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 THE ROMANTIC STORY 
 
 DAVID ROBERTSON, 
 
 AMONG THE ISLANDS, OFF AND ON THE 
 COAST OF MAINE. 
 
 BY 
 
 CAPT. JOHN PENDLETON FARROW. 
 
 ISI.ESBORO, MAINE. 
 
 BELFAST, MAINE: 
 
 PRESS OF BELFAST AGE PUBLISHING COMPANY, 
 1898.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 The following interesting story, strongly protrays 
 the life and customs among the hardy sailors and fisher- 
 men, who fiftv years ago were to be found along our 
 entire New England coast. It is written in that 
 dialed, and with phrases then common with those 
 hardy followers of the sea. The story was written by 
 Capt. John P. Farrow of Islesboro, who for many years 
 has lived and followed the ocean with these people, 
 whose deeds of daring and heroism have done so much 
 to enrich American history. Capt. Farrow was born 
 in Islesboro, and received a liberal education at Belfast, 
 Maine, and at Cambridge, *Mass. At an early age he 
 began following the ocean, and being a great student of 
 human nature and possessed of a retentive memory he 
 retired after a long and honorable career on the ocean, 
 with a well stored mind of incidents and reminiscences, 
 which he put into manuscript form, and at the solicita- 
 tion of his friends he consented to place this book before 
 the public. In writing this book he has drawn but 
 little from imagination, as all of the principal aclors 
 were people who were known personally to the author. 
 In placing this book before the public it is confidently 
 believed that the reader will find much of historical in- 
 terest and value and preserve a history of a people who 
 were once a distinctive class, but who today are fast 
 conforming to modern forms and ways, by a closer con- 
 tact with a busy world which is fast encroaching upon 
 their hitherto secluded homes. F. I. W. 
 
 COPYRIGHT A1TL1KD FOR.
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 REMINISCENCES and history of David 
 Robertson who spent more than twenty 
 years on an island situated on the eastern 
 coast of Maine, occupying his time in summer 
 in his fishing boat with his gun and dog, being 
 upwards of seventy years of age before he 
 received his orders from the Great Com- 
 mander for his watch below. 
 
 David was born near one of the tributary 
 streams of the Kennebec River in Maine, in 
 the year 1815. His father came of the 
 Puritan stock and was a- strong advocate for 
 the purity of his religion. He did not 
 believe in sparing the rod and spoiling the 
 child. David came in for more than his 
 share of the rod in his own estimation. 
 David seemed or appeared to "take out of
 
 4 THK HOMANTK STORY OK DAVID KOBKKTSOX. 
 
 kin," making very little talk and being quiet 
 and reserved in manners, while his noisy 
 brothers generally managed to have the 
 blame laid on David when things went wrong. 
 
 His mother would sometimes advoeate 
 David's cause, but generally let Mr. Robertson 
 correct the children as he thought best, her 
 time being occupied with looking after the 
 small children, one for every other year of 
 her married life, with the last one or baby in 
 her arms shoving his little fist in her hair 
 trying to see how much he could pull out. 
 
 One day David saw Mrs. Brown's geese in 
 his father's grain field. He threw a stone at 
 them and unexpectedly killed one of the 
 geese. He immediately went to Mrs. Brown 
 and offered to do anything that he could for 
 her to pay the damage, saying to her he was 
 very sorry. Mrs. Brown said to him, "Never 
 mind, say nothing about it." Sometime after, 
 his father hearing about it gave David a
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBKRTSON. ^ 
 
 whipping because he had not told him. 
 David in reply said, " There must be some 
 place better than home for me,'' brooding 
 over his wrongs that were real or imaginary, 
 the whole winter. 
 
 What few days he could go to school he 
 studied hard and excelled in mathematics and 
 geography, with his mind made up that it would 
 be his last winter at home. Things went from 
 bad to worse and his father gave him more of 
 the drudgery to do than was his share "to take 
 the sulks out of him " he said. 
 
 He did not understand David when all he 
 wanted was a kind word or some encourage- 
 ment; then how willingly he would have 
 done his duty, but the blue laws of those 
 days must be obeyed, viz. spare the rod and 
 spoil the child. 
 
 This winter of 1828 was the mildest ever 
 known. Mr. Robertson was employed at cut- 
 ting logs to haul to the saw mill to make boards
 
 6 THK ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 and shingles to build a framed house to take 
 the place of the log house built by his father. 
 
 David now being thirteen years old was 
 large enough to do the teaming, with two 
 yoke of oxen, to the mill five miles away, 
 making two trips a day. His father could 
 not spare him from the team to go to school, 
 as Mr. Robertson's means were limited with 
 his large family. 
 
 Everything they ate besides barley bread 
 and potatoes with milk, was considered a 
 luxury. Mr. Robertson gave his son David 
 no praise, but was quick to censure him if 
 anything went wrong. 
 
 David being sensitive and doing more 
 thinking than talking, became moody and 
 peevish, his disposition soured which lasted 
 him to a certain extent all through his life, 
 but a kinder boy or man the sun never shone on.- 
 Here can be applied the old maxim with truth. 
 '' Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined."
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 7 
 
 The spring was early and labor hard and 
 unremitting was the lot of Mr. Robertson and 
 his family, while Mrs. Robertson had to cook, 
 wash, spin, weave and take care of her dairy. 
 If she had had time to think, it would have 
 discouraged a saint, but born of hardy New 
 England stock, she went about her work with 
 a cheerful animated countenance, and when 
 a neighbor would drop in for a few minutes' 
 chat, her pleasant face beamed with happi- 
 ness and her tongue run nineteen to a dozen. 
 
 On winter evenings, the family sitting 
 around the old fireplace, with half a cord of 
 wood piled on the fire dogs, seemed to enjoy 
 life, notwithstanding the hardships they had 
 to endure. Such was the home David was 
 about to leave, and in after years the old 
 kitchen would come vividly to his mind 
 when sitting in his cabin, and the scene was 
 never forgotten by him as long as he lived. 
 
 In the early spring, no busier place could
 
 8 TMK ROMANTIC STOKY OK DAVID ROBKKTSON. 
 
 be found than the Robertson homestead get- 
 ting ready to build the new house, and on 
 no account must the farm work be neglected. 
 So up and at it early and late were Mr. Rob- 
 ertson and his boys. Inheriting the vigorous 
 constitution of their Scotch, Irish and English 
 ancestors, they were capable of enduring pri- 
 vations and hardships of the severest kind; but 
 the hard work and meager fare was at last too 
 much even for David's inherited constitution. 
 
 One afternoon when plowing in the field he 
 said to his father, " I am sick and want to go 
 home and tomorrow I will be able to finish 
 the plowing." His father replied, "David, 
 you are sulky and want to shirk your work," 
 but reluctantly told him to put the team up 
 and go home. Next day David was taken 
 down with a fever. 
 
 This was the last work he ever did on the 
 old home farm. The scenes enadted here are 
 only a repetition of many similar scenes on
 
 1 HE ROMANTIC STORY OK DAVID ROBERTSON. 9 
 
 the old New England farms. Is it any won- 
 der that their sons want to leave their rural 
 and paternal homes and look for greener 
 pastures in other lands? David's fever had a 
 run of twenty-one days. He had no do6tor 
 to give him drugs and bleed his life awav. 
 
 With his strong constitution and good nurs- 
 ing and nourishment, he soon became conva- 
 lescent. His father had seen but little of 
 him during his sickness, but when he found 
 that he was improving fast, he said to him, 
 " Your sickness has put us back with our 
 spring work and I expecl: you to help us as 
 soon as you are able." David replied, "Father, 
 I shall never help you any more. I shall go 
 awav tomorrow." His father was dumb- 
 
 */ 
 
 founded to hear this from David who had 
 never given him a word back in his life. 
 
 Next morning when the day star arose, 
 David, with a bundle containing a shirt and a 
 pair of stockings, with two Spanish milled
 
 1O THE ROMANTIC STORY OK DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 dollars in his pocket, the tears running down 
 his cheeks, started and walked away. 
 
 When it was known that David was gone, 
 Mrs. Robertson went into hysterics. Mr. 
 Robertson sat gloomy, dismal and melancholv, 
 and the once happy home of the Robertsons 
 was broken.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 SKIPPER Davis was a short, thick-set 
 man past sixty years of age, once a 
 sailor now a fisherman. His dress when on 
 shore was a short, blue jacket with white pearl 
 buttons, a blue shirt with a wide collar, a black 
 silk handkerchief tied in a square knot, and if 
 he had a waistcoat, no one ever saw him wear- 
 ing it. His trousers were big enough in the legs 
 to hold the shanks or legs of a man that was 
 twice the size of Skipper Davis. On his head 
 he wore a tarpaulin hat, his shoes or pumps 
 as he called them, were ornamented with 
 silver buckles, his hair once black was now 
 gray and hung in curls on his shoulders, and 
 he had rings in his ears representing foul 
 anchors. One leg being two inches shorter 
 than the other gave him a list to port, and his
 
 1J THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 rolling gait made him conspicuous. He was 
 a jolly, merry and hail fellow well met, and 
 well known from Saccarappa to Quoddy Head. 
 His boat was known in those days as a Chec- 
 bacco boat, deriving its name from the place 
 where it was built. His crew, to use Skipper 
 Davis' own words "when he called the watch, 
 out come one people." His man by the name 
 of Jackson, he had picked up somewhere years 
 bef6re, and abbreviated his name to Jack. How 
 old he was or where he came from was never 
 known. If Jack ever had known, he had for- 
 gotten it. 
 
 In the township of Bristol near the shore 
 of Muscongus Sound was situated the cottage 
 of Skipper Davis. His wife, who was hale 
 and hearty, although more than sixty years of 
 age, was known as Aunt Nancy. A more 
 motherly or kinder old lady was not to be 
 found. " Her price is far above rubies, she 
 openeth her mouth with wisdom," administer-
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 13 
 
 ing comfort in the time of trouble to all the 
 neighborhood, loved and respected by the old 
 and young. 
 
 Davis lived a neighbor to Commodore Sam- 
 uel Tucker, who moved from Boston to Bristol 
 in 1793, and died there March loth, 1833. 
 Skipper Davis and Aunt Nancy were frequent 
 visitors to the Commodore's house, where they 
 always received a royal welcome. The Com- 
 modore was held in great veneration by Skip- 
 per Davis, who would swear for him, fight 
 for him and die for him if necessary. 
 
 The Skipper was with the Commodore in 
 the Increase at the time he captured the 
 privateer. Crown of Halifax, April 26th, 
 1813, and this was honor enough for him. 
 lie was never tired of telling the story while 
 he lived, and all his intimate acquaintances 
 knew the story as well as he did. 
 
 Another story the skipper frequently used to 
 tell was aboiH the Commodore, representing
 
 14 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 himself as one of the principal a6tors of the 
 scene. He had told it so often that he be- 
 lieved it himself, whether it was true or not. 
 The Skipper said, "We had trouble with the 
 proprietors regarding the running of the 
 boundary lines and determined to have our 
 rights if we had to tight for them. We called 
 a meeting to see what we could do in regard 
 to the matter. The meeting was in front of 
 the school house, where a farmer's empty two 
 wheeled cart was used for the speakers. 
 After several had spoken, loud calls for 
 Tucker were heard from all sides. I helped 
 the Commodore to mount the cart, when up 
 went the tongue and out we went, head, neck 
 and heels a-hoy. The Commodore's speech 
 
 was " I'll be d d," when an uproar of 
 
 laughter broke up the meeting." 
 
 Skipper Davis' besetting sin was his love 
 for Medford rum, and once in a while it would 
 get the better of him, causing his nose to
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 15 
 
 have a vermillion hue, showing a tendency 
 to bud and blossom. When under the in- 
 fluence of the beverage to a moderate extent, 
 the effe6t it produced on him was to make 
 him clever, well disposed, kind and honest; 
 but taken in large doses and often, it gave 
 him plenty of courage without sense. Such 
 was the man that David served his time with 
 for two years as a fishing lad. 
 
 When the sun rose David was miles away 
 on his way down river. The beautiful spring 
 morning revived him, the road was new to 
 him and the scene was enchanting with now 
 and then a glimpse of the river. Hope told 
 flattering tales, but his mind would revert to 
 the old log house, and he almost wished him- 
 self back. He could not help the tears com- 
 ing to his eyes. A diversity of scenery 
 greeted him while plodding his way down the 
 river road and to a certain extent diverted his 
 mind from his old home. On either side of
 
 1 6 THK ItOMAN'I K STORY <>! DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 the road grew stately pines which were sylvan 
 and rustic. Nature was seen here in all her 
 simplicity and beauty. 
 
