The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-06-18
G:;;ss 90 I $500
$500: ia
TUESDAY.............JUNE Is, 1901.
THE PIRATE SHIP

THE PIRATE SHIP
The house is old and low, the win
dows are broken, the roof is covered
with gray moss. and it sits on the brow
of a hill overlooking the sea in q shell
tered little harb0r on the bleak New
England coast.
Aunt Esther once lived In the old
house, and many were the incidents Of
interest in her quiet life. There she
was born and lived all through her girl
hood and married lfe and only left 1t
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 situ-
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 10
return TO the house till quite late In the
evening. grandma becoming meanwhile
quite exhausted.
But IL is of the adventure Of night
in the old house when Aunt Esther was
Young that grandma has often told me.
Aunt Esther's parents were 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. It's
windows looking out over the sea. They
must have felt little tlmid, for they
took the precaution of drawing a heavy
chest in front of the door In those
DAYS houses were never locked.
Grandma, always light sleeper, was
aroused about midnight Ivy the sound
Of footsteps beneath her window Aft
or a few minutes the outer door open
ed. and the girls. now fully awakened,
heard some one enter aud begin TO look
about the house, opening doors and
finally coming with heavy tread up the
stairs.
can imagine that to have been a
trying moment for them; but. TO their
relief, after coming about half way mp,
the steps paused, and finally the person
went down. Soon, by the stiffness.
grandma knew the person had LETT the
house Then their courage returned,
and, rising, they quickly dressed and
seated themselves by the window.
1t being a comparatively light night,
although there was not a star to be
seen. they saw a large ship riding at
anchor close in to the shore. While they
were wondering over this, for none but
small fishing vessels ever anchored
there and not n 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 a large box. This box was
apparently very heavy, as they stop
ped twice and set It down for 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
ventured to bring their burden ashore.
After an hour had passed the men
returned to the boat. having left the
box. With rapid strokes they soon left
the shore and reached the vessels side
Then the sails were unfurled. and as
silently as she had come the ship left
the little harbor.
Now that all was over the girls lay
down upon their beds and slept until
morning.
When Aunt Esther's parents arrived,
they listened with interest to the story
of the night. Grandmas father, then
an old man. said it was without doubt
pirate ship, and in the strong box
was stored some of their i'll gotten
gains.
Others had seen the ship. Some be-
lated fishermen had seen the boat as
she was rowed away from the shore.
Then began an eager quest to find
the box which 1t 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
deeds, and that being closely threaten
ed with capture he had hidden this
treasure away until such time as he
should return for ii. Parties were or
ganized and search made for the box,
but all without avail. Even many years
after men were known to dig in the
vain hope of finding the buried treas
ure.
One man whose mind was somewhat
unsettled dug a cave within the forest
and here lived a hermit life, searching
always for the hidden gold.
With what awe do the children even
now walk through this grove of trees!
AS they listen to the story the woods
look very dark and gloomy, and they
seem to see the hard faced men dig
glng 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 a night did Aunt
Esther arise from her bed and gaze
out over the pillows in vain hope *
again seeing the pirate ship. All heF
watching was never rewarded. Wheth-
err the pirates-if pirates they were
came and silently took their treasure
away, unseen by any, or whether 1t
rooldarad aUav I'm tho forest shades re-