Year: 1878

A Mothers Boy.


"Motherm


The loud, bOyish voice rang through
| the quiet house. The mother, sewing
in her sunny chamber, heard but did
not answer; she knew by long expert
ence that the Ill was only Il courier
sent on in advance to announce the
coming of him whose feet were even
then bounding up the stairs, and who
burst into the room with all the noise
it is possible for an active boy of four
teen to make in that simple act.


"Mother, Uncle Charlie is going blue
fishing, and wants me to go with him /;
may p


Her eyes rested upon him moment
before she gave consent. He was 'the
only son of his mother, and she was Il
widow" His father, and several others
of his kindred, lay beneath the waves.
Perhaps she thought of them as she
gazed so fondly upon his face, glowing
with health and animation. But he had
spent half of his summer life in and
upon the water she did not think of
refusing his request-only added to her
consent Il hope that he would be care
ful.


"Oh, mother there isn't bit of dan
ger with such Il sailor as Uncle Charlie
besides if | do get tipped over, | can
swim ashore; why, could swim from
here to the Neck !"


81 should not want you to try such Il
swim as that, Frankly"


Frank turned to go, bnt paused, per
haps the mothcr-look drew him back
he stole shyly to the back of her chair,
and leaning over her, kissed her fore
head hurriedly, and then ran away.
| The unusual careSs warmed her heart,
and the thought of it WAS Il comfort to
him before the day was over.


Capt. Charlie was waiting, and they
started hiskly for their walk of Il mile
to the shore. The Captain was Il young
man still but Il Sunstroke received while
OH duty in Il hot climate, had disabled
bim from active service, and indeed
from prolonged or violent exertion OF
any kind. Frank liked nothing better
than to he with him, he had 50 many
stories to tell of tol eign countries and
hair breadth escapes at sea; besides he
could tell him stories of his father-hi>
brave, noble father-of whom his mother
could not speak without tears. He
|
he had come like good providence
with wonderful gifts, and the few weeks
of his stay had been one joyful holiday
time, with visits and merry makings
the little boy always ut his fathers side
''to get acquainted" the Captain said
Then had come the pan ting, and then
counting up OF months, and weeks, and
days, until his return. Alas the last
1.I IL, |,
of despair.


But sorrow, thank God cannot stay
long with the young, and Frank, walk,
ing by his uncle's side, with many 8
skip and bound of overfiowing life, was
us happy as could be. Before reaching
the shore, they saw man with lines
apparently bent upon the same errand
us themselves. They recognized him
us Josiah Smith, Il man of many Occu-
pations beside that of fisherman.


"Going blue fishing, 81 p said the
Captain, as they overlook him.


''Ya as. eff | can find boat it's a
good day fort" drawled shiftless Si.
Capt. Charlie thought of the wife and
two little children to be supported by
his uncertain earnings, and good ma
turedly offered him a place in his boat
which was accepted, and they were
soon off and ready for business.


Boys, did you ever go blue fishing
If so, you would have said there could
not be finer day for the sport than
that which Frank and his uncle had
taken. 1t was cool day in early au-
tumn the sky was deeply blue, the
sun often obscured by flying clouds, and
the northwest wind blowing briskly.
On such day step into your boat, give
all the sail she will carry, let out your
lines astern, then, as the boat bounds
along, the greedy fish jump at the bait,
and you have nothing to do but to take
them in us fast as you please is not
this better than to float leisurely about,
hour after hour, in the common way OF
fishing?


The sport proved to be all that the
day had promised. Back and forth
through the bay the boat flew-the fish
shOaled behind the fishers had all they
could do to attend to the lines, and did
not notice that the clouds become
darker and more threatening, until a
gust of wind tipped the boat over 81
much that the water poured in over hel
side.


eve must haul in sail ~ cried the
captain, springing up and shouting out
orders to Frank, who was unlocking a
fish, and the slow-moving 'Siah.


Too late! Another and a stronger
gust completely capsized the boat, and
her three late occupants struggled in
the water. OF course they could swim
no boy nor man in the little sea-coast
town of Dunkirk could not-and they
, M aIa for tha hnnt uhiah AnofaI
up and supported themselves as well as
they could upon the slippery bottom
The next thing to do was to take a re-
view of the situation, and determine
what was best to be done. They were
in the channel, distant about three quar-
ters of a mile from the main shore, and
somewhat nearer the "Neck" Ga long
sandy cape, inclosing the bay upon the
northern side.) The water was intense.