 The sun was about two hours high when 
 David came to a clearing, showing a farm 
 house. He saw a woman going to the well 
 and went to her assistance, carrying the pails 
 of water to the house, and said to her, tf I 
 would like to do the chores for a bowl of 
 bread and milk." She not only got him the 
 bread and milk but the best she had cooked 
 besides. The benevolence and attention to 
 strangers in the humble cottages of the New 
 England settlers are without precedent in the 
 world. 
 
 David offered his services to the good 
 housewife in return for what he considered 
 his sumptuous fare. His appetite was good, 
 having so lately recovered from the fever. It 
 was really an enjoyment for this good woman 
 to stuff David, but womanlike she could not
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 17 
 
 help being inquisitive and trying to find out 
 who David was and where he was going. 
 
 There was no ingratitude in David, and 
 when she began to ask him questions, he hung 
 his head and looked so sorrowful that her 
 sympathy got the better of her inquisitiveness. 
 David in his homely way thanked her, his 
 looks expressing his gratitude. He then 
 picked up his bundle and once more began 
 his tramp down the river road. 
 
 After walking a mile or more, he thought 
 his bundle seemed heavier and looked larger, 
 and on investigation, he found a barley loaf 
 with a piece of cheese of liberal size. How 
 well such women are described by Solomon, 
 viz: rr She stretcheth out her hands to the 
 poor and needy." 
 
 David continued on his way until the sun 
 was past the meridian. Here the road 
 assumed a different aspect, the primal forest 
 trees having been cut down. When an abrupt
 
 1 8 THE ROMANTIC STORY OK DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 turn in the road opened to his view the river 
 town, he regarded it with admiration and 
 some surprise. 
 
 He continued on a mile or more before 
 arriving at the town. The scene was fascinat- 
 ing and for a time bewildered him. There 
 were several vessels building, some of them 
 of large size which particularly attracted his 
 attention. Looking at them with wonder and 
 surprise, not gazing or staring at them with 
 impudence but with amazement, he finally 
 went down to the wharf where Skipper 
 Davis' Checbacco's boat lay. The man Jack 
 was at work taking in freight alone. 
 
 The boat was five or six feet below the 
 wharf where it necessitated Jack's getting 
 from the boat to the wharf every time he 
 hoisted a bag or box on board. Skipper Davis 
 was up town with his cronies drinking Med- 
 ford rum, entertaining the company with 
 anecdotes of Commodore Tucker, leaving
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 19 
 
 Jack to get the freight on board as best he 
 could. 
 
 David, looking on and ever willing to lend 
 a helping hand, asked Jack if he should not 
 help him. Jack was only too willing to have 
 help, so David took hold with a will and 
 stayed on the wharf to sling the bags and 
 bales while Jack hoisted them on board with 
 the throat halyards. David slung the first 
 bag with a horse knot, which brought some 
 criticism from Jack, but a better knot to sling 
 a bag with has not been found since Noah 
 took his cruise in the Ark. When the freight 
 was all on board, and David had helped Jack 
 stow it away in the hold and clear up decks, 
 Jack said, r<! Now we will go below and get 
 supper.'" 
 
 The boat cuddy was large, it being a 
 fisherman with accommodations for six men. 
 There was a brick fireplace with the chimney 
 extending to the deck. The residue above
 
 2O THK KOMANTIC STORY OK DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 the deck was boards. David built a fire while 
 Jack stirred up an Indian Johnny cake, put it 
 in a Dutch oven and clapped on the iron cover, 
 then buried it in the ashes and coals. He then 
 put on the potatoes in a baking kettle and 
 hung them on the crane, frying the pork in 
 the skillet, made the tea, and the supper was 
 complete. The table was hung with leather 
 hinges, and it folded up against the foremast, 
 where it was out of the way when not in use. 
 When supper was ready Jack went after the 
 Skipper, leaving David to keep ship. When 
 Jack found the Skipper, he was mellow, tend- 
 ing towards intoxication, but would at once 
 have resented being told that he was drunk. 
 He would never acknowledge that he was 
 ever in that situation. His pumps were rights 
 and lefts, and by some mishap he had got 
 them on the wrong feet, which he never 
 would have done if he had not been hot. 
 (an expression invariably used in those days
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OK DAVID HOBKRTSON. 21 
 
 for inebriety.) Jack got him aboard and down 
 in the cuddy when the heat overcame him. 
 Jack with the help of David got him into his 
 berth, where he passed the night in oblivion, 
 muttering something about the Commodore 
 which was unintelligible. 
 
 An epicure wholly given to luxury could 
 not have enjoyed a supper more than did 
 David this meagre fare. Extremes met in the 
 character of Jack and David, Jack doing all 
 the talking, David the thinking. The even- 
 ing spent in the cuddy was congenial to both. 
 It was late that night when they turned in. 
 The berths were hard, but David had hardly 
 laid his head on the apology for a pillow be- 
 fore he was sound asleep.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 EARLY the following morning the 
 wind was to the northward blowing 
 down river when Skipper Davis turned out, 
 calling Jack. When Jack went on deck, he 
 was followed by David and explained to the 
 Skipper where David caine from, and that he 
 wanted to go with them. Skipper Davis 
 questioned David whose simple, plain state- 
 ment and artless manner at once enlisted the 
 Skipper in his favor. David was shipped with- 
 out due form for a cruise in the Checbacco 
 boat, Skipper Davis commanding. No fisher- 
 man's stores fora cruise would have been com- 
 plete without a liberal supply of Medford or its 
 equivalent of West India or New England rum. 
 It was the universal practice of the first settlers, 
 and it was used bv them on all occasions.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 23 
 
 Skipper Davis went below and mixed him- 
 self a hearty draught of black strap (a mix- 
 ture of rum and molasses) came on deck and 
 gave his orders to get under way. David did 
 the best he could to help, but invariably get- 
 ting in the way. The orders of the Skipper 
 were Greek to him, so he went round after 
 Jack getting a tail hold when he could. 
 
 The boat rilled away from the wharf, then 
 keeping her off to head down the river, when 
 over came the foresail and almost knocked 
 the daylights out of David, notwithstanding 
 the Skipper's warnings to look out for it. 
 The wind was blowing a fresh breeze, the air 
 was exhilarating and the trees along the banks 
 of the river clothed in verdure. The scene was 
 a pleasure and a delight to David. The boat 
 running before the wind, winged out, or as 
 Skipper Davis defined it, ''cross legged and 
 split open/' 
 
 Jack went below to get breakfast, and the
 
 24 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 Skipper called David aft and began to give 
 him a nautical catechism. He would occas- 
 ionally take a bottle out of the binnacle for a 
 pull at it. The nautical phrases that the 
 Skipper used were all beyond David's com- 
 prehension. Then Jack came on deck to 
 take the tiller, and the Skipper went below 
 to breakfast. When he had finished, he 
 relieved Jack and David and Jack breakfasted 
 together. After clearing up the cuddy and 
 making all tidy, they went on deck. The 
 morning breeze was dying out and before 
 noon it was calm. 
 
 The skipper was in a fair way for the rum 
 to get the better of him again when they 
 anchored off Parker's Flats. His tongue got 
 thick and his senses were fast leaving him, 
 when he called David to administer the 
 Neptune oath to make a sailor of him in due 
 form: "You, David Robertson, will never row 
 when you can sail, will never walk when
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 25 
 
 you can ride, will never kiss the maid when 
 you can the mistress. When you are boarded 
 by Neptune and he wants to know if you are 
 one of his subjects, you tell him you took the 
 oath off Parker's Flats in 1828 administered 
 by Skipper Davis." The Skipper then said it 
 was his watch below and turned in. 
 
 After dinner the wind breezed up to the 
 southwest, which was a fair wind and Jack 
 said, " It's too bad to lay here. If we could 
 start now, we would be home by sunset. I 
 have a good mind to try it." After talking 
 the matter over for half an hour or more, 
 Jack concluded to start and abide the conse- 
 quences. They got the anchor and rilled 
 away. The boat was forty tons, and Jack felt 
 the responsibility of his situation with only 
 David to help, who hardly knew which end 
 went first, but with a fair wind and daylight 
 he could hardly go wrong. 
 
 After passing Seguin, they found a heavy
 
 26 THE ROMANTIC STORY OK DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 swell heaving in from sea. David turned pale 
 but said nothing. Presently with his head over 
 the rail, he was emptying his stomach over- 
 board. They soon reached smoother water 
 under the lea of Damiscove Islands, when 
 David felt better. The wind that had been 
 fresh was now moderating. A bank of fog 
 was heaving up in the southeast which was 
 causing Jack some uneasiness. After passing 
 the Damiscoves, he steered for Pcmaquid 
 which he made all right. 
 
 It was now night and the fog had shut in. 
 and he sent David below to call the Skipper. 
 His eight hours sleep below had sobered him. 
 but when he turned out, he was as dry as a 
 tish. He was surprised and astonished when 
 he came on deck and Jack showed him Pema- 
 quid. At ten o'clock the}' were at anchor off 
 Skipper Davis" house. They set the Skipper 
 ashore, then Jack and David turned in on 
 board the boat.
 
 TIIK I'.OMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 2j 
 
 The next day they hauled in to the wharf 
 and discharged the freight. The Skipper with 
 his friend the Commodore were first on the 
 wharf, soon followed by the neighbors, where 
 hand shaking and familiar greetings were ex- 
 changed. Each one had to look after his 
 freight as it was hoisted out, and settle his bill 
 with the Skipper. 
 
 After discharging, Jack and David went to 
 the Skipper's house to get their dinner. 
 David's bashfulness or rustic modesty made 
 him uncomfortable. When he went into the 
 house. Aunt Nancy passed him a chair. lie 
 sat down on the edge of the chair, put his 
 feet on the rounds, hung down his head, acting 
 awkward and gawky. Aunt Nancy pitied him 
 and did the best she could to make him com- 
 fortable. The dinner was soon ready and the 
 invitation was given to r set In." When 
 IX-ivid took his chair to the table, he did not 
 place it near enough, and did not know what
 
 28 THE ROMANTIC STORY OK DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 to do with his hands. Aunt Nancy helped 
 him with more than a liberal supply of whole- 
 some viands. David was as hungry as a bear. 
 He was cutting up his beef in junks nearly 
 the size of his mouth, when an accident 
 occurred his plate was near the edge of the 
 table, when he upset it and the contents were 
 spilled with his cup of tea at the same time 
 on Aunt Nancy's white floor. His face 
 turned red, the same hue as the Skipper's 
 nose. The Skipper and Jack roared with 
 laughter at this ludicrous scene. 
 
 David left the table, but the loving kindness 
 and tenderness of Aunt Nancy were soon 
 manifest. She picked up the beef and pota- 
 toes, wiped up the floor and said to David, 
 'You never mind a little accident like that." 
 After some persuasion she got him back to 
 the table, succeeding in getting him near 
 enough to the table this time, to avoid similar 
 accidents. Owing to David's bashfulness lie
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 29 
 
 did not eat half as much as he wanted. Aunt 
 Nancy tried to coax him to eat more, but he 
 said he had eaten all he wanted, which was 
 the biggest lie he ever told in his life. 
 
 After Jack had finished his dinner he 
 went on board the boat leaving David, saying 
 to him, "You can do the chores for Aunt 
 Nancy." Seeing a lot of uncut wood in the 
 dooryard, he took the axe and went at it, 
 working away cutting the wood until Aunt 
 Nancy called him to supper, which he managed 
 to eat without any accident, but keeping his 
 taciturn manner because it was natural to him. 
 After supper he went to the spring and 
 brought the water and night's wood with 
 plenty of kindling. He was tired and sleepy. 
 Aunt Nancy showed him to a neat and cosy 
 chamber under the eaves of the cottage, say- 
 ing in her pleasant way, "Good night, David, 
 don't get up until breakfast is ready, then I 
 will call you."
 
 30 THK KOMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 On the following morning David was up 
 with the Sun. He went down to the kitchen 
 and was making the fire when Aunt Nancy 
 got up. David was not only willing but glad 
 to help her in any way he coulcl with the 
 breakfast. Aunt Nancy had already begun to 
 appreciate his character and to regard him 
 with an affe6tion which was reciprocated by 
 David. 
 
 The Skipper and his house were getting 
 old. and some parts of the cottage needed re- 
 pairing. David was born a natural mechanic. 
 He spent the day doing odd jobs for Aunt 
 Nancy about the cottage, which was congen- 
 ial to him, besides being a pleasure to Aunt 
 Nancy to have things fixed, which had been 
 out of repair more or less for years. 
 
