The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-05-03
THE RATHER IN Blue,
And How She was Picked mp by Sailor at
Nantasket.

Nantasket.
BIZ Kate BroIcIsIco Sherwood.
The beach at Nantasket was smooth and
moist. ,rashed and beaten and secured by the
5noraiue tide The afternoon sun shone hotly,
and groups of children and men and women OF
larger growth were resting in the cottages
nestliE. among the rocks.
BIZ and by they weat clambering up and
down the stone steps leading to the lighthouses,
Ind came down in all sorts Of fantastic attire
the women and children with broad rough straw
hats tied under their chins.
The evening tide came in slowly, and they
went out to meet it. The waves were mere
Yufies now. but at every retreat they gathered
new force like boys playing leap frog, running
back TO get a good ready add then coming
Storming and tumbling down one over another.
Far cut in the heavug water some sailors
were swimming in the heavy water. Their
heads were bare and shGvky, set on thick necks
above broad, massive shoulders. and the muscles
Of their legs and arms were like wrought steel,
as they cut through the buffeting waves.
Their clinging garments were sleeveless and
came but half way to their knees, and they
were like sea gods in their pride and splendid
defiance of the huffeting waves.
One of the men was Young, with cuTled
head like the young Apollo, and his features
we're as clear cut outlined against the sky, az
he sprang upright from the waves, only to
plunge down and away, to rise long distances
farther ont at sea.
The motley company of bathers advanced,
Some timidly at first and then with new-fouBd
courage going out 10 where the last incoming
wave had spent itself and waiting expectantly
Tor the next, which they knew would dash and
curl about their legs, snd throw them OF their
feet did they not look out.
When the waves came in there was great
screaming, and some plunged boldly into the
surf and the swimmers launched out and away
Il.
eplCttering undeTtoW and picked up shells and
1eawsed, and clapped tn cir little hands with
delight
Down the rocky steps came laughing group,
Infringing across the sands. aud without stop
ping and with their left shoulder turned to the
sea, literally threw themselves into its watery
arms They were Old halhers, and they knew
and loved The sea, and swan about like the
sailors themselves, as though their home was
on the briny deep.
There were three OF them, all girls, and the
groups upon the shore growing larger every
moment, cheered them heartily, and the pant
ing panicky company of nondescript hathers
who had, in an uRgBsrded moment, got too far
out into the surf, came padding out TO see what
1t was all about.
The bathers were dressed in three colors:
one in blue one in buG, and another in red,
and as they darted in aud out it was like the
Gashing of rainbows over the slver-crested
syaves. The sailors, quite forgotten now. had
gwam farther down the bay, and the surf was
quite given over to the sirens of the sea.
Over the water, under the water flying,
GOating. plungiBg, went the bathers of blue,
and bud, and red. with a regular motion, as
though timing themselves TO an orchestra; one
could almost hear the sea songs TO which their
Rhythmic motions were set.
But as they went up and down, in and out,
Suddenly the bather in blue failed to come up,
and great fear fell upon all the bebolders
The hathers in buff and red stopped their
Gambols and now 3 cry went up where there
was cheer.
The sailors, who had left the water and were
standing on the beach, some distance of, had
seen the rhythmic colors cease and now the
young Apollo was ia the water swimming to
the rescue, his associates following rapidly
after
Twice had the blne come to the surface be-
fore the sailors reached the spot, and bow for
the third time, and they were not yet ct her
side. But the color was seen by them, and
down under the water they all went, while
cheers and cries followed them from the shore.
Then they came Up and out, and in his stall
wart arms the young Apollo bore the bsther in
blue, carrying her TO cottage on the lower
cliffs, where sWarms Of interested and sympg.
tbetie souls dispensed that care that in times
Of great disaster rises above the human and APP
breaches the divine.
And then what happened? says the little
girl at my elbow. What. indeed but the old
sweet story Of love born of romance, for the
world is not all hard and dry and wrinkled all
over. like a sailors biscuit.
And when next the young Apollo took his
ship and went TO sea the batber in blue went,
too. And the sirens sing sweeter sea songs be-
cause she sails the ocean with him, for the sea
folk are not all deal, or petrifed into coral
reefs. either.
And those who live on the high seas have as
warm hearts as those who journey over prairie
lands and mountains. and just as sweet sur
prises come TO them every day.