Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-04-06

our local sons Of Neptune when they
happened to the .'other feiler". The un-
lucky wight who was hung up on the
triangles was always the butt OF all the
rest, who seemed to be otlivious to the
fact that similar fate was sure to over
take the last one of them sooner or later
in the course of their navigating.
Because our homes were far from the
centers of society, do not for moment
believe that we did not have our recrea-
tions. Several times in the summer, after
haying was over and the powers that were
could turn their attention to lesser
matters, some schooner that happened to
be in the harbor was chartered; q general
invitation was issued and nearly the en-
tire community would start for . days
sail, leaving behind only those who, were
superannuated or those who, from q
chronic disposition to sea-sickness, felt
discretion to be the better part Of valor".
1t was usually the Merchant or the Massa-
soft, with kindly 'Capt. Luther at the
helm, that took US down to Long Island,
where the fish were only too glad to be
caught; where CLAIMS were to be had for
the digging, and the moss covered lodges
were blue with berries.
Mrs. Herrick, of Bethel, who has
written the most delightful "reminiscences
OF Bluehill that it has been my happy for
tune to read, says Of these expeditions:
II never expect to experience anything SO
delightful as those cruises. We used to
60 through the narrows away out into the
the big bay, end land usually on Long
island to have dinner. One could not
come in our larger craft very near the
beach, so had to be set ashore in small
boats; that was wildly exciting! There
was deep sense Of responsibility if ones
father was at the helm. The old sea- dogs
used to chaff each other about the man
agement of the craft, and never felt COM
fortably sure how much of it was fun.
Once ''she" careened 80 shockingly that
the picnic baskets all rolled down to the
starboard side and water broke in over the
rail upon them. One good lady declared
with tears that she wished she had never
left the washtub. OF course, in her
fright, she got little mixed. No woman
in good and regular standing ever washed
on any day but Monday, and in an ortho-
dox community no pleasure excursion was
ever planned for day set apart to those
sacred rites. But did not stop to anslyze,
and her wild lament sent terror to my
soul''.
have vivid recollection of this same
voyage-for you may be sure was there
and to this day remember how held on
with grasp Of desperation to spoke
Of the wheel where Capt. Meltiah Chase
was steering. remember, too, when the
furry was over, his saying to me, with an
unmistakable twinkle OF the eye: "Scared,
Carrier" Scared! wonder that l ever
again mustered courage to dare the
dangers OF the mighty deep! And the
light OF matured years and knowledge and
that twinkle make me question whether it
was entirely an off-shore wind which laid
us so unceremoniously upon our beam
ends that day!
Then came the picnic dinner under the
trees bordering the smooth, white beach.
Will any caterer in this broad land ever
be able to set forth such viands as were
brought proudly out from the Indian
baskets and bright tin pals? And could
any FISH chowder measure up to those
concocted by "Uncle Lote"? And as for
clam bakes! Those even Of Providence, X.
l., where they originated, could not be
thought OF, even in the same day with
those presided over by Mr.. Newton and
Fred Stevens. Such coffee as was brewed
over the blazing campfire! Its aroma
comes down to me through the long years
that intervene.
And the folks, the friends and neigh bors;
every face is pictured on my memory sharp
and clear-cut as a cameo. After the
luncheon, and everybody had had some Of
every body else's, and the fragments gath
cred up, then came the fun. The songs
that were sung, the stories that were told,
and the jokes that went around! What
matter if the flavor was little chest
nutty? They called forth the laugh just
the same; laughs came easily then. We
had our acknowledged ways. Was there
ever such another Tom as Tom Hinckley,
with a wit as sharp as razor? And on
the feminine side was Aunt Emma Chase,
who was no whit behind him. When those
two measured repartee it was worth being
there to hear.
I wish l had time to speak of all our
town characters; they were legion. There
were Ben and Job Clough, father and son,
wood savers in ordinary to the entire
community. l can see Ben now trudging
by after his days work with his bag OF
-four on his back; he never got together
the wherewithal to pay for an entire bar
rel at time. He was like the wandering
Jew in his travels, and must have walked
the distance around the world many times
between the village and his home near the
.'mines".
We all have vivid recollection OF Seth
Trundy. His place Of abode was in Surry,
/ think, but he had adopted us, and his