 It was night when Skipper Davis came 
 home. He had bought sea-boots, oil skins 
 and a sou'wester for David, and said to him. 
 
 \Vc are getting ready for a fishing trip and
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID KOBKRTSOX. 31 
 
 expert to sail tomorrow for the banks." The 
 cruise generally lasted four or live weeks. It 
 was the usual practice of the fishermen's 
 boats of the class of Skipper Davis' to make 
 two trips or fares to the banks in the summer 
 months. In the spring and fall they went 
 shore fishing and hauled up in the winter. 
 When the boats were fitted out for the banks, 
 they were loaded with their outfits as deep as 
 on their return with fish. 
 
 Skipper Davis' crew of six men were all 
 old hands and had been with him to the banks 
 for years and had never failed of getting a 
 fare of fish. On board vessels at sea the cap- 
 tain's authority is absolute, depending on his 
 own will, but on board a fisherman, although 
 the skipper has charge, he consults his crew, 
 because their interests are mutual. They 
 obey his orders when underway or going to 
 or from the fishing ground. When employed 
 in fishing all are anxious to get a fare of fish
 
 32 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 and everyone does as he pleases, Jack being 
 as good as his master. 
 
 Anchored on the banks, rolling and pitch- 
 ing for weeks, the scene is monotonous, in 
 heavy weather and dark nights weird, gloomy 
 and dismal, looking forward with a longing 
 for the last hamper of salt to be wet, when 
 they can start for home. On Sunday when 
 there are other fishermen in their vicinity, 
 they visit each other (which fishermen call 
 coveing) spending the day swapping yarns, or 
 telling of their remarkable adventures by sea 
 and land. One of the principal amusements 
 they have is spinning yarns (instead of wool 
 they use froth) and they are always ready to 
 swear to them as fa6ts. 
 
 One of Skipper Davis 1 men was known as 
 Captain Ben. He could spin more yarns than 
 any other man in the State of Maine, and was 
 always received as a welcome visitor on board 
 the fishermen. According to his story he
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON". 33 
 
 had sailed the world round in every capacity 
 from cabin boy to commodore. 
 
 Here is an illustration of one of his yarns: 
 Capt. Ben said, " When I was mate of the 
 ship Albion, we were scudding out a typhoon 
 in the China sea when I took the wheel, not 
 daring to trust a man aboard to steer her. I 
 saw a big sea coming and said to the Captain, 
 ' Look out there ! That sea is a going to poop 
 this ship.' When the sea struck her I landed 
 in the cat harpings with ten feet of the rudder 
 head, and all of the stearing apparatus. The 
 Captain sang out, ' Hard up, hard up! Mister 
 Ben, for God's sake ! * * * What is the use of 
 harding up when I have got the wheel up here 
 with me." 
 
 Skipper Davis excelled in navigation, which 
 was exceptional in skippers of fishermen of 
 those times. Marine clocks had not been 
 invented and each skipper provided himself 
 with a watch which was indispensible to him.
 
 34 THK ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 Skipper Davis was considered to be a man of 
 great ability by the fishermen on account of 
 his nautical science. When he came on deck 
 with his quadrant to get the true time or hour 
 as indicated by the sun's passage over the 
 meridian, it was more than the average fisher- 
 man could comprehend. The name invariably 
 given to his instrument was the Skipper's hog- 
 yoke.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 BEFORE the time came for David to go 
 on board, Aunt Nancy had got a fit- 
 out for David. She had got a sea chest that 
 once belonged to the Skipper, putting in a bed 
 quilt and pillow, besides clothes, stockings 
 and mittens, with a box containing buttons, 
 needles and thread. When he started to go, 
 Aunt Nancy bade him good bye with a bene- 
 diaion of "God bless you, David." He 
 responded in his homely way, his heart over- 
 Mowing with gratitude. It was a beautiful June 
 day, a warm, gentle, south wind blowing, 
 and the sun radiant and shining when Skipper 
 Davis rilled away bound for Castine. The 
 way led through a labyrinthal passage leaving 
 islands on either side, mostly covered with 
 evergreen trees of a primitive growth with
 
 36 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 beautiful beaches, diversified with ledges 
 and boulders. The scenery was fascinating 
 and delightful. 
 
 David looking on these sylvan islands for 
 the first time conceived the idea of making 
 one his home. Skipper Davis arrived at 
 Castine that evening, where he found old 
 acquaintances in abundance. There were 
 twenty or more fishermen fitting out lor the 
 banks, including a full rigged ship discharg- 
 ing a cargo of salt Castine being at that 
 time the largest port in eastern Maine for fish- 
 ermen's outfits. Flocking around Skipper 
 Davis were the fishermen listening to his 
 familiar talk or conversation and enjoying his 
 social company, they regarding him as the 
 Patriarch of the fishing fleet of Maine. There 
 is a genial and social friendship existing 
 among fishermen. They sympathize with 
 one another in misfortune and rejoice with 
 each other in prosperity. A more free-
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON'. 39 
 
 hearted people do not exist than the fisher- 
 men on the coast of Maine. 
 
 The next day Skipper Davis took on board 
 the salt and stores, and sailed for the banks 
 early the next morning, with several fisher- 
 men in company. Before losing sight of Mt. 
 Desert he had also lost sight of the rest of 
 the fishermen, as Skipper Davis always sailed 
 by his own compass. 
 
 On the third day after leaving Castine the 
 Skipper got soundings on Brown's bank. 
 Soon after sounding he sighted a fisherman at 
 anchor. lie ran down and spoke him when 
 the following soliloquy was heard: 
 
 " Boat ahoy!" 
 
 "Halloo!" 
 
 " Getting any nsh ? " 
 
 ''Yes, walloping cod for hauling! " 
 
 Skipper Davis giving him a berth, let go 
 the anchor, brought her up with fifty fathoms 
 in the hawse, took in the foresail, and balance
 
 40 THK ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 reefed the mainsail. Everything being in read- 
 iness all hands were soon employed a-fishing. 
 
 David was seasick, but got his line over- 
 board with the rest and soon caught his first 
 fish. The excitement of hauling fish, not- 
 withstanding his seasickness, exhilarated him. 
 David asked Capt. Ben, if he did not call it 
 rough. fr Rough ! " exclaimed Capt. Ben, " It 
 is as smooth as a cat's back. Rough! When 
 I was only ten years old I went to the western 
 banks with Skipper Thompson. It was so rough 
 on the banks that skipper Tom nailed my coat 
 tails to the deck and made me eat out of my hat." 
 
 It took nearly four weeks to wet the salt. 
 It was the middle of July when the Skipper 
 gave orders to heave ahea^, which was re- 
 ceived with a hearty welcome. Then off for 
 home with a hard full. 
 
 " From gray sea fog, from icy drift, 
 From peril and from pain, 
 The home-bound fisher greets thy lights, 
 O hundred harbored Maine ! " U'hillicr.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 4! 
 
 After a short and pleasant passage, with 
 ensign flying they rounded to and once more 
 came ashore off Skipper Davis' cottage, when 
 they received the greetings of friends and 
 neighbors. They expressed themselves in 
 the dialect of those times with " How fares 
 ye? Welcome home! Fish or no fish? Wel- 
 come home Skipper Davis!" 
 
 Jack and David hauled the boat into the 
 wharf to prepare or make ready to " wash out " 
 (the term invariably used by fishermen when 
 discharging fish). The next three days Skip- 
 per Davis and his crew were employed dis- 
 charging and getting ready to sail again for 
 the banks. The quicker they could get away 
 the better, as by this means they hoped to get 
 a fare of fish before the equinoxial gales in 
 September. 
 
 The September gale which often happens 
 about the time the sun crosses the equator is 
 the dread and fear of all bank fishermen.
 
 42 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 The statistics, or collection of fa6ts, show 
 that the September gales have made desolate 
 many a hearth in the cottage homes of the 
 New England fishermen. 
 
 Skipper Davis, like his boat, was growing 
 old. He dreaded to go this cruise, but stern 
 necessity, including want, need and poverty 
 compelled him. His irregular and intemper- 
 ate life had been wasteful and extravagant. 
 He now bitterly repented the follies of his 
 past life but now too late. With his best 
 foot forward, and hard on to seventy years of 
 age, he once more goes on board for Castine. 
 After getting his supply of salt and stores, 
 then off and away for the banks. 
 
 Arriving on the banks the first of August, 
 there seemed to be a pleasing prospe6t of fill- 
 ing up by the first of September. In the 
 third week in August he had wet more than 
 three quarters of the salt, when it began to 
 thicken up. The clouds looked heavy with a
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 43 
 
 leaden hue, and the air was thick and hazy. 
 Skipper Davis' countenance showed anxiety. 
 
 ""What do you think of the weather, Capt. 
 Ben?" asked the Skipper. "I think it is 
 going to be a snorter," replied Capt. Ben. 
 
 There was but little wind, but a heavy sea 
 was rolling in from the southeast. " Heave 
 ahead my hearties, and sight the anchor," were 
 the orders of Skipper Davis. Sighting the 
 anchor to be sure it was clear, they then let it 
 go again and paid out a hundred fathoms 
 of hawser, put everything below that was 
 movable, put the tarpauling on the hatches, 
 and battered them down. The foresail was 
 unbent and put below, the mainsail was furled 
 and a storm trysail set for a riding sail. 
 
 When they had made all secure, the gale 
 came on gradually, each puff stronger than 
 the preceding one. At sundown the gale 
 was increasing. They shut the cuddy as tight 
 as possible. The sea piled on the decks until
 
 44 THK ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 they could hold no more. Skipper Davis' 
 greatest anxiety was that the boat would 
 spring aleak, but if she kept tight she would 
 weather out the gale. It is hard to imagine 
 how the men felt that night shut up in the 
 cuddy of the boat, with the chances more 
 than equal for them never to see another sun- 
 rise. 
 
 The summer gales are short, and the next 
 forenoon at ten o'clock the sun was out and 
 shining brightly. After dinner all hands were 
 fishing as if nothing had happened. 
 
 It was a joyful day on board the Chebacco 
 boat when the salt was used up. Even Capt. 
 Ben in spite of his age was manifesting hilar- 
 ity by dancing a double shuffle on deck. 
 Skipper Davis brought up the jug of New 
 England rum and put it on the binnacle and 
 said, " Drink hearty, boys, and give the old 
 boat a good name." 
 
 Each one stepped up to drink according to
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 45 
 
 his seniority, Capt. Ben leading the van. 
 When he took the jug he proposed this senti- 
 ment: rf Here's to the ship that goes the 
 wind that blows and the lass that loves a 
 sailor." 
 
 When all hands had taken a pull at the jug 
 except David, Capt. Ben said to David, r Don't 
 you never touch it, my lad. If it had not 
 been for that jug, I would have walked the 
 quarter deck of a seventy-four gun ship, with 
 more brass buttons on my coat than there are 
 points of the compass. If you think this yarn 
 is spun of wool you ask Skipper Davis or 
 Commodore Tucker." 
 
 It was pleasant weather and with a fair 
 wind they soon arrived home from the banks. 
 After washing out, it was necessary to haul 
 the boat ashore to scrape the barnacles off 
 her bottom, preparatory to shore fishing. 
 When shore fishing they were devoid of that 
 uneasy or painful apprehension of danger,
 
 46 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 because they were not exposed to the hazard 
 and the peril of the banks, for the reason 
 that they could make a harbor in heavy 
 weather. 
 
 Skipper Davis was a pilot and well ac- 
 quainted with all the harbors in eastern Maine. 
 When anchored on the fishing ground and 
 their labor in getting fish crowned with suc- 
 cess, they would be loth to leave the ground, 
 and hold on as long as possible. In heavy 
 weather, when it came on too tough under 
 reefed sails they would make a harbor. 
 
 At such times Skipper Davis would give 
 the old Chebacco boat hearty victuals, with 
 the laconic phrase of "Boys, she is all white 
 oak." It was blue times indeed when the old 
 boat could not make a harbor under double 
 reefed sails. 
 
 Skipper Davis when he made a harbor 
 made a good one. When they anchored under 
 the lee of one of the islands that form the
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 49 
 
 harbors of the Maine coast, where their boat 
 lay snug and close, no matter how hard the 
 storm raged, it brought no care to them as 
 they were completely sheltered. They could 
 sympathize with the old deacon at the village 
 prayer meeting when he exclaimed, f<r Brothers 
 and sisters, I feel it is good for me to be here." 
 
