Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-08-01
A DOUBLE RESCUE.

A milk white beach of coral sand, on
which were strewn thousands of ex-
quisite shells and strange sponge forms
In front, dancing blue waters of a
southern sea, stretching away into in
finite space and ruff1ed into flashing
white caps by the strong breath of the
trade wind. Back of the beach stood a
dense grove Of cocoanut palms, stateliest
and most graceful of trees. The myriad
slender tips of their huge leaves rustled
in the warm wind like the sharp patter
of rain drops in a heavy shower. Down
where the white trunks shot, tall and
slender, to the dim arches of the living
roof all was III dark, cool shadow,
fecked now and then by dancing points
of golden sunlight.
Mingled with the salt breath of the
sea was a faint odor from spathes of
corn colored blossoms high up among
the leaf crowns Beneath these hung
clusters of fruit in all stages of develop
ment, from the size Of marble to that
Of a football. On the ground lay scores
of the great brown, ripened cocoanuts,
of so little value in that tropic land that
no one cared to pick them up. They
were protected by tough three cornered
husks so thick as to more than double
their actual size.
On one of them, turned Oh end, sat
boy wearing g broad brimmed, high
crowned hat of palmetto braid. He was
clad in white cotton shirt and brown
linen trousers turned up at the bottom.
His feet We're bare, and his legs, hands
and face were as brown as all Indians.
He presented an ideal picture of youth
full strength and that perfect health
only to be acquired through out of door
sunshine
His face, generally bright and happy,
was clouded as he sat, with elbows on
his knees, resting his chin in his hands
and gazing out over the glinting waters.
The object On which his eyes were fixed
was a small schooner moored 100 yards
from Shore She was not more than 80
feet over all in length, but was broad
of beam and solidly built.
The month was March, and the beac.
was that of one of those low cut, fertile
Florida keys that form the southern
most limit of the United States terri
tory.
The boy was John Albury, common
ly called Grit, to distinguish him from
the many other John Alburys of that
region.
The schooner was the Polyanthus,
formerly owned by Grit's father, who
had been lost at sea the autumn before
i'll boat belonging to a neighbor.
For many years, while he was a wild
over, Mr.. Albury had only occupied his
home on the key at long intervals,
spending most of the time with his boy
and girl, Grit and Matey, ON board the
Polyanthus wrecking, spoDging, fishing,
while waiting for his cocoanut grove to
come into bearing, and, as he finally
hoped, to yield him an income.
The life proved a very happy one for
all three, and it was a sad day for the
children when it was ended by the ap-
pearance of stepmother, who, coming
from inland ON the mainland, had no
knowledge of nor love for boats or the
water. She was not unkind, but she in
stituted new order Of things, strongly
resented by the sailor boy and girl
Mr.. Albury was persuaded to clear land
and put in a crop. Grit weeded toma-
toes. Matey was made to sew and do
housework, while both children were
taught to read and write.
Now they had very little of the sail
ing that they so dearly loved and for
which they longed, for Mrs. Albury
could see no good in boats. She even
advised her husband to sell the dear old
Polyanthus and ship his crops by the
regular Key West trading schooner, but
this, to Grit's great satisfaction, he
steadily refused to do, though he so far
yielded to his wife's prejudices as to
spend most of his time on shore while
the 'Poly" swung idly at her moorings
When the father was lost at sea in
the dreadful hurricane that nearly
swept away their home as well, Mrs
Albury's aversion to boats became SO
bitter that she would sell the Polyan-
THUS to the first person who would offer
$100 for her.
"But, mother, 800 is ridiculous
price for a fine boat like the Poly"
urged Grit "She can make that in a
single month. -
"She never has since have known
anything about her., replied Mrs AL
bury.
"No, for she hasn't had chance.
You just let me take her, and I'll show
you how much she can make.
"And get drowned like your poor IA
ther and leave me and Matey to tend
the crop No, indeed, sir! You are too
valuable to waste that way. l need you
ashore, and SO do the tomatoes. They'd
bring in more money than any boat
that ever was built; you see if they
don't. I shouldn't be surprised if we
made all of 5000 off the crop this year
and twice that much after we get all OF
the land cleared and planted.
''But boats can make as much as that,
mother and more too. Why, at a
wreck"-
"Nonsensel There aren't any wrecks
nowadays, and if there were what
could a boy like you do at one? No, sir;
YOU stick to tomatoes. They're safe and
sure, and I'll put temptation out of
your way by selling that boat first
chance I get. You'll thank me for it in
the end, see if you DON'T
Now, the fatal day had nearly ar
rived A man in Key West had sent
word that he was coming to look at the
Polyanthus and would probably bay
her if she proved as represented. He
might appear at any moment, and that
was the reason why Grit Albury sat
gazing sadly at the dear boat on that
glorious March afternoon, instead OF
gathering the last Of the tomato crop.