Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-04-23

a sail for my catbOat, when L heerd
the crowd comm. [ always know 'em
by Miss jules voice. most general
ly could hear that by the time they
left Miss Hollis door. They had
couple of city fellows down from the
city for day, an nothin would do but
I must take 'em sailin.
~ wouldn't have gone, but just at
the last minute little Miss May came
up an TUX my old brown fist in her
two little white paws, an SEE she: Oh,
Uncle Jerry do go! Pm going home
to- morrow, an I want one more sail,
an this is my last chance.
ssThe tide was running out, and the
wind was due east, which made the
white caps fly but put in tack and
and started for the mouth Of the bay.
Just about the time we got out from
under the cliff the squall struck us, an
I saw my mistake. The Foam heeled
over till her storm deck was two feet
under water. I threw her head up
into the wind, but as she came around
a cross sea struck her bow, and when
I looked for Tom to take in sail Tom
was gone. Well, I didn't dare tell
them young things what had happen
ed. looked at little Miss May, and
there she sat, her head on her knees,
her two little hands over her face
somehow she'd never looked so small
before. Just then she raised her
head and I thought she'd gone clean
out of her mind with fear, but it was
nothin of the kind, for the next mo-
ment she says, still jokin like"
"The idea of Toms bein such
coward! Hugh, will you and the boys
get down the sail for the captain?
TOMS below an can't do anything"
'sThen I knew she knew, an that
she saw our danger as plain as I did.
The boys sprang for'ard, but they
hadn't time to reef it, SO they just cut
it away an tried to reef the jib instead.
The mast bent like fishpole, an ev-
cry minute I thought to hear it crack.
Cali this time the water was comm
over the sides, an little Miss May
stood there up to her knees in it,
coaxing those great, healthy boys an
girls, an scoldin when she couldn't
keep 'em quiet without it. Then, as
the boys turned to come aft, the city
Teller lost his footin' an over he went
after Tom. Mr.. Hugh and the other
Teller just looked at each other, an
staggered to their places, and they
ran into Miss May. She didn't
give 'em time to get more scarf. She
jest handed 'em two buckets, and said,
kinder stern:'
"Here, don't be towards. IF we
must die, let's die bravely, but in the
meantime Work.'
"They told me afterwards that her
grandfather was a famous sea captain
that went down standin on the bridge
Of his ship, and I guess she tux after
him, an it came to the top when it
was wanted, cause she was as cool as a
cucumber. AS fast as the others got
scared she grew quiet, an her voice,
that was soft and gentle when she
used to sit beside me, rang like bell
as she told 'em what to do. We were
gettin on now. With that wind at our
backs an the racin cut Of the foam we
couldn't help it. We were in past the
lighthouse, an begun to think we'd
weather it. Just then there was a re-
port like pistol, an I went heel into
leeward with my arm in finders. I |
remember thinkin that it was the end |
o'things, and then tainted.
"When I came to, there was Miss
May an Mr.. Hugh holdin the tiller
with all their might. The derned rope |
7 had used to lash the handle had |
broke. My arm was paining me just
awful, but managed to put my well
shoulder to the wheel, SO to speak,
and found I could help considerable.
The rope had got pushed about the
painter Of the dory an was trailin in
the water behind.
''The girls had kinder walked up, all
but Miss Julie. She couldn't seem to
get over her fear, but there she sat
as white as ghost, with her teeth
begun to be opened then, for he gave
Miss May the queerest look. She met
his eyes, an for moment her bright
new color went away; then she turned
to me and said so pitiful:'
''Poor Uncle Jerry! Hugh, help me
to lash the rudder again; Uncle Jerry
can't stand it much MORE"
'sI moved a little over, an they both
reached for the rope. The next mo-
ment Miss May gave horrid, groan-
in cry, an Mr.. Hugh was in the water
holdin on by the rope. Miss Mays face