Evening journal., 1898-04-09
WAYFARER'S NOTE BOOK
Things, Pleasant and Unpleas-
ant, Caught on the Way.

ant, Caught on the way.
sKITs ON PERSONS AND THINGS
If YOU READ THEM BEFORE SUP
PER THEY WILL AID YOUR d.
GESTION, BUT THERE IS MOTH
ING PUT IN THEM TO LULL YOU
TO SLEEP.
TALE OF JOHN KINSEY CORDREY.
More than hundred years ago there
lived near old Cape Henlopen John
Kinsey Cordrey. Short thickset ana
sturdy, he was a typical Sussex farmer.
The merry winds from the broad Al
lantic and the ardent rays OF Della
wares Summer suns had painted his
skin a rich bronze, brown hair waved
back from a broad, low forehead, but
the avaricious CLEAN in his handsome
brown eyes told that the chief aim OF
his existence was bargaining ana
money making
Old John Kinsey Cprdrey loved his
possessions All his pride and JOY and
Nblt were bbulN UP III HIS b'ohNAA bii
fertile farm. His very soul was CEN
tered in his broad, level acres Of golden,
waving grain, his herds Of fine cattle
and his vast pine forests.
Every morning, with his hands thrust
deep in his pockets, he walked forth to
survey his possession. Truly it was
a goodly one. There, on a slight rise,
stood the long, rambling old farm
house. hipped-roOfed and shingle-cOv-
cred, the material having been brought
from merrie England Its quaint, tiny
paned windows of greenish looking
glass sparkled in the sunlight, and not
leaf Uttered the wide. well-kept walks,
bordered by big black walnut trees and
Lombardy poplars. Inethe distance the
dark, velvety green of the pines showed
against the soft blue OF the skies, and
on the other hand the fields of golden
grain almost met the silyery waves Of
the Atlantic. Small wonder was it that
John Kinsey Cordrey's heart thrilled
with the knowledge that all this was
his own. But, AleXander-like, he long
ed, not for more worlds TO conquer, but
for more acres to till, for more gold in
his Golfers.
One night there ragged fearful
storm. There were many signals for
help from stricken ships, but to none
did old John Kinsey Cordrey harken.
The next morning, as was his custom,
he rose with the sun and walked out to
view the land and gloat over his pos
sessions.
lie saw more. on what is now
known as the Hen and Chickens shoals.
he saw a Danish bark, helpless and
slowly sinking beneath the snowy
capped waves. Two poor, perishing
salons still clung to the masts of the
wrecked ship, and when they saw John
kinsey Cordrey they called to him. en-
treating and imploring him to rescue
them. But he turned a deaf ear to their
pleadings. He stood, with his hands
down in his trousers pockets. and
coldly denied them his assistance.
Then fair-haired Danish sailor. in
his agony and despair, cursed John
kinsey Cordrey, and all of his name
forever He called on high Heaven Ia
near his prayer that the sea might
claim for its ownaevery foot of the fair
lapd lowned by the hard, cruel man
who. had seen men perish without lift.
ing his hand to help them.
That curse has been fulfilled Iohr
kinsey Cordrey died an unhappv
Wretched man, with the dying sailors
curse ringing In his ears. or all his
broad, beautiful land, not one foot re.
mains The sea has encroached. littl,
py httle, foot by foot, day by day. yeal
py year; the sands have washed IN apf
piled and piled. until only the very ton,
OF the highest trees are to be seen on
that mighty hill Of sand. which wa,
Onee peasant pine forest.