 In the cosy cuddy of the boat with a good 
 fire in the fire-place, the Skipper would mount 
 his hobby horse telling the biographical inci- 
 dents of the Commodore with variations, 
 followed by Capt. Ben, who spun yarns that 
 were an improvement on Sinbad or the flying 
 Dutchman. 
 
 It was getting late in November and the 
 weather was showery, when by mutual con- 
 sent they went home and hauled up the boat 
 in her winter quarters. The season had been 
 n prosperous one. After the fish had been 
 sold and a settlement made David's share was 
 more than a hundred dollars. He was going
 
 ^O THK ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 to live with the Skipper, go to school and care 
 for the old folks. 
 
 Skipper Davis was one of the most suc- 
 cessful fishermen in Maine. He and his boat 
 would make from eight to ten hundred dollars 
 a year, but he had no aptitude for business. 
 He had more generosity than wisdom. Fie 
 would live extravagantly while his money 
 lasted and when it was gone, live extravagantly 
 on credit. Sharpers cheated him, and now 
 he was afflicted with rheumatism and old age. 
 His boat like the Skipper had seen her best 
 days and the cottage had become dilapidated, 
 but in spite of all he was cheerful, consoling 
 himself with the thought that there was an 
 even chance for something to turn in his favor, 
 but he did not know what. 
 
 Skipper Davis was not an exception to 
 mariners in general. They made money and 
 spent it. If by some chance they escape the 
 perils of their hazardous life and live to old
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 51 
 
 age, not one in twenty has a competency. 
 Then they learn that charity begins and ends 
 at home. 
 
 Before David could go to school one of the 
 first things to be done was to get winter 
 clothes for him, so a woman tailor was 
 employed to come to the house to make him 
 a winter suit to wear to school. When buy- 
 ing the cloth, Aunt Nancy, the woman tailor 
 and even the Skipper took counsel together 
 on the merits of the cloth. The woman 
 gray, the Skipper blue, and it was finally 
 settled by arbitration, David himself being 
 umpire. 
 
 In due time the clothes were ready and the 
 following Monday Aunt Nancy had him ready 
 for school, but for some cause he looked awk- 
 ward. His arm were too long, and he had 
 his suspenders too tight, which made his 
 trousers tod short; his head was on one side, 
 his sandv hair was thick and was cut round in
 
 =J2 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 a circle showing less than two inches of his 
 forehead. Aunt Nancy tried her best to get 
 him in shape, but had to give it up as hope- 
 less, soliloquizing, ""There, there, well, I can't 
 help it, he is the best boy that ever lived." 
 
 David with Aunt Nancy's satchel contain- 
 ing his books and dinner set out for school. 
 If perseverance had not been a leading trait 
 in his character, he would have abandoned 
 the idea of school because of his bashfulness. 
 He did not mind the boys so much, but the 
 girls were a sore trouble to him. If one of 
 them spoke to him, he would blush so that 
 the freckles on his face would turn red. 
 
 David was attentive and studious at school, 
 and notwithstanding his rustic manners, he 
 had the respect of the teacher. 
 
 Among the scholars there was a boy older 
 than David that was droll and a mimic. He 
 made sport of David, with low jests, and tried 
 to make him appear ridiculous. David for a
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 53 
 
 time took no notice, but after awhile forbear- 
 ance ceased to be a virtue. David's Scotch- 
 Irish temper got the advantage of him, when 
 he took the droll by the shoulders and said, 
 " I have a good mind to shake you! " making 
 good his threat until he shook the breath out 
 of him, then said to him, rf If you do not stop 
 it, I will shake you again." 
 
 David had a natural aptitude to conform to 
 the situation in which he was placed and do 
 what was necessary without being told; mak- 
 ing the skipper and his wife comfortable, 
 which was a mutual pleasure to the old folks 
 and to David.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 IT was a hot campaign in 1828 when Jack- 
 son and Adams were the candidates for 
 the Presidency of the United States. The 
 political parties manifested hard feeling 
 against one another, both north and south. 
 The Commodore and the Skipper did not 
 agree in their political opinions and many 
 was the hard fought combat they had together. 
 The Commodore would stand by his guns, 
 swearing like a pirate, converting the Skipper 
 and it generally took an hour or more to 
 make the Skipper haul down his colors. But 
 the conversion was not of long continuance. 
 The next time they came together, the Skip- 
 per would hurrah for Jackson, when the Com- 
 modore would have to convert him over again. 
 The Commodore was victorious, because
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 55 
 
 every vote in the town was for the Adams' 
 ticket. When the news was received of 
 Jackson's election, the Skipper with manifes- 
 tations of patriotic joy, shouted, " Hurrah for 
 
 Jackson." The Commodore said, "D d 
 
 him, he wasn't half converted." 
 
 The winter wore away. David was a 
 greater favorite than ever with the Skipper 
 and Aunt Nancy, humoring the Skipper in 
 his garrulity and sympathizing with him when 
 he had an attack of rheumatism, not by 
 loquacity but actions, and he was truly a help 
 to them in their old age. 
 
 The vernal season, spring, had come, the 
 time to start the old chebacco boat. A con- 
 sultation was held between the Skipper, Capt. 
 t Ben and Jack considering what was best; 
 whether to fit the boat for the banks or have 
 her go shore fishing. It would involve con- 
 siderable expense to fit her away. She would 
 have to be recalked and have a new mainsail.
 
 56 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 Talking the matter over for and against, they 
 decided to send her one trip to the banks and 
 the rest of the season shore fishing. 
 
 It had been the practice for years to send 
 the boat up the Kennebec river before going 
 to the banks, to get the necessary outfits of all 
 that was needful, excepting salt and bait, 
 which were got at Castine. 
 
 After calking and painting the boat, the 
 Skipper, Jack and David in the old boat, 
 sailed for the Kennebec. The neighbors all 
 had well founded confidence in Skipper Davis 
 and sent by him what they had to sell or ex- 
 change for West India goods. He could 
 always do better for them than they could for 
 themselves, owing to a business firm that the 
 Skipper had done business with many years, 
 who looked after him and his interest. 
 
 Arriving at the river town, David had an 
 incessant craving to go home to see his 
 mother. Getting the consent of the Skipper
 
 THE ROMANTIC STOKY OK DAVID ROBERTSON. ^7 
 
 early next morning, he set out on his journey, 
 and was once more on the river road, this 
 time on the right road and going the right 
 way. 
 
 When he got to the clearing where the 
 woman had given him the bread and cheese, 
 he went to the door and rapped, and the iden- 
 tical woman came to the door. She knew 
 him and invited him in. David said, "I came 
 to pay you for the bread and cheese." He 
 laid down a Spanish milled dollar against her 
 protest, said good by and was off. She said 
 to herself, " Cast thy bread on the waters 
 for thou shalt find it after many days." 
 
 David trudged on his journey, arriving at his 
 old home about two o'clock. He saw his father 
 and brothers in the field plowing. Everything 
 looked the same, excepting the new house 
 which was up, boarded and shingled. The 
 door to the log house was open, and when he 
 stepped on the threshold his mother was
 
 58 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 standing back to the door, but when she heard 
 his step she knew it was David. With 
 ecstasy of joy, overflowing with happiness, 
 she put both her arms round his neck with the 
 exclamation, "" O David!" If anything is 
 pure it is the unchangeable love of a mother 
 to her son. 
 
 After telling his mother his adventures, 
 without going into details, he asked about his 
 father, and taking from his pocket the money 
 said, " Give this to father, it will help him 
 lo complete the house." David respected his 
 father, but the memory of scenes that were 
 past he could forgive, but not forget. Then 
 with a simple good by and God bless you, he 
 was gone. 
 
 When Mr. Robertson came home, he found 
 Mrs. Robertson sitting in her rocking chair, 
 the baby in her lap and sobbing convulsively. 
 Mr. Robertson said, " Why, what is the matter, 
 mother?" She sobbed with audible grief,
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 59 
 
 f(> David has been home." Mr. Robertson's 
 face betrayed emotion when he heard this, 
 and he gave utterance to the single word, 
 ff David ? " He had a heartfelt grief that the 
 pen is inadequate to describe. The coals of 
 fire that were heaped on his head were red 
 hot. To see him suffering with sorrowful 
 pangs and heartaches, a person must have 
 been stone-hearted not to have pitied him. 
 
 It was midnight when David got back to 
 the boat. The next day Jack and David took 
 in the freight and stores. When the freight 
 was all aboard it was night and Jack got sup- 
 per. When David went to hunt up the Skip- 
 per he found him with half a dozen old 
 codgers drinking at the Skipper's expense, to 
 the health of Commodore Tucker and Andrew 
 Jackson, but after some persuasion David got 
 him to go with him on board. The Skipper 
 made a crooked wake. David took him by 
 the arm and he got along better. It took
 
 60 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 both Jack and David to get him on board and 
 into his berth, when no more was heard from 
 him until next morning. 
 
 When they started for home, on the way 
 down river Skipper Davis had an attack of 
 rheumatism and he claimed Medford rum and 
 sulphur would cure the disease if taken often. 
 Its effect upon him was to make him dozy, 
 when he turned in. Jack and David sailed 
 the boat home. After discharging the freight, 
 all was in readiness for the trip to Castine ex- 
 cepting Skipper Davis, whose rheumatism 
 was a sore trouble to him. He prescribed 
 for himself the rum and sulphur which 
 affected his head, while the rheumatism 
 affected his joints and limbs. Very few 
 physicians, if any, could diagnose his disease 
 or distinguish which was the worse the 
 disease or the remedy. 
 
 After waiting ten days for Skipper Davis 
 to get better, without improvement, he had to
 
 SKIPPER DAVIS' CHEBACCO HOAT,
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 6 1 
 
 get Capt. Ben to take charge of the boat to 
 go to the banks, not without some forebod- 
 ings, but necessity has no choice. Capt. Ben 
 sailed for Castine to get his salt and bait, also 
 a new cable and then sailed for Brown's 
 banks.* 
 
 Capt. Ben now having charge, he left off 
 his trifling and frivolous manner. The crew 
 missed Skipper Davis and also Capt. Ben's 
 merriment. Coming events cast their shad- 
 ows. It was a misty and lowery day when 
 Captain Ben sailed for the banks, with the 
 wind ahead, followed by calms and variables 
 with plenty of rain. It was eighf days after 
 leaving Castine before Capt. Ben got sound- 
 ings on Brown's banks. 
 
 According to the boat log which noted 
 events as well as courses, distances, latitude, 
 wind and departure, Capt. Ben arrived on the 
 
 *This bank is call Brown's bank by all fishermen, but the true 
 name is Blonde bank.
 
 62 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 banks two days before Skipper Davis sailed 
 for home with a full fare of fish the year 
 before. The spring school of fish had gone 
 from the banks when Capt. Ben arrived this 
 time. They tried hard for fish but without 
 success, shifting berths every day, trying all 
 over the banks, sometimes in sight of Cape 
 Sable and then shifting to the extreme edge in 
 deep water. They found plenty of dog fish, 
 the curse of all fishermen. Capt. Ben said 
 they never made their appearance on the banks 
 before until July. They spent a fortnight 
 in vain, not averaging a quintal of fish a day. 
 On the following Sunday, Capt. Ben got 
 an observation of the sun, by this means get- 
 ting the true time and latitude, which he 
 found was 43 degrees, 10 minutes, saying, 
 ff La Have is due east sixty miles." The wind 
 was southwest. By mutual consent they got 
 under way and were off for La Have bank. 
 At ten o'clock the same night they got sound-
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 63 
 
 ings on the bank in fifty fathoms, this being 
 the shoalest water on La Have bank. They 
 anchored with seventy-five fathoms of cable 
 and turned in excepting the watch. 
 
 They spent a week on the bank without 
 getting any fish. Capt. Ben was discouraged. 
 A gloom and sadness were manifest among 
 the crew of the old chebacco boat that had 
 never failed before to bring home a fare of 
 fish. There is a superstition among sailors 
 and fishermen; they firmly believe in luck and 
 fate. Capt. Ben said "It was the thirteenth 
 day of July when .we left Castine, and it was 
 Friday when we left home, but boys let us 
 stick to it as long as there is a shot in the 
 locker or Indian meal enoug to stir up a 
 Johnny cake." 
 
 Northwest from La Have bank thirty-five 
 miles lay Roseway bank. Capt. Ben and his 
 crew thought it was best to try there before 
 giving up and once more try fortune luck or
 
 64 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 chance for fish. It was night when they got 
 under way for Rose way bank. Arriving the 
 next morning they anchored on the bank in 
 thirty fathoms of water before their line got 
 bottom. They got cod fish and a hard day's 
 work was done on board the old boat that day. 
 They hauled fish until the kits or checker 
 board* could hold no more. It took most of 
 the night to dress them down. 
 
