The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-29

~
~ J Ann of Salem had been repairing and re-
painting and making his craft a
voyage to London and return. The year
1885, and boy and he had been sailing
for over thirty years Altho owned
ana commanded the MARY Ann for years, she
by craft when he got her In making
repairs he had found many signs of weakness and
ne finished his days work and started for home his
knees were stiff and his ached. He reached his
house to find his wife, Nancy supper waiting for
him. and as he took his seat at the table
her critically noticed that there
were gray hairs among the brown her head.
Elisha, have. lost your jackknife heard that
awhile.
sigh. - ~" 81 ''e "o'u VII VIII
'Mabbe ye are comm down with measles Your
mother says We had 'en as a boy"
"Mebbe I am" he gloonily replied
Nancy waited for three minutes to if he had
Nov look here, Elisha know all about it, and i've
bin sort a. spectn' this thing would happen any time
You've bin overhaulin Mary Ann, and you've found
she's growing old, you've found the same thing
of yourself, and you've suddenly me. It has
struck, n you all in heap. and feel over it."
Then by Josh you've hit it," exclaimed the captain,
glad to have an opportunity to talk it over
there amt no call to cry over it. she continued
that it would be our last voyage"
"But how Nancy?"
1t won't be so hard. We purity well off fur COM
mon folks, Elisha. That is, we've got enough money to
start you in ship chandlery, and own house
and lot No fear ear but what Wen out all right We
They talked it over for couple hours it was
fully decided that the MARY Ann, returned to
Salem her last under Captain Hopewe would be
ended Perhaps astrologst might have warned them
that there would be no home coming for he hrig bc
had borne them safely over many leagues Of ocean
but there at hand It got to he
Known over Salem that Captain Hopewell was making
the wharf there big crowd at cheer de-
parure and wish her safe return She headed into
the Atlantic summers afternoon the Massa-
chusetts shores faded behind them Captain said
by Josh, then Nancy, it seems as if peace of
that beef we had fur breakfast had got stuck my
throat!'
we've decided fur best"
For thousand leagues, headed towards the rising
sun, the "Mary Ann" driven never been
driven before There piping breeze and It scarcely
varied point and third Of the had been marked
off when there fell fiat calm. was noon when the
wind died out and the aoft reported ocean
clear of sail AS shutdown came the like glass,
and it the state of affairs midnight when the
watch was changed. The mate went off captain
came on he had been only deck half hour when
Nancy appeared She declared it to be too hot
Sleep In calm in mid night strange
and uncanny sounds from the of a ship as she
lazily heaves the and barrels
down in the hold rub each other, creak and
hmbers groan and and then there shr squeaks
from the fighting rats. VIII sleep during a calm
breathe stentorously, sigh groan and then
the wakefu about uneasily and cast an
prehensve glances the
Nancy walked aimlessy about for awhile, and then
rested her arms the rail and gazed off into
and let her thoughts wander back home. been
silent for quarter of an hour when she sudden
bent listen. Captain happened
to note her attitude and he crossed
queried:
WALL Nancy, dye think anybody will steal the .
woodple while we're gone this trip"
I'm listenin, Elisha" she replied she laid hand
his Cant Lotto rIocks off ;
here to the north?" 1@f -
cts noise in the hold answered after lis
tening minute 49,
mo, it's not There-there-dont you catch il?
by Josh do! YES it sounds like oars at work but
how earth boat be out there?"
IT dunno, but there one Now you git the sounds
palmer. boat tell you pulling at least
four She must be from wreck, you'd better
light lantern and lash It in riggin to guide ,em
A as SlIpp tod
had scarcely thrown it's light waters when
there hail from half dozen throats once Cap
tain Hopewel answered it, and within five minutes every
of the crew of the Mary Ann wide
awake with curiosity The halls repeated inter
of half an hour big yaw1 with twelve their
donnage in it drew alongside the Mary Ann
tBy Josh, then, a crew Oft utch1neni..
claimed Captain Hopewe as he peered in the boat
He right They were big and sturdy men who
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