Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-05-20
Story Of A Lucky Stone

Just where the Acushnet river
stretches it's arms out to meet the blue
waters Of Buzzard's bay can be seen
upon rocky promontory, the re-
mains of an old fort, with its circles
of guns still on guard, though watch
ing naught now but the peaceful scene
where White sails pass and repGss and
Clip out Of sight beyond the horizon.
From this emluence one can look far
out across the bay to the south, while
to the north the eye follows the wind
ings of the river as it threads its sill
yer way inland past the New Bed sord
shores on the left, yying in pictur-
csc ue beauty with those of the Cld-time
whaling town of Fairhaven on the
right This particular spot proved
an alluring place for day-dreamers,
and were the many air-castles built
along the banks Of the historic Acush-
net suddenly to become visible. the
teholder would doubtless imagine the
dawn of a second era of Arabian
magic, and forgetful OF the present,
add one more to the long list of castle
builders.
Such might have been the fate of
Priscilla LIE Baron, a handsome girl
OF IL summers, had she not been alb
sOrbed in the delights of "Bracebridge
Hail. as she half-reclining sat on one
Of the Fort rocks one afternoon IN
August, not many years ago. She
was too much engrOssed in her favor
RI 1vo q.
fancy. She continued to turn paSe
after page, as regardless of sound
(which had she been listening, would
have brought to her ears the voices
Of children calling her nance and to
the efforts FrOEc, her tiny King
Charles spaniel, had been making for
some time to attract her attention.
At last a bright idea seemd to enter
the silky head of her little companion.
and after digging patiently, or rather
Impatiently, at a little distance, he
brought and laid at his mistress's
feet bluishgray stone with a white
band like garter encircling it, With
short bark OF pleasure he sat upon
his launches, the long silk on his
paws waving back and forth in his eff
forts to balance himself Priscilla
was forced now to pay him the atten
ton he demanded, and looking over
her book, rewarded him by throwing
1t hastily aside, and catching Fr0lic
in her arms kissed repeatedly the
tiny head covered with silken clIrls.
You naughty little sinner she
laughingly said, couldn't you let
Missy alone for just a little while?
Now what have you brought me, you
scamp? A veritable lucky stone, I do
believe"
And tuclIing Frolic like a bundle of
silken fluff under her arm she picked
it up. After examining the stone a
moment she said: You are indeed a
clever doggy to bring me such a fine
specimen. | must lose 10 time in
wishing with it what is always upper
most in my heart. Now here it goes
One, two, three and away" and
swiftly as she ceased speaking, she
tossed the stone far into the water
below. There, she said, clasping
Froltc in her arms once more, and
holding his face in both hands, so
that his bright eyes looked into hers,
If there is anything in wishing with
Iucky-stone, you and l Will ere long
cross the ocean to dear old England"
Frolic had been gitt to Priscilla
from her father three years ago upon
his return from the land she loved,
the land of her birth. Priscilla had
lived but six years III her English
home; yet the memory of it's sunny
gardens was still as fresh in her mind
as the green lawns where she had
rOmped with the little brother who had
been laid in the quiet churchyard
ere she, with her father and mother
set sail for America
The inconsistencies that she had felt
upon leaving SO much that was dear
to her had never wholly left the loyal
little Briton, and her early childhood |
increased, as did the years that separ-
ated her from its shores. AS she stood |
now upon the rocks OF Fort Phoenix
with the bloom of girlhood upon her
thoughtful face, q faraway look
crept into her eyes, and she nestled
Frolic close in her arms, laying her
cheek against his wavy locks as she
murmured: Some day-some day"
Priscilla's attitude upon the head |
hnd with the wind blowing fresh in
Fer fair lace, was not unlike that of
2 certain Puritan maiden, who stood !
long years ago as she was standing,
looking, as she was looking, far off
across the water, watching the waves
dancing in the sunlight and the tiny
sails that looked, in the distance. as
ii moored to the horizon.
Unlike her namesake. however, she
was in imminent danger of having her
name enrolled as a castle-builder She
would undoubtedly have become one
had not Frolic saved her from such
tate by his impatience to regain his
liberty. The violent struggles he made
to free himself from her imprisOning
clasp broke the spell, and turning her
gaze from the water, she laughed
merrily at the frantic efforts he was
mags1g to release himself Relaxing
her hold Priscilla let him jump
through her arms, and picking up
the discarded book quickly climbed
10 the top-most rock. She ignored
the small iron ladder rivited in the
almost perpendicular stone, which was
generally used, preferring to scramble
up without such assistance
She turned to take one more look at
the BAY, saving as she did so: Il fear