 The next morning there was a heavy sea, 
 the wind southeast and fresh, the fish biting 
 sharp with the sea making and the wind in- 
 creasing. Capt. Ben was loth to stop fishing, 
 wishing to make up for lost time and now 
 getting large cod fish. Thinking the wind 
 was nothing but a summer breeze and expe6t- 
 ing it to moderate, they kept on fishing until 
 the decks were full of fish. They hardly 
 realized how bad it was, they were so anxious 
 
 *On deck of a fisherman when fishing, the deck is divided in checks 
 by plark> made and fitted for the purpose, called by the fishermen the 
 checker board.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVTD ROBERTSON. 65 
 
 to get fish. The wind was blowing a brisk 
 gale, increasing to sudden gusts, assuming the 
 violence of a hurricane. The sea came 
 aboard, obliging them to put on the hatches 
 and make them secure. Capt. Ben told David 
 and the crew to go below and shut the com- 
 panion slide and doors. Capt. Ben and Jack 
 lashed themselves to the masts. The fish had 
 washed overboard, the deck was full to the 
 rails of water, and the boat rolling and 
 pitching in a terrible manner, while Jack and 
 Capt. Ben looked on with dread and sorrow, 
 watching her for an hour or more. 
 
 At length Capt. Ben saw a big sea coming 
 and sung out to Jack to hold on. He got the 
 axe and sprang for the jaws of the fore gaff 
 and none too soon, for the old boat with a 
 plunge went out of sight. When she came 
 up everything was gone from her deck includ- 
 ing the waist boards and wherries*. The cable 
 
 *A light boat used at that time.
 
 66 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 tier that was on deck was tailing out astern. 
 There had been a strain on every butt and 
 seam, proving that the craft was built of oak 
 and copper fastened. When she went under 
 she shook and trembled from stem to stern. 
 
 At sea there are invariably three heavy seas 
 following in succession in hard gales of wind. 
 With the experience that Capt. Ben had, he 
 knew there were two more to come and he 
 did not believe the old boat could stand the 
 pressure, so with one blow he cut the cable. 
 When the boat fell off the trysail now got 
 the full force of the gale. It split from clue 
 to earing. Capt. Ben, nimble as a boy, got 
 aft and took the tiller, keeping her before the 
 gale, scudding her under bare poles. It was 
 coming on night and the old boat driving 
 before the gale at a fearful rate. The binna- 
 cle and compass were gone and they now had 
 no means of knowing the exa6t way the gale 
 of wind was blowing. Capt. Ben judged the
 
 C'HEliACCO ISOAT SCUDDING OUT A I1AI.K.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 67 
 
 gale or hurricane to be east southeast, and 
 Cape Sable was bearing west northwest, dis- 
 tance thirty-five miles, when he cut the cable, 
 making proper allowance for variation. If 
 the gale continued four hours longer and his 
 reckoning was right, she would be ashore on 
 Cape Sable. If the wind veered to the north 
 she would scud by Cape Sable and go clear. 
 
 It was six o'clock by Capt. Ben's bull's eye 
 watch when he cut the cable. It was now nine 
 o'clock and before ten she would be ashore 
 or go by. It was dark as pitch, the air full of 
 water, caused by the hurricane blowing the 
 foam or spray off the seas. Capt. Ben was 
 powerless but thought the chance about equal 
 for her to scud by Cape Sable. Language is 
 inadequate to describe the feelings of the 
 men, with alternate hopes and fears. Capt. 
 Ben said, "My reckoning is up and the next 
 ten minutes will decide our fate." 
 
 The strain now brought to bear on the
 
 68 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBKRTSOX. 
 
 minds of those men was as much as human 
 nature could stand, and only those who have 
 been in a similar situation can fully understand 
 their feelings now with anxious care wait- 
 ing for uncertain or inevitable fate to decide 
 their destiny, when an unexpected occurrence 
 took place. Suddenly and only for a minute 
 it was stark calm, when the wind with an im- 
 petuous and sudden gust was blowing from 
 the opposite direction with equal velocity, the 
 old boat scudding now for the Atlantic Ocean, 
 with sea room of more than three thousand 
 miles. 
 
 Free now from imminent danger, with 
 hopes revived, they were comparatively cheer- 
 ful. The morning light was hailed with joy, 
 and the sun rose clear. Capt. Ben still at the 
 tiller, lashed, with the boat scudding ten knots 
 at least, the tremendous seas washing over 
 her, as if she was a half tide ledge. With 
 all their misfortunes they had the satisfaction
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 69 
 
 and consolation that the weather was moder- 
 ating, and the old boat was tight. Capt. Ben 
 said she was scudding about sou'southeast, 
 making use of the sun for his compass. The 
 cook of the boat after various and unsuccess- 
 ful attempts to make coffee had at last suc- 
 ceeded, and with a quart pot was trying to 
 get it aft to Capt. Ben, and by dint of perse- 
 vering, at last succeeded. Like ne6lar to the 
 Gods, were victuals and drink to Capt. Ben. 
 
 It had now moderated so much that they 
 two-reefed the foresail, and let her come to 
 the wind. Capt. Ben got the latitude at noon, 
 making her in 42 degrees, 20 minutes, Cape 
 Sable bearing north by west seventy miles. 
 They lay by until past three o'clock, then set 
 the mainsail double reefed, hauled the sheets 
 Bat aft and the old boat was off, heading for 
 the Maine coast, somewhere between Sacca- 
 rap and Quoddy, on the starboard* tack for 
 
 *The word larboard is obsolete, port being substituted.
 
 70 THK ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 fifteen hours. It was still blowing hard, the 
 boat smothering to it full and by under double 
 reefs, Capt. Ben judging by the north star, 
 that the wind was about north. 
 
 The next morning the wind westerned, when 
 they tacked to the eastward. At noon the 
 latitude was 43 degrees, 40 minutes, Mt. 
 Desert rock bearing nor'west by west thirty- 
 five miles by estimation, the wind moderating, 
 and the sea going down. The wind backened 
 to the northward, blowing a whole-sail breeze 
 with starboard tacks aboard. 
 
 The old boat was now doing her best for 
 Pemaquid, and before daybreak the next 
 morning they made the light on Monhegan, 
 proving that the boat had outrun Capt. Ben's 
 reckoning. He could almost instinctively find 
 his way home the darkest night that ever was, 
 having fished the ground over for years. 
 
 It may seem strange that Capt. Ben had 
 formed an attachment for the boat. She had
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 71 
 
 carried him safely through so many dangers, 
 seen and unseen, and had been his home 
 spring, summer and fall for ten years. By 
 her he had gained his sustenance, now coming 
 home without a fare of fish for the first time. 
 The old boat had brought her wings, but had 
 lost her tail feathers. 
 
 The expense of fitting out the boat was 
 more than it ever had been before, and the 
 prospe6t to go shore fishing to get money 
 enough to pay the bank outfits, besides having 
 to repair the boat's damages was anything but 
 pleasing. Capt. Ben had done the best and 
 all that he could, but would neither get cen- 
 sure or praise. 
 
 At noon that day, they were in sight of 
 Pemaquid, the dearest spot on earth to Capt. 
 Ben. In years gone by whenever they re- 
 turned from fishing, the sight of Pemaquid 
 was hailed with gladness and gaiety, with en- 
 sign flying and boat " scuppers to " with fish.
 
 72 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBETSOX. 
 
 Now with grief and sadness they came in 
 sight of home, the old boat almost a wreck, 
 without fish. Was it luck or destiny? It 
 seemed to Capt. Ben while meditating de- 
 je6tedly that it was the decree of fate that he 
 would have to go with Skipper Davis hand 
 in hand, over the hill to the poor house the 
 coming winter.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 SKIPPER Davis with anxious care and 
 uneasiness had been waiting for the 
 boat's return a fortnight; every day found him 
 down on Pemaquid Point with a spyglass on 
 the lookout. He could tell her as far as his 
 vision extended, among a hundred. When at 
 last he recognized her, it animated him so for 
 the time being he forgot his rheumatism, and 
 swung his tarpaulin hat, with a cry of exul- 
 tation, " Hurrah for old Hickory." Watching 
 the boat with close attention as she ap- 
 proached, when he saw her waist and boats 
 were gone, with no ensign flying, it told him 
 the whole story. She was now near enough 
 for him to distinguish the men on board; with 
 the glass he espied David and soliloquized, 
 ' Thank God, David is alive; he is the best
 
 74 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 boy that ever gutted a fish." He then trudged 
 sadly home speculating on the gloomy pros- 
 pects. The old boat got to her anchorage off 
 Skipper Davis' cottage before night, and let 
 go her sheet anchor (the fishing anchor was 
 on Roseway bank ) . 
 
 "When Capt. Ben went ashore, he was met 
 by Skipper Davis, who reached out his hand 
 and took Capt. Ben's, and with a hearty shake 
 said : " How fares ye ? Welcome home, Capt. 
 Ben, don't look so down-hearted, and cheer 
 up. As long as I can catch a fish I will 
 divide with you, and cut him fore and aft, not 
 athwart ships giving you the tail." 
 
 The old hero of the Revolution, Tucker, 
 was present at the meeting of Capt. Ben and 
 Skipper Davis; the Commodore was solving 
 a mathematical problem, mentally dividing 
 his meagre pension of twenty dollars a month 
 into three parts and using somewhat irrever- 
 ent language, when he accosted the Skipper,
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 75 
 
 ' You and Ben catch the fish, and I will raise 
 the potatoes and divide the pension and we 
 will never surrender or haul down the flag so 
 long as we can keep afloat." 
 
 Skipper Davis, Capt. Ben and Jack con- 
 sulted together contriving the ways and means 
 to get what was necessary for the boat before 
 she could go shore fishing, taking an inventory 
 and then computing the necessary expense. 
 The consultation made them hesitate. The 
 summary or brief computation as follows: The 
 heavy bill up the Kennebec for provision, the 
 salt, bait, cable and mainsail at Castine, the 
 calking and painting at home; and what 
 they would have to obtain, viz.: fishing cable, 
 anchor, boats, compass, binnacle and fishing 
 gear, besides a carpenters bill for putting on 
 a waist and making kits. 
 
 It seemed almost against fate to start the 
 old boat under the circumstances, when the 
 best of the fishing season was gone. They
 
 76 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 thought they could do nothing better and 
 went on board the next day for Castine, con- 
 cluding to look for their money where they 
 lost it with a presentiment in their minds of 
 calamity or misfortune. 
 
 When they arrived at Castine, Skipper 
 Davis with his threadbare clothes well patched 
 by Aunt Nancy, with a careworn counte- 
 nance went to the outfit merchant to furnish 
 him what was needed for the boat. The 
 merchant did not want to increase his bill 
 without security (he fully understood the 
 Skipper's situation), which obliged Skipper 
 Davis to give a bottomry bond of the boat, 
 making the old adage true, that has been 
 handed down from antiquity that " misfortune 
 never comes alone." Skipper Davis firmly 
 believed in luck, it had been a part of his 
 nature at all times, and in all circumstances, 
 but was now to learn that a fish does not 
 always belong to the man that catches him.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 77 
 
 With hurry and disorder, without stopping to 
 consider, with his mind occupied wholly 
 with the one idea of getting fish to relieve 
 him from his trouble, not using good judg- 
 ment, getting more or less than was necessary 
 for the boat, the once jolly Skipper was now 
 fretful and peevish (except when under the 
 influence of a stimulant) and became capri- 
 cious. 
 
 There was not a chance in ten for them to 
 get fish enough in two months, to pay the 
 Castine bills when the bottomery bond expired. 
 The outlook was discouraging, but the Skip- 
 per mindful of his great successes in years 
 that were gone could not, or would not be- 
 lieve that luck, fate or chance, that had 
 always been in his favor, would forsake him 
 now. With his visionary and whimsical 
 scheme in his head when he arrived on the 
 fishing ground, for the next four weeks they 
 tried hard for fish between Grand Manan and
 
 78 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 Monhegan, making the mistake of changing 
 the fishing ground too often. 
 
 The Skipper having more anxiety than 
 patience at last became discouraged and gave 
 up the fight. With too much care, he aged 
 rapidly under his misfortunes, and looked ten 
 years older than when he left Pemaquid. 
 Wearied in body and mind Skipper Davis and 
 his crew were downcast and dejected. 
 
