Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-06-20
THE PIRATE SHIP

The house Is old and low. the win
dows are broken. the roof Is covered
with gray moss. and il sits on the brow
of a hill overlooking the sea i'm a shell
tered little harber on the bleak New
England coast.
Aunt Esther once lived in the old
house, and many were the incidents or
interest in her quiet life There she
was born and lived all through her girl
hood and married life and only left il
for the little cemetery on the hillside
She had no children. but was dearly
loved by the young people. some OF
whom were nearly always with her.
Aunt Esther was ever busy. When
her great loom In the chamber above.
where she wove cloth for home use and
for sale also. was silent, there were
many things to be done on the farm
Aunt Esther knew just how and where
every rod of their possessions was stu
ated. and they covered an area of sew
eral miles She knew every boundary
Of their woodland. / have heard my
grandma relate how she had gone for
little walk with Aunt Esther just at
sunset. when she became so absorbed
in tracing some boundary line as not TO
return TO the house till quite late in the
evening grandma becoming meanwhile
quite exhausted.
But 1t is of the adventure of a night
in the old house when Aunt Esther was
young that grandma has often told me.
Aunt Esther's parents We're away. and
grandma spent the night with her, the
two girls being the only occupants of
the house. They retired early. sleeping
in the large spare room up stairs, Its
windows looking ont over the sea. They
must have felt a little timid, for they
took the precaution of drawing heavy
chest in front of the door. In those
DAYS houses were never locked.
Grandma, always light sleeper, was
aroused about midnight by the sound
of footsteps beneath her window. Aft
er Il few minutes the outer door open
ed, and the girls, now fully awakened,
heard some one enter and begin to look
about the house, opening doors and
finally coming with heavy tread up the
stairs.
l can imagine that to have been a
trying moment for them; but, to their
relief, after coming about half way up,
the steps paused, and finally the person
went down. Soon, by the stiffness,
grandma knew the person had left the
house. Then their courage returned,
and, rising, they quickly dressed and
seated themselves by the window.
1t being comparatively light night,
although there was not star TO be
seen, they saw a large ship riding at
anchor close In to the shore. While they
were wondering over this, for nome but
small fishing vessels ever anchored
there and not sail had been in sight
when they retired, their attention was
suddenly drawn to two men coming up
from the shore. where they could make
out the outlines of a small boat, with
shovels on their backs and bearing be-
tween them large box. This box was
very heavy, as they stop
ped twice and set it down for a mo-
ment before reaching the woods, Where
they disappeared from sight 1t seemed
that they wanted to be sure of the
house being unoccupied before they
yentured to bring their burden ashore.
After an horr had passed the men
re...-->. 40 the boat, having left the
Don With rapid strokes they soon left
lhe shore and reached the vessels ss7sf
Then the sails were unfn
silently as shyss r s-rs-5ver the girls lay
Sow that apfr beds and slept until
iowp..g.
When Aunt Esther'S parents arrived,
hey listened with interest to the story
f the night. Grandma's father, then
N old man. said it was without doubt
pirate ship, and in the strong box
vas stored some of their Ill gotten
,ains.
Others had seen the ship. Some be-
ated fishermen had seen the boat as
she was rowed away from the shore.
Then began an eager quest to find
The box which IL was believed the men
had buried. Some thought 1t was a
notorious robber of that time. who was
far famed for his bold and daring
leeds. and that being closely threaten
I'd with capture he had hidden this
treasure away until such time as he
should return for It. Parties We're or
yanized and search made for the box,
but all without avail. Even many years
after men We're known to dig in the
vain hope of finding the buried treas
IRE.
One man whose mind was somewhat |
unsettled dug cave within the forest
and here lived a hermit life, searching
always for the hidden gold.
With what awe do the children even
aow walk through this grove of trees!
As they listen to the story the woods |
ook very dark and gloomy, and they
seem to see the hard faced men dig
ying silently in the solemn night. They
imagine all sorts of things the box
might have contained and talk of the
hermit, pointing out the place that was
his care. and they draw a breath of
relief when once they are out of the |
woods into the sunlight again.
In after years many night did Aunt
Esther arise from her bed and gaze
put over the pillows in vain hope of |
lgain seeing the pirate ship. All her
was never rewarded Wheth.
er the pirates-if pirates they were
came and silently took their treasure /
away. unseen by any, or whether ii
noldered away in the forest shades re-
mains an open question.