The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1908-02-14
Sam Matthews
Ghost
How Ii Warned Captain Ezra

at T wharf looked bleak and cheer
less; but they were very comfortable
under matches. In the cabin of the
schooner Emily Parsons brisk fire
was burning in the round stove, and
the odor of tobacco so appetizing to
those who like 1t scented the air.
Capt. Ezra Parsons, in comfortable
chair, with his feet upon the stove
fender, was pulling upon villainous
looking pipe, while reclining upon one
of the hunks which lined the cabin
was Seth jenkins, and half a dozen
members of the crew were distributed
about the little room.
Kind o. snug here" said Seth Jen-
kins with grunt of content Just the
same l wouldn't like to be outside
the bay in this"
"The Emily is as safe as a church in
any kind OF weather" said Capt. Ezra.
"Course she gets a little wet now and
tLen, but you expect that. | wouldn't
change her for the White House, no
sir"
We'll" said Seth. faint likely that
Roosevelt IL ask yer to swap. | don't
like these wet ships myself"
You don't?" sneered Capt Ezra.
well, | don't see you ownin' or com
mandin' any dry ones or wet ones
either. Just pass that bottle this
way"
Il don't know If l ought to let you
have it," hesitated Seth. Spirits
amt good for a man with your hot
temper. First thing you know you'll
be seem things, snakes and green
bugs and maybe ha'nts."
Ezra acquired the bottle and poured
himself liberal drink.
Il saw a ghost. once" said Capt.
Ezra.
There was sensation. Several Of
the boys sat up in their berths, and
the Nova Scotia man jumped out upon
the deck. Only Seth laughed.
Il knew you'd be seem things if
you took another drink" he said
Tell us about it, cap" said the
Nova Scotian.
faint much of story" said Ezra,
but it happened, all right. Any O.
you boys remember Sam Matthews?
Well he was an old dory mate O.
mine, and one O. the whitest lads that
ever breathed. We sailed under Capt
Duncan Mccain in the schooner
Cheyenne, one of the fastest boats out
o Gloucester 10 years ago.
Sam and me had some fine times
together and some tough ones; but
the last was one January day. We set
out from the ship in the mornin' with
! not a drop to drink or bite to eat in
jthe dory. We set our travis and tend
~ them till about noon when fog
Game on and we started for the ship.
She was gone and We couldn't find
her We was so miles from shore
with wind and tide against us and
it was bitter cold. Sam wasn't easily
scared but he SEE to me: L guess it's
all day with us, Ezra, and | couldn't
see much chance for us. But we
started to row ashore, and we.~rowed
until our hands was blistezred terrible,
and the salt water wS5uld get into the
blisters.
The first da<Fwe couldn't ha' made
\2O miles~( That night it come on to
ow and I'VE shipped so much water
our clothes froze on us. That day
we couldn't ha' gone ten miles and we
wasn't sure we were goin' right. We
both was so weak we couldn't hardly
keep at the work, but somehow we
was able to live till mornin'. Then
Same give in and lay down in the bot
tom and l couldn't get him up. 'Taint
no use, mate he said, we've got to
CO. In a little while he died. Not an
hour after we was picked up. / got
we'll but | lose toe from frostbite
never forgot Sam, and always kept
thinkin if he only could ha' held on
an hour more.
"A little later | bought the Emily
Parsons and took her out. | guess it
was five years after that | was on
Browns bank gettin' fish, and started
foi home. There came on a thick fog
- and a heavy sea, and | had to go by
res konin', but | knew the place pretty
we'll and 7 thought | was goin right.
7 remember it JUS. as plain as can be.
| was at the wheel, Joe Willis was
forward as lookout, everybody else
was below. 1t was just about mid
night All of a sudden | seen a man
standin' alongside o me in oilskins,
drippin' with wet. He looked up and
ii was Sam Matthews.
Il was so scared ! could hardly hold
the wheel, and | could only look at
him. His face was terrible pale, just
as he looked when he died
Ezra, old friend he seq to me.
DO you know where you're goin'?
You're goin straight for Cape Sable.
an you'll be on the beach in five min
utes. Get your anchors out Then
he seemed to kind O. fade away and /
was alone ! let out a yell that
brought the whole crew up, an l got
them anchors out in a jiffy. But we
dragged and dragged, and it seemed
hours before they held. The men
thought | was crazy; but I wouldn't
tell them nothin', but went down and
drank near a quart of whisky. The