 After fishing the month of September with 
 poor success, their provisions were most gone. 
 They abandoned the undertaking and returned 
 to Castine. The merchant at Castine was of 
 the old school and a gentleman. It was de- 
 nominated in the bottomry bond that he had 
 of Skipper Davis, that in case of failure to 
 pay the bond at the expiration of the time 
 specified he was to deliver the boat at 
 Castine. 
 
 Skipper Davis was the soul of honor and 
 under no circumstances would he betray his
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. JC) 
 
 trust or even equivocate to save the boat.* 
 On his arrival at Castine the Skipper with tot- 
 tering steps delivered the boat's papers to the 
 merchant, who handed them back, saying, " I 
 would rather lose my money than take your 
 boat. You may take the boat home, when I 
 call for her will be time enough to deliver 
 her." 
 
 Skipper Davis and his crew went home in 
 the old boat. The Skipper's ambition was 
 
 *Many of the fishermen of those times were noted for their obser- 
 vance of the truth. When the treaty was concluded between the 
 English Dominion of Nova Scotia and the United States, the agree- 
 ment provided that the fishermen of the Independent States should 
 take no fish inside of three miles of the shores of Nova Scotia. The 
 fishermen to get fresh bait would set their nets inside of the limits to 
 catch herring when they could not get them on the fishing ground. 
 The English cutter or Revenue boat would often speak the Yankee 
 fishermen and inquire where they got their bait. If they replied on 
 the ground, no more notice was taken of the matter. The cutter 
 spoke Capt. Burgess who belonged to one of the island towns in 
 Penobscot Bay, hailing him with the formal question, "Where did 
 you get your bait!" Capt. Burgess was loth to answer and would 
 not say he caught them on the ground. He was taken out and his 
 vessel towed to Halifax or some other Nova Scotia port, his vessel and 
 fish confiscated, then left to get home the best he could. When ques- 
 tioned about the affair his answer was, "Do you think I would lie for 
 an old vessel?"
 
 So THK ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 gone now; worn out and sick, he had nothing 
 to look forward to or cheer his drooping 
 spirits. When he arrived home, he was too 
 feeble to walk. David took him by the arm 
 and led him home. His curls that hung down 
 on his shoulders had turned from gray to 
 white. Notwithstanding his venerable ap- 
 pearance, he had the pleasing look of child- 
 hood, sitting in his arm chair now almost 
 helpless. He would at times hold Aunt 
 Nancy's hand in deep thought, knowing in his 
 heart that she had done him good, not evil, all 
 the days of her life, living with him as con- 
 sort in unity for more than forty years. 
 
 It was Skipper Davis' last sickness. All 
 that a kind heart and hands could do Aunt 
 Nancy did for him. He had lived the age 
 allotted to man, when the summons came. 
 He died with a pleasant smile on his counte- 
 nance, with quiet submission. It was a beau- 
 tiful, still autumn day when friends and
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OK DAVID ROBERTSON. 8 1 
 
 neighbors far and near followed the^remains 
 of Skipper Davis to his last resting place in 
 the church-yard burying ground. 
 
 There is something grand and noble in the 
 companionship of husband and wife, who 
 have lived together many years in harmony. 
 Broken hearted now was Aunt Nancy, follow- 
 ing skipper Davis to the grave, her tears min- 
 gling with the dust of the road, with sad 
 expressions of sorrow from the cottage to the 
 church-yard. She had walked with him down 
 the hard path of life for forty years, and 
 would wait patiently for the time when she 
 could lie side by side with him in the burying 
 ground. 
 
 Capt. Ben, who all his life was as free as 
 water with his money, was now without a 
 dollar or a home, bowed down with age, and 
 the cold icy winter near at hand. He had 
 braved the dangers of the sea and oceans for 
 sixty years, as now, without an enemy or
 
 82 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 friend in the wide world, he went over the 
 hill to be supported at the public expense. 
 
 A sincere affe6tion Capt. Ben had for Skip- 
 per Davis. He went to the grave and looked 
 at Skipper Davis in his coffin with a pang of 
 sorrow, lingering there until the lid was closed 
 that fastened Skipper Davis down forever. 
 With honest tears on his weather-beaten 
 cheeks he slowly and moodily walked away, 
 wishing himself lying beside Skipper Davis. 
 
 The situation in which David now found 
 himself, with nothing to his credit for his 
 summer fishing, left on his own resources 
 with Aunt Nancy in the dilapidated cottage, 
 with the icy cold winter coming on, necessi- 
 tated prompt a6lion. He conceived the idea 
 of going small boat fishing with Jack, who 
 made his home in the cuddy of the old boat 
 that was hauled up in her winter quarters, and 
 would probably remain there until next 
 spring.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 83 
 
 When David mentioned to Jack his idea to 
 go small boat fishing, and asked him to go 
 with him, Jack, although an honest heart 
 beat under his blue flannel shirt, had not the 
 capacity of mind to manage or direct, and 
 was submissive to David's judgment, whose 
 intellect was far above Jack's. Thus with 
 Jack's practical and David's theoretical knowl- 
 edge, they were well adapted to go fishing- 
 together. 
 
 During the months of October and Novem- 
 ber David and Jack went small boat fishing 
 every day when it was possible to fish, meet- 
 ing with success beyond their expectations. 
 They were indebted to Capt. Ben who went 
 with them in pleasant weather, and showed 
 them by marks and ranges the best fishing- 
 grounds. David was now able to aid and 
 assist Aunt Nancy and keep the wolf from 
 the door. The poverty that threatened them 
 the coming winter had disappeared.
 
 84 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBETSOV. 
 
 Aunt Nancy never recovered her cheerful 
 and pleasant manner, doing her simple house 
 work in a quiet and sedate way, showing 
 plainly her deep grief and sadness. The cold, 
 chill winds of December had come, which 
 compelled David and Jack to stop fishing. 
 
 David's eccentric manner at times had a 
 strange effe6t on those that did not under- 
 stand his silent or taciturn ways. He and 
 Aunt Nancy might be seen in the kitchen of 
 the cottage in the long winter evenings, with 
 Aunt Nancy sitting in her rocking chair 
 thoughtful and meditative, while David, who 
 was chary of his thoughts seldom gave them 
 expression. He seemed to have an instinctive 
 desire to do for Aunt Nancy what was essen- 
 tial and needful. If he had been her son it 
 appeared to her that she could not have loved 
 him more. She looked on him as sent by 
 Divine Providence to comfort her in her 
 great affliction.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 85 
 
 In the sacred scriptures she had implicit 
 faith, and was often thinking of a sentence in 
 the holy writings as applied to her own situa- 
 tion. "I have been young, and now am old; 
 yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor 
 his seed begging bread." It had been the 
 habitual practice for years for the young folks 
 to meet at Skipper Davis' cottage on winter 
 evenings, and listen to the jovial skipper or 
 Capt. Ben's sea stories of by-gone days. The 
 once cheerful cottage was now forsaken by 
 its former associates, for the reason that Aunt 
 Nancy was no company for them now. Aunt 
 Nancy was noted for her social and agreeable 
 ways towards the young people, and beloved 
 by them. They would occasionally make her 
 a short visit, bringing her some delicacy or 
 dainty which she would receive with grati- 
 tude, manifested by a pleasant smile. 
 
 She knew her clays were numbered, and 
 would be glad to receive the welcome mes-
 
 86 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 sage, having a firm belief in immortality. 
 Her disease or complaint baffled the skill of 
 the physicians, their drugs and blood letting 
 did her no good. She had given up. The 
 sorrow on which her mind was continually 
 dwelling, with a strong desire to die, brought 
 about the final result. The body or system 
 when deprived of hope, which keeps body 
 and soul together, soon separate under these 
 conditions. 
 
 Aunt Nancy died of grief, broken hearted. 
 The fleeting days of cold winter had gone. 
 It was early spring when the Divine com- 
 mand was made for Aunt Nancy, who died 
 with heavenly consolation, with words of 
 faith and hope on her lips, and was laid by 
 the side of Skipper Davis.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THERE were few dry eyes at the 
 funeral obsequies of Aunt Nancy. 
 One and all of her acquaintances, remember- 
 ing now the many kind a6ls she had done for 
 them when in sickness and trouble, felt it 
 incumbent on them to see her remains. 
 David walked home from the funeral thought- 
 ful, with his mind confused, and now for the 
 first time in his life felt lonesome. Some of 
 the neighbors came in out of respect, some 
 for curiosity. Jack would have been pleased 
 to stay with him, but David showed by his 
 silence he would rather Jack would stay at 
 home. David passed the night alone in the 
 cottage, in deep meditation. In this mood, for 
 several days, David remained in the cottage, 
 much perplexed as to what his future course
 
 88 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 should be. After a time he solved the prob- 
 lem, to his satisfaction, and soon after put it 
 into effect, as the sequel shows. 
 
 While David was living in the cottage, 
 an individual, claiming to be Aunt Nancy's 
 next of kin, came and carried away the furni- 
 ture and all the movables against the protest 
 of Skipper Davis' creditors, not leaving even 
 a bed for David, acting on the principle that 
 " might makes right." 
 
 Aunt Nancy had often plainly expressed in 
 direct terms, that what she had or what she 
 left belonged to David. The whole neighbor- 
 hood were indignant and thought it an imposi- 
 tion. The old hero, the Commodore, with 
 words that lacked reverence to Divinity, said 
 to Aunt Nancy's kinsman, "I would blow 
 you out of water, you hell-hound, if I had a 
 gun loaded," showing the metal the old hero 
 was made of. With flashing eyes that eighty- 
 three years had not dimmed he said, "You
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 89 
 
 ought to be keel-hauled you d d land 
 
 shark." 
 
 Aunt Nancy left an old Bible that had been 
 her solace and comfort all the days of so 
 many years. She had marked passages in the 
 book from Genesis to Revelations, for David 
 to read carefully and reflect on, after she was 
 dead. David allowed Aunt Nancy's kinsman 
 to carry off everything without remonstrance, 
 except the Bible. In regard to that, David's 
 countenance indexed his mind, and the kins- 
 man had discretion enough to let the Bible 
 alone. David had all the time there was, but 
 not enough to get mad, as that would take six 
 weeks, and six years to get over it. 
 
 David was a lover of nature. There was 
 something implanted in him a brooding ten- 
 derness toward all the human family, but enig- 
 matical even to them that knew him best. 
 When Aunt Nancy died she was not pecun- 
 iarily indebted to any one. David would not
 
 90 THR KOMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 permit her to be buried at the public expense. 
 For this reason he remained at Pemaquid, to 
 gain by labor at boat fishing money enough to 
 pay her funeral expenses. When he had ac- 
 complished his purpose he would bid fare- 
 well to Pemaquid, and carry his project into 
 effea. 
 
 David had built himself a wherry the past 
 winter, which was a model specimen of his 
 skill. In the months of May and June, David 
 went fishing with Jack in the wherry. He 
 then paid the debts, giving everyone his due 
 and had a small surplus in his pocket. He 
 started in the wherry with his meagre belong- 
 ings, including a gun and pup, and sailed 
 away from Pemaquid early in the morning, 
 with fair weather on a beautiful July day, 
 leaving the cottage to go to ruin. 
 
 Poor Jack, who was known as Jack Froth 
 by the fishermen, would have sailed the world 
 around with David in the wherry, if given the
 
 THE ROMANTIC STOUY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 9! 
 
 opportunity. Notwithstanding his honest 
 heart his failing was his mouth, which was 
 open on all occasions, his tongue running 
 with perpetual motion from July to January. 
 David had due sense of all the favors he had 
 received from Jack, and would have divided 
 his last dollar with him, but could not endure 
 Jack's neverceasing talkativeness. More than 
 that he did not think it would be for Jack's 
 interest. 
 
 When Jack found David was gone, he took 
 it to heart, and was pained at the manner in 
 which he considered David had left him. A 
 sincere attachment Jack had for David, which 
 Jack thought was mutual. David's a6tions 
 surprised him, and for once in his life his 
 loquacity was at a full stop. 
 
 David sailed away to the eastward, leaving 
 Georges Island on the starboard hand, then 
 following the shore of St. George to Tenant's 
 Harbor, thence to White Head, the entrance
 
 92 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 to the Mussel Ridge channel. The way now 
 led in and out through mazy windings, leav- 
 ing island after island mostly on the port hand. 
 The diversified appearance of these islands 
 covered with primal evergreen trees, fasci- 
 nated him now more than ever on that delight- 
 ful July day. The scenery thrilled him with 
 pleasing sensations. The sea fowl were be- 
 yond enumeration. With a single discharge 
 of his gun he killed six, and his young 
 retriever dog prompted by instinct, was quickly 
 after them. 
 
