The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-30
THE BOTTLED LETTER.

Twill venture TO say that no two boys
eyer made as much money in one yaca-
zion a. did my cousin, James Milber, and
myself in the one that has just passed.
This year remained at home; and liv-
ing nj Pawtuxet where there is bathing,
rowing, fishing and many other sports TO
enjoy / was not entirely without some
means by which ! could speno my vaca-
tiop pleasantly.
NV cousin from Abbott Run spent one
month with me and 1t was in the first
week OF his stay that we made the dis
covery of which am about to tell you,
He came to my home on the nth oil
August and remained until the second OF
September.
An old fisherman of my acquaintance
named Tom Peters, but whom everybody
called sold Tom, had promised TO take
ms out fishing for one day and as Thurs
day, three days after the arrival OF my
cousin. was more convenient than any
other day for him we decided TO go then.
He having lines, bait, and all things
necessary for a fishing trip, we bad moth
ing to do but be at his boat at O'Clock
sharp.
We were so eager to go when the morn
ing OF our intended trip arrived that we
could not wait till the time decided upon,
but started rather early and arrived at
the boat at hslfpast seven. Old Tom had
not gotten there yet, so we sat down 10
wait. The old fisherman came very soon
after, and, everything being ready Tor
an immediate start, bade us jump into
his rowboat. which was tied near by. ana
rowed us to the sailboat. We leaped into
il and Old Tom leaving me TO fasten the
rowboat behind went forward and un-
fastened the bowline. He then hoisted
sail and as q rather stiff breeze was blow
ing, filling the sail TO its utmost, we went
scudding along at very fair rate OF
speed.
When we had sailed about an hour,
which brought us very near Rocky Point,
Old Tom hauled down the sail and drop
ped the anchor. We then went to hshing.
Such luck / had never seen before. AS
soon as James had dropped his line into
the water, he being the first to bait, ne
felt tug and pulling in his line he found
he had caught flatfish weighing about
seven pounds. SO the luck ran. There
must have been very large school OF fish
Just there, for we were kept busy batting
our hooks and taking of fish until 8
O'Clock, when we started for home.
Nothing worth mentioning occurred
until we were very near the sold Beacon
at Pawtuxet. Then as James was looking
over the si de into the water no saw a
bottle float by ana thinking he could
distinguish something white inside turn
cd and told the old skipper and me what
he had seen. The thought instantly came
10 me OIL Wuht Il uho hcuiu htb >
letters being sent by means OF bottles
from ships about to be lost, and thinking
perhaps the object which had just hoated
by was from such q vessel l drew the
rowboat near enough for me to jump in
and rowed back In search of the bottle.
had rowed about five minutes when l
perceived Ii Just ahead of me-, / there
fore drew as nearly as / could judge to 1t,
but unfortunately was about two feet
away. But thinking / could reach far
enough to obtain 1t, did not alter the
course of the boat, but leaned over the
side and seized the bottle, but just as
did SO the boat turned over, having hac
too much weight on one side, for i had
TO lean quite far over. There i was in
about ten feet of water and could not
swim, for had never learned now. But
luckily for me the old skipper bad turned
and followed me and was near me when
fell in. SO that he could seize and pull
me into his boat. What sight i must
have looked with my clothes wet through
and clinging to my body as though they
were fitted for skin-tights instead OF loose
fitting garments.
How glad was that we were SO near
home, that did not have to sit long be-
fore / would be able TO change my
clothes for we were only about ten min
utes' sail from the mooring place OF Old
Toms boat. But there, ! am straying
from my story.
When they had gotten me into the boat
and had secured the smaller one behind,