXed
with 'em when he see Christy's mouth
begin to twitch, an Dode not DARN to
look at her, that he Just pounded on the
counter, am roaled right up TO the
Cap'n's nose, 81 don't know whether
you be or not till 1 hear what you say,
you old hunks.''
If you'll believe me, Cap'n Zach never
swore nor so much as acted mad even,
but he says sort of dry, eff you don't
like our terms you can speak out. NV
friend" an he coutinnered on: We've
come to tho cOnclus ion, Mr.. Avery, that
1t would be blame shame to tslIe down
The sign from over your door, fCAt It's the
name Of brave am honest man. am tits
an ornament to our town. an so we've
come to humbly ask YOU" says he, ''to
keep on with your business till kingdom
come. You can pay your debts when you
get ready, am ii you don't, it amt no
matter, for Pm id if | won't pav 'em
myself. AM if Jonas Stiles don't agree
to that he can settle it with me-" an he
turned around to father as quick as
wink.
Christy was shakin' like a leaf before
he stopped speakin', an the tears was
rollin' down her checks, am [ guess the
rest of EN- wasn't fur behind her, an the
minister spoke up then an told em how
he was strugglln' along by himself when
he heard Christy's voice, an come up
with 'em as they were stoppin' to breathe
the team, an upon that the Capn stepped
up TO Christy an made her a dreadful po-
lite bow, an he says:
I've see a many handsome women in
voyagin' about the world, Mis- Avery,
but ain't never see one, flesh an blood,
or painted picter, or marble statoo, that
looked as handsome to Inc as you done
when ! got sight of you comm onto the
beach last night-an' if I'd knowed that
1t was my boy you was hurryin to save |
guess you'd have looked some better
yet" he sort of chOk ed up for a min
ute, an then he went on: "My son he
can't come to thank you for himself, but
he asked me TO hand you this little parcel
OF lamp-lighters, an tell you he made
'em for you himself. with his respecta
Good-day, ma'am. Good-day, all on
you" An he stuffed a bundle in
Christy's hand, am actiIly run out of the
store, an the others after him, as unex-
pected as they come in. What do you
suppose them lamp-lighters was but the
mortgage on Christy's house, all tore up
into little narrer strips. Sally Backus
Griggs in n. Y. Evening Post.