 The south wind was dying out, and the 
 western sun was about two hours high when 
 David landed on the shingle beach on one of 
 those bowery islands in the Mussel Ridge 
 channel. With his flint and steel he soon 
 had a fire ready to prepare his supper. He 
 skinned the birds, removing the skin and 
 feathers together, then split them in halves 
 and laid them on the coals, with a sprinkling
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID RORERTSON. 93 
 
 of salt. This with sea biscuit and a pot of 
 tea composed his supper. 
 
 Under the boughs of a stately spruce tree 
 that stood near high water mark, David made 
 his bed. He cut boughs and covered them 
 with the wherry sail, with his blanket for a 
 spread, and turned the wherry over all, then 
 turned in and slept as comfortable as if he 
 lay in a bed of down. 
 
 The next morning when the sun was rising, 
 David turned out and prepared his frugal, but 
 wholesome breakfast. With buoyant spirits 
 he sailed away, with a gentle westerly breeze 
 blowing, continuing his course to the east- 
 ward. At the time the sun was at her meri- 
 dian, he arrived among a cluster of islands of 
 various sizes and descriptions. On one of 
 these he landed on a pebbly beach, where 
 there was an excellent boat harbor. He had 
 particularly noticed this island when sailing 
 in the old chebacco boat. It was a sight
 
 94 TH E ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBETSOX. 
 
 which he had seen before, but now on the 
 island the scenery was fascinating, from all 
 points of the compass. He walked around 
 the island to see if he could find fresh water, 
 and discovered a small purling stream, which 
 led to a thick clump of evergreen trees. 
 Bubbling there from a lime rock ledge was a 
 delicious flow of water, clear as crystal. A 
 few rods to the south of the spring there was 
 a hummock with a ledge that formed a preci- 
 pice facing south. The land surrounding the 
 ledge was mostly covered with a young- 
 growth of balmy spruce and cedar trees, 
 which concealed the ledge from view. It 
 formed a complete barrier and shelter from 
 the cold north winds, encircling the place 
 from east to west. In this sylvan spot David 
 built his cot and lived in rustic solitude. 
 
 Night was approaching, the beautiful July 
 day was almost gone when David built a fire 
 and prepared his supper. His gun and fish-
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 95 
 
 ing line bountifully supplied his larder. His 
 supper consisted of a black duck and a bloater 
 mackerel cooked on the live coals. After 
 supper he made his bed of boughs beneath the 
 thick branches of a spruce tree, then turned 
 the wherry over the boughs as on the previous 
 night. Before turning in he replenished his 
 fire and laid on the fuel so as to prevent its 
 burning away too rapidly, and lay down on 
 his bed of boughs, thinking and planning of 
 his work tomorrow, until he went to sleep. 
 
 When he awoke the sun was up and shin- 
 ing and the birds were singing. With a sense 
 of happiness, his thoughts reverted to the 
 plans he had laid out for the day. Their 
 accomplishment would afford him pleasure. 
 He turned out, cooked and ate his breakfast, 
 then commenced the hard but pleasant labor 
 of building the chimney for his cabin, using 
 the face of the ledge for the chimney back, 
 lie built two abutments out of flat rocks,
 
 g THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 making blue clay take the place of mortar, 
 leaving a recess between the abutments which 
 he arched over forming a fireplace, then ex- 
 tending the abutment connected to the top of 
 the ledge. Then the chimney was complete. 
 The chimney lasted good for years. 
 
 David's gravity and wisdom was beyond 
 his years. He had educated himself by 
 observation of nature, deriving his knowledge 
 from a watchful attention to the whys and 
 wherefores, and then drawing his own conclu- 
 sions. Although ignorant in some respects of 
 things that a school boy wonld be familiar 
 with, nevertheless by a few well directed 
 words he would confound a sage. David 
 was no drone. He maintained his self-respe6l. 
 He was no man's slave and no man's master, 
 but preserved genuine independence, and 
 was honestly willing to earn his bread. The 
 few that knew him called him eccentric be- 
 caues he did his own thinking.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 97 
 
 There was scarcely a river or stream in 
 eastern Maine at that time but had a saw mill, 
 with an abundance of white pine in the near 
 vicinity. Of every log sawed there were left 
 two or more slabs, which were set adrift as 
 useless, this being the best way to get clear 
 of them. 
 
 The next three days David in the wherry 
 went beach combing among the archipelago or 
 sea of islands, collecting these drift slabs, 
 which he used to build his cabin. The frame 
 of the cabin consisted of sills, plates, ridge 
 plank and scantling, which he picked up or 
 hewed out of slabs. The slabs for the walls 
 he cut eight feet long, chipping the ends to a 
 uniform thickness, then tree-nailed them to 
 the sills and plates with the sawed side out. 
 Then he covered them with sawed sides put 
 together so as to break the joints, which 
 made the walls double and tight. The rooi 
 was built in the same manner. The door
 
 98 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 was in the eastern end and opposite the 
 chimney, with two windows, without glass, 
 covered with sliding shutters. The floor was 
 also made of slabs, sawed side up, and tree- 
 nailed to the sleepers. His principal tools 
 were an axe, saw, spike gimlet and jack- 
 knife. 
 
 There is a kind of sedge grass that grows 
 around marshes on the sea board which David 
 gathered and dried. The pleasant odor of 
 this grass lasts for years. He used a quantity 
 of it for his bed, and the balmy perfume 
 from the young spruce and cedar trees that 
 thickly surrounded the cabin, afforded a 
 most agreeable sensation. The cabin was 
 not more than ten rods from the beach or 
 boat landing, but entirely concealed. It was 
 approached by a circuitous route back of the 
 ledge, thickly spread with evergreen trees. 
 The situation of the cabin was satifactory to 
 David, for in his absence it would not be
 
 DAVID ROBERTSON'S CABIN.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. IOI 
 
 likely to be disturbed and would keep unwel- 
 come visitors away. David preferred seclu- 
 sion and privacy. Nevertheless he would 
 occasionlly entertain a favored few. 
 
 The boat fishermen were often ashore on 
 the island digging clams for bait. With now 
 and then an excursion from the neighboring 
 islands, berrying in summer, he made a virtue 
 of necessity and kept his cabin concealed from 
 public view. By his industry and diligence, 
 working early and late, he moved into his 
 cabin the first of August, exchanging the 
 bough bed for the bunk of sweet scented 
 grass. The toil of the day had brought sweet 
 repose, and with his mind at ease and his 
 plans matured, he enjoyed the refreshing 
 slumber that comes of labor. 
 
 It had now become necessary for David to 
 leave the work that had afforded him so much 
 gratification. The pleasant days of August 
 and September were the halcyon days for
 
 IO2 THE ROMANTIC STORY OK DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 small boat fishing. With fish he could get 
 all the necessaries of life, having no inclina- 
 tion for luxuries. 
 
 David left no opportunity negle6ted. With 
 his habitual industry, during these months he 
 caught fish more than enough for his frugal 
 wants. Among the neighboring islands were 
 owned several small vessels. In the fall of 
 the year the fishermen would load one of the 
 vessels for a western market with dried fish 
 which were given to the captain in trust, to 
 sell or exchange for their winter stores. A 
 barter traffic was carried on in those times 
 between merchant and fisherman, The mer- 
 chant stipulated to pay one-half cash snd one- 
 half in goods. David shipped his fish by the 
 freighter, giving the captain a list of his wants 
 including a few books to be added to his 
 limited library, which comprised all told Bun- 
 yan's Pilgrim's Progress, Milton's Paradise 
 Lost, his school books, almanac, Walker's
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 1 03 
 
 Dictionary and Bible. When resting from 
 labor David was educating himself. His 
 common sense and habits of reflection and 
 reasoning, in time brought about the result. 
 
 It had been previously agreed between 
 David and the captain of the freighter that if 
 he had an apportunity he would stop at the 
 island on his return and land his stores. It was 
 time for the fish freighter's return and David 
 was on the lookout. A signal gun informed 
 him of the arrival. With his wherry he soon 
 landed his stores. The settlement with the 
 captain was satisfactory. The returns sur- 
 passed his expectations. David had now 
 more than enough. Besides, a contented 
 mind is a continual feast, which is a self-evi- 
 dent truth that antedates the flood. 
 
 An educated stranger meeting David would 
 observe his gentle manner and would notice, 
 by his language, that he had obtained the 
 rudiments of a limited education, of course,
 
 IO4 TMK ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBEHTSON. 
 
 owing to his youth and the seclusion in which 
 he lived. 
 
 During the few pleasant days of Indian 
 summer David continued boat fishing, but 
 when the cold, bleak winds of November 
 made it solitary and comfortless, he found 
 employment cutting wood for winter use, 
 stowing it away in a hovel made of slabs. 
 In the intervening time he had built a gunning- 
 float. The sea birds were abundant and with 
 the float concealed with rock-weed, he could 
 shoot more than he wanted. After plucking 
 the feathers, the birds with the exception of 
 black duck, were worthless. He used discre- 
 tion, not shooting any more than he could 
 pick. He found a ready market for the 
 feathers he obtained from the sea birds, and 
 they brought him ready money. 
 
 The black duck is by nature shy, suspicious 
 and cautious, and considered by the rich and 
 poor alike a luxury. Often he sat out on
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 105 
 
 pleasure bent, on moon light nights, after black 
 ducks, which afforded him pleasure and profit. 
 Among these islands there were rivulets flow- 
 ing into the sea, which the ducks frequent by 
 night for fresh water. The black sea duck is 
 by nature a night wanderer, wary and keen of 
 scent; if approached from windward, he is off 
 with a quack, and you have your pains for 
 your trouble. 
 
 David built booths of boughs and would 
 lie behind the blind concealed at times for 
 for hours, but generally by this stratagem 
 shot ducks enough to well pay for his mingled 
 feelings of distress and delight. David now 
 with all the comforts that rustic life affords, 
 hidden from public view, the summer gone, 
 the dreary days of stormy winter at hand, 
 living alone in harmony with the laws of God, 
 guided by reason, and envying no man, would 
 not exchange his lot for the crown of a 
 
 O 
 
 sovereign.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE last days of January were extreme- 
 ly cold, the ice making on the shores 
 so that the islands were enclosed with walls 
 of ice. In February he went among the 
 islands in the vicinity on the ice, with his gun 
 and dog, alter martins or minks, a kind of 
 weasel which were found in great plenty on 
 the rocky shore cliffs among the islands, the 
 snow plainly showing their tracks. He 
 would cross from island to island until the 
 shades of night were beginning to fall, then 
 with a back load of minks would hie his way 
 home to his cabin. The pelts were a source 
 of profit equivalent to money. 
 
 Roving amidst the islands in quest of 
 game, it would sometimes happen that he 
 would unexpectedly surprise and shoot a red
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 1 07 
 
 fox. David's dog was a mongrel whose so- 
 called instinct would surprise a naturalist, who 
 will never admit that a dog is capable of 
 thought. " Instin6t" is not a satisfactory ex- 
 planation of the sagacity and understanding 
 of a trained dog, and it remains inexplicable, 
 except upon the ground of some conscious 
 intelligence. His dog was an excellent water 
 retriever, rendering him invaluable when 
 David shot wild fowl. She was delighted 
 when allowed to bring or carry. When 
 David went gunning after sea birds the instant 
 the gun was discharged the dog was off after 
 the fowl in the ice cold water in the coldest 
 weather, leaving the dead birds in order to get 
 the wounded first. They were halcyon days, 
 for his labor was to him a pleasure. 
 
 The winter passed in tranquility and con- 
 tentment, cruising or hunting on sunny days 
 of winter, with his gun and dog, and elated 
 with his successes, which he well merited by
 
 IO8 THE ROMANTIC STORY OK DAVID ROfcERTSON. 
 
 his thrift and industry. The evenings were 
 invariably spent in the cabin, obtaining useful 
 information. 
 
 When these islands were first settled the 
 shore waters abounded in fish, mackerel, her- 
 ring and menhaden being predominate. They 
 were used for bait by the fishermen, in lieu of 
 clams, when obtainable. Under the solar 
 influence the ice embargo that had been on 
 for two months was now disappearing. Signs 
 of spring were making their appearance. 
 
 David was an inventive genius. He had 
 never seen a fish weir, and all he knew about 
 it was from a meagre discription given him 
 by Skipper Davis when in the old chebacco 
 boat. With a plan well matured, he now 
 started to construct a fish weir, working early 
 and late gathering materials, which were 
 mostly obtained from the adjacent islands, 
 then brought or towed in the wherry to the 
 place where the weir was to be built. This
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 1 09 
 
 work necessitated hard labor, yet the anticipa- 
 tion of the result made the labor a source of 
 gratification. 
 
