Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-01-17
an ELaBORaTE EL0PEWENT.

1t was fine, clear day in June,
when Hezekiah Lewis, captain and
part owner of the schooner Thames,
bound from London to Aberdeen,
anchored off the little out of the way
town Of Oxford, in Suffolk. Among
other antiquities the town possessed
Hezekiah' widowed mother, and
when there was no very great hurry
the world went slower in those days
the dutful son used to go ashore in
the ships boat, and after filial tap
at his mothers window, which often
startled the old lady considerably,
pass on to see a young lady to whom
he had already proposed five times
without effect.
The mate and crew of the schooner,
seven all told, drew up in little
knot as the skipper, in his shore
going clothes. appeared OH deck, and
regarded him with an air of grinning
mysterious interest.
Now you all know what you have
to do?" queried the stranger
"Ay, ay, !" replied the crew, grin
ming still more deeply.
Hezekiah regarded them closely,
and then ordering the boat to be
lowered, scrambled over the side and
was pulled swiftly toward the shore.
A sharp scream and a breathless
'Lawk-a-mussy me" as he tapped
his mothers window, assured him
that the old lady was alive and we'll,
and he continued on his way until
he brought up at small, but pretty,
house in the next road.
Morning, Mr.. Rumbolt," said he
heartily, to stout, red faced man
who sat smoking in the doorway.
Morning, Cap'n, morning." said
the red faced man.
us the rheumatism any better? "
inquired Hezekiah, anxiously, as he
grasped the others huge hand.
" So, so" said the other, "but it
ain t the rheumatism what troubles
me-" he resumed, lowering his voice
and looking round cautiously, "it's
Kate"
what ?" asked the skipper.
you've heard of q man being
henpecked ?" continued Mr.. Rum
bolt, in tones of husky confidence.
The captain nodded.
"I'm chickpecked," murmured the
other.
WHAT" inquired the astonished
mariner again.
"Chickpecked, repeated Mr.. Rum
bolt, firmly. "D'ye understand me?"
The captain said that he did, and
stood silent awhile, with the air of a
man who wants to say something,
but is half afraid to speak. At last,
with desperate appearance of reso-
luton, he bent down to the old mans
ear.
That's the deaf un,' said Mr..
Rumbolt promptly.
Hezekiah changed ears, speaking
at first slowly and awkwardly, but
becoming more fluent as he warmed
with his subject, while the express
sion of his listeners face gradually
changed from incredulous bewilder-
ment to one of uncomfortable mirth.
He became so uproarious that he was
fain to push the captain away from
him and lean back in his chair and
choke and laugh until he nearly lost
his breath. at which crisis remark
ably pretty girl appeared from the
back Of the house and patted him
with hearty good will.
"That'll do, my DEAR" said the
choking Mr.. Rumbolt. Here's Cap
tain Lewis"
II can see him." said his daugh-
ter, calmly. whats he standing
on one leg for?"
The skipper, who really was stand
ing in a somewhat constrained atti-
tude, colored violently and planted
both feet firmly on the ground.
Being as / was passing close in,
Miss Rumbolt," said he, " and COM
ing ashore to see mother
To the captains discomfort MASH
festations OF further attack on the
part of Mr. Rumbolt appeared, but
were promptly quelled by the daugh-
ter.
Mother" she repeated, encour-
agingly.
IL thought I'd come on and ask
you just to pay a sorto O. flying visit
to the Thames"
THANK you, I'm comfortable
enough where am" said the girl.
eve got a couple of monkeys and
bear aboard which I'm taking to
menagerie in Aberdeen" continued
the Captain, land the thought
struck me you might possibly like to
see EN-"
"Well, / don't know" said the
damsel in fiutter; is it a big
bear?"
Have you ever seen an elephant?"
inquired Hezekiah, cautiously.
"Only in pictures, said the girl.
"Well, it's as big as that, nearly"
said he.
The temptation was irresistible,
and Miss Rumbolt, telling her father
that she should not be long, disap-
peared into the house in search of her
hat and jacket, and ten minutes later
the brawny rowers were gazing their
fill into her deep blue eyes, as she sat
in the stern Of the boat and told
Lewis to behave himself.
1t was but short pull out to the
schooner and Miss Rumbolt was soon
on the deck, lavishing endearments
on the monkey and theoretically
prodding the bear with handspike
to make him growl. The noise Of
the offended animal as he strove to
get through the bars Of his cage was