River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-07-20
A STORY OF THE SEA.
As Told by Crazy Nell TO a Sum-
mer-Day Visitor.


inspect this typical New England fish
ing village, with its queer. rambling
streets. its ancient houses. its old
wharfs, once the scene of activity, now
silent ami deserted, etc
stood at the end Of the landing
place and looked down the long street
with the walk on one side and the har-
Dor on the other, then turned to watch
the crowd rush past 10 take the town
by storm, staring in at the windows of
the houses, OveIrunning the quiet little
graveyard. intruding everywhere: in
fact, doing everything that rude, van
dial excursionists do the world over
''DesecratOrst' thought, how shall
] avoid you? Here I take what / sup
pose to be an Out-Of-the-way trip to an
out-Of-the-way place 10 get little rest.
and, if possible, new ideas, but instead
of quiet boat and leisurely sail, you.
the great uncouth, OVERLOOKING with
animal spirits and lunch baskets. are
before me, yea, your crumbs are upon
me. and the marks of your children's
clammy hands and the sound of their
anguished sobs are even vet mine
After which elegant apOstr0phe ]
desperately struck into a struggling
side street. and in few short moments,
60 my establishment, they were left far
behind
] stopped and looked about.
Behind me the town lay. a narrow
fringe of gray, colOrless houses
bordering the inner harbOr. Here
and there a thin penciled column of
smoke rose straight up as from FIRE
in desert, the air was so still and hot
Before me a stretch of binding
yellow sand. sparkling with glints of
amethyst and pearl from the dis
integrated sea shells which formed
part of the drift that lay heaped up IN
odd. monstrous, angular dunes, tuftod
with occasional punches of vivid green
wire grass; a veTitable sea serpent's
lair; domain of desolation.
Beyond, a sea 50 calm, 50 translucent
that the horizon line is lost melted
away into the sky.
A mOnotOnous drOning filed the ear.
reminding one of the cicadas of Prov
ence. From some shipyard came the
dull-meaSured stroke Of a caulker's
hammer so, Hdiug like the tapping of a
wOOdpecker, again the peep peep
of a sand bird; these are the only evil
dences of life. The spell of sleep is
over every thing, and stand looking
unconsciOusly right ahead til the sud
den noise of the excursion boat blow
ing off steam arOuses me. and | see a
low cottage. the last on the lane. sur
rounded by i meager yard fenced with
driftwood held together by pieces of
rigging.
or arbor constructed of the gray, bleach
ing ribs of whale An enterprisiRg
mOrning-glory vine IS endeavoring to
envelop and clothe its ghastliness, but
81 prOtrudes and stands out from the
fiabby, sun-killed yvreaths like whited
sepulcher. \ cobble-stone walk edged
with pink conch shells completes the
dreary ensemble
am about to turn back to the town.
for it Is not very pleasant padding about
in the shifting sands under the broiiing
sun, when ] see a little crouched-up
figure sitting on block of wood in the
shadow of an old dory. and so much the
color of the surroundings as TO be al
most unnOticed-
v is a woman, gray and bent with
years, looking fixedly al me with queer
canny eyes, her lips moving as she
counts the stitches Of the knitting in
her hands.
push open the gate on its rope hinges
and enter. asking politely for drink
of water. Never stopping she mods
toward the we'll. I help myself and
then sit down near her, remarking:
''This Is a beautiful day"
sNur draw vxafer ia the ruoruFns
Sailors take waruin'.''
she answers. never taking her eyes off
me II was 81 unexpected | started,
but ralIying said:
We'll. nice fresh breeze wouldn't
hurt US"
In sad, monotonous tone. she re-
piled:
when winds blow fresh across the main
and mist scuds up from the lea,
There's apt 20 be some rain
And n chOppy sou'casj sea"
''Wcll. we'll" ! laughed. pleasantly.
thor gh ] didn't feel mite that way;
you're quite a rhymster mother; got
verses for all kinds of weather"
The laugh seemed TO please the old
sybil for an instant, then the small eyes
grew sad again and she said, nodding
toward the village:
.-Stayin' below
''No. just came down and going right
back"
Then nobody sent ynu here?'' lean
ing forward.
NO; just strayed this way to avoid
the crowd Why do you ass?''
They send people here To eother me.
They say I'm crazy, crazy Nell. You
know; ever hear tell of her?''
NO; but tell me. mother, how do
You live in this wilderness"
.'An the day knit stNckin's an mits
an lots Of nippcrs for thc fishermen To
wear when they're fiShiu'. They're not
all bad They give me food and things
for them. sometimes a little tea; but
its a poor life. lad. a poor an SORROW
full life for old crazy Nell, with only her
thoughts and the seas means for com
pany; an death passes me, that only
longs u 90. and takes the Young an
strong. that wants to live; but the day
Is nigh at hand now: soon I will see my
Malcolm, my bonny boy. my husband
gone. lad. gone, gone, and only married
one day: think of il. me all alone.
alone for forty weary winters and forty
wearicr summers, waitin' To die an go
TO him DO YOU think he has forgiven
me-"
Suppose YOU tell me your story"
said. gently. rather touched by her
plaiutiveneSs-
MY story? ave; and what joy would
We find in the vagaries and mumblin's
of an old crazy woman like me. l Gamma
tell
''Iie built this house for me. his
bride. oh, hut was a happy girl then:
YES, an one OF the tidiest and prettiest
of the village. and often was told of
Il. and he was the smartest and bravest
of all the fisher lads that went out to
the hanks; every one loved him. myself
most of all, tho ! was bit pert and
liked my own way. well. well. the day
of rest i nigh to me now. Hearken.
then. sir. an III. tell We tale of the
sal. sad sea. tale of . cruelty to one
owed: a tale that's brisnful with pain.
an woes. an griefs; an. God. that he
should 90. wild an awful the tempest
ragged when he dared an persisted.
After a few moments of weeping aud
mu;tering to herself she began her dis
jointed narrative anew
softly the gray mists hung far DER
the smiling bay, an the sun sparkled
on the little ripplcs that were - weak