 From a point of land a sand spit extended 
 from the shore forming an inlet or boat har- 
 bor. Here David built the weir, extending it 
 into tide water below low water mark. His 
 method of executing the work was simply by 
 driving stakes and then interweaving alder 
 brush, making a hedge, with a heart shaped 
 trap at the outer end, covering the sides of 
 the trap with a net made of marline. It was 
 a long tedious job, he having to do the work 
 alone. 
 
 He completed the weir the first of May. 
 The boat fishermen had arrived, visiting 
 David and offering suggestions. David lis- 
 tened with indifference, satisfied, in his own 
 mind, they did not know what they were 
 talking about. Arguing amongst themselves, 
 one old fisherman said, "It's against common
 
 I IO THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBETSON. 
 
 sense and reason to catch fish in a brush 
 fence," and another replied: "So say I, if a 
 fish went in that hole he'd swim out quicker 
 than he went in, unless I am a fool." His 
 prediction about the fish proved him a false 
 prophet, as regards the fool, a true one, for 
 David caught fish in the pound of the weir, 
 in abundance. The weir being almost an 
 original conception, proved a happy termina- 
 tion of his hopes and fears, the success of 
 which greatly pleased him, but he was free 
 from vanity and self-conceit. A barter trade 
 was carried on between David and the fisher- 
 men, David furnishing the fresh bait in return 
 for the cod fish, the traffic being satisfactory 
 to both, likewise, remunerative to David. 
 
 When David had completed the weir his 
 hopes were not realized at first. During the 
 month of May he caught very few fish, with 
 the exception of salmon, which he smoked 
 and dried. Almost all fish are migratory.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. I I I 
 
 The mackerel and menhaden did not make 
 their appearance with June. These fish are 
 very plentiful in the shore waters of Maine, 
 with its 250 miles of ocean frontage, in a 
 straight line from Kittery Point to Quoddy 
 Head, including in its indentures of bays and 
 rivers, a total of 2140 miles of sea coast. 
 
 The principal use the early settlers made of 
 these fish was for bait to catch bottom fish. 
 The three summer months were elysian days 
 for David, who enjoyed the light labor of 
 tending the pound of the weir, and curing the 
 codfish which he received in lieu of the men- 
 haden and mackerel caught in the weir. 
 These fish were the equivalant of money. 
 
 By the world at large, money is reckoned 
 as an important substitute for happiness, but 
 it does not always bring it about. David, like 
 the rest of the world, liked money, but would 
 not sacrifice principle for it. There was no 
 secret about David's making money: first, by
 
 112 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 well matured plans of labor which he accom- 
 plished; second, by industry, together with 
 good common sense and genius combined; 
 thirdly, he spent less money than he obtained, 
 and could justly apply the old witticism: 
 " Handsome is, as handsome does." 
 
 David now had plenty of spare time, and 
 more company than was agreeable. The 
 fishermen with their light and frivolous ways 
 and speechifying, were not always congenial 
 to him. Notwithstanding these defeats, they 
 were liberal, charitable and generous. 
 
 The summer passed away, and once more 
 Old Boreas made his appearance with his icy 
 blast, the signal for the fishermen to wend 
 their way homeward. The fishermen all 
 respected David for his estimable qualities, 
 and many were the invitations he received to 
 spend the winter with them in their humble 
 cottages. David preferred the seclusion and 
 privacy of his cabin with its enchanting visions,
 
 THK ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 113 
 
 wherein he lived over again the scenes of 
 the last winter, enjoying one of the greatest 
 blessings of God to man, contentment. 
 
 It now became necessary for David to go 
 in the wherry some distance, to see the captain 
 of the fish freighter, to make arrangements 
 with him to stop at his island, to take his fish 
 for market. David set out at sunrise in the 
 wherry, with a fair wind, arriving at the Cap- 
 tain's house at one o'clock. After making 
 satisfactory arrangements, he then set out for 
 home. The wind was ahead and blowing 
 fresh. He kept under the lee of the islands 
 as much as possible, keeping warm by row- 
 ing. 
 
 Night was fast approaching, when he land- 
 ed on an island where there was a rustic 
 farmhouse, built of logs and slabs. Hauling 
 up the wherry out of the tide's way, he 
 went to the house and knocked. A short, 
 thick-set man came to the door and David
 
 114 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 explained to him the situation. With a cheer- 
 ful invitation of "Come in, you are as welcome 
 as the flowers of May," the old gentleman 
 introduced him to his daughter and her 
 husband. When supper was ready, he was 
 cordially invited to "set by." The supper 
 was abundant and plentiful. David being 
 hungry, did the repast ample justice 
 
 There was a cheerful wood fire in the fire- 
 place, serving to enliven and animate the 
 inmates of the house. The evening was 
 spent with sociable and animated conversa- 
 tion, host and hostess dispensing a generous 
 hospitality. The hospitality of the retired 
 and primitive settlers of those islands was 
 unlimited, and the stranger always found a 
 cordial and kind reception. 
 
 The next morning, after an earl} 7 breakfast, 
 with a friendly parting, David was off for 
 home. When he got within a mile or more 
 of his island, his dog who had been left to
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 115 
 
 watch, saw him with that keenness of vision 
 with which she was endowed by nature. She 
 swam off to meet him, expressing by actions, 
 more than language can describe, her glad- 
 ness. 
 
 The first thing done after getting home, was 
 to put his merchandise in shape for shipment 
 in the freighter. He stored and neatly packed 
 the codfish and smoked salmon in convenient 
 packages, also his pelts and feathers, with a 
 dozen or more barrels of mackerel and her- 
 ring. This work completed, he then care- 
 fully made out his list of goods. He could 
 have the luxuries as well as the necessities of 
 life, but he would have lived with frugality if 
 he had had the exchequer or the revenue of 
 England. 
 
 In due time, the freighter made the round 
 trip. When the settlement was made, and he 
 received his money and stores, the captain 
 remarked to David, "You are high line among
 
 Il6 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 the fishermen this year." David had pride 
 without vanity, and he received, with appre- 
 ciation, the well merited compliment. 
 
 Captain Cook, master of the schooner 
 Mary F., was prominent among the island 
 towns. He had become somewhat famous 
 for making quick trips, as a cord wood coaster. 
 When on his passage home from Boston, he 
 was overtaken by a heavy south-east gale of 
 wind, in the Mussel Ridge channel. When 
 he passed Owl's Head it was midnight. 
 Under a double reefed foresail, he had to 
 cross Penobscot Bay to Mark Island. His 
 course was to leave Mark Island on the port 
 hand close aboard, then through the thorough- 
 fare into East Penobscot Bay. It was as dark 
 as Egyptian midnight, the rain fell in torrents 
 and the gale blew in tempestuous gusts. The 
 schooner steered wild, owing to the heavy sea 
 that was heaving in from the unbroken seas 
 of the Atlantic. The wind was aft the beam.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. I 17 
 
 The captain who was at the helm, not making 
 proper allowance, the schooner run to the 
 eastward of the course and struck on the 
 rocks that lay to the eastward of Mark 
 Island. The seas boarded the schooner in a 
 terrific manner, staving the boats at the 
 davits. The tide was making flood. The 
 small chance of saving their lives, appalled 
 the stoutest heart among them. 
 
 David was in his cabin to leeward of the 
 wreck, when his dog began to a6l in a strange 
 manner, howling and scratching at the door. 
 David let the dog out and she ran to the 
 shore, then back to the cabin, barking inces- 
 santly. David put on his oiled clothes and 
 followed the dog to the shore. He launched 
 the wherry and then rowed to windward, 
 keeping under the shelter of the island, and 
 crossed the thoroughfare by dint of hard 
 rowing. With the aid of the dog, he suc- 
 ceeded in finding the wreck, and managed to
 
 IlS THE KOMANTIC STORY OF DAVID RORERTSOX. 
 
 get them on terra firma. The heavy south- 
 east gales on the Maine coast are of short 
 duration. 
 
 Next morning the wind was northwest and 
 icy cold and very little was saved of the 
 schooner. The succeeding months until Feb- 
 ruary, David was hunting for minks or 
 gunning for sea birds, with lucrative results. 
 In February, owing to the severe cold weather, 
 he stayed at home in the cabin, with a cheer- 
 ful open fire that burned in the fireplace, 
 ruddy and florid, dispensing comfort. He 
 fully realized the contrast betwixt the warm 
 cabin, and the cold, frigid weather outside. 
 He was busily employed in the daytime, 
 knitting nets or weaving ash baskets. The 
 evening he spent with his books, which was 
 his habitual custom, summer or winter, and 
 so the days and nights alike passed felicitously. 
 
 The winter was severe, the longest contin- 
 uation of sharp, cold weather ever known by
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 119 
 
 the settlers. The bay was frozen to the outer 
 islands. Horses with sleighs were crossing 
 the bay until March. David's insular situa- 
 tion was now no protection, his island lying 
 in a direcY line of travel between the large 
 island towns and the main land. He would 
 often see teams hauling hay and goods, with 
 now and then a traveller, who would stop and 
 partake of David's hospitality. 
 
 David was so constituted by nature that he 
 derived comfort from solitude and deep med- 
 itation. The days of winter passed quickly 
 away. The ice was breaking up, drifting 
 seaward. The welcome heralds of spring, 
 the wild geese were on their passage north- 
 ward. The jolly fishermen had come to their 
 old haunts after early fish for home market. 
 David now rebuilt the weir, which necessi- 
 tated some hard labor, from dawn to sunset, 
 but with the experience he had, besides his 
 relish for work, it was soon completed.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 DAVID lived on the island for three 
 years, with unalloyed happiness and 
 peace and prosperity. The weir proved a 
 successful undertaking. The net result of the 
 fishing season appeared to be one that would 
 leave him a competence, or at least a suffi- 
 ciency. 
 
 In October, David packed his merchandise 
 ready for market, and now anxiously looked 
 for the fish freighter. A fishing schooner 
 anchored near the beach. The captain directly 
 came on shore, and appeared to be in a hurry, 
 meeting David with a friendly salutation, with 
 a pat on his shoulder, and a tongue as smooth 
 as oil, using undue familiarity for a stranger, 
 saying: "I have come after your freight, sent 
 by Capt. W. Please use all the dispatch pos-
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 121 
 
 sible, as my business is urgent. I have 
 stopped merely for your accommodation." 
 Hurry was not a part of David's makeup. In 
 his mind, he was entertaining suspicion of the 
 captain, judging from appearances. The 
 captain, now coaxing, now flattering, David 
 listening. The captain now changed his 
 tactics. '' Well, I can't stay here all day. If 
 you don't hurry up, I shall get under way and 
 be off." David replied in two words. :? You 
 go," then walked off to the cabin. 
 
 For several days he was in a quandary, 
 thinking what was to be done under the cir- 
 cumstances, lie came to the conclusion that 
 he would hire or charter a small fisherman 
 and carry his own freight. There was a 
 cralt on an island in the near vicinity, that 
 would suit his purpose. After making the 
 necessary arrangements, and chartering the 
 schooner, the freighter that was to take his 
 lish arrived. David then related to the cap-
 
 122 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 tain the incident of the vessel's coming after 
 his freight. The captain had no knowledge 
 of the transaction, nor could he, from David's 
 description, recognize the vessel or the master. 
 David canceled his obligation with the small 
 schooner, and put his freight on board the 
 freighter. The captain earnestly invited 
 David to take the trip, so David decided to 
 go, and went to Boston in the freighter. 
 
 David once more on board a fisherman, 
 felt at home, ate his allowance, stood his 
 watch, steered his trick, and helped make and 
 take in sail, enjoying the familiar scenes with 
 satisfaction. He had never been in a city, 
 and when he arrived in Boston, somehow, it 
 was not like what his fancy had painted. 
 The confusion and noise were embarrassing 
 to him. 
 
 The vessel lay at a wharf near Quincy 
 Market. The O6tober day was misty and 
 chilly, when David went ashore for a stroll,
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 123 
 
 to look at modern Athens. He first visited 
 Quincy Market, where he had an opportunity 
 of using of all his five senses, gazing with in- 
 terest and wonderment, as he slowly walked 
 through the market. Then he went to Fan- 
 euil Hall, and to Dock Square, crossing the 
 square to Washington Street, and gazing with 
 surprise as he leisurely walked. On turning 
 up West Street he came to the Common, and 
 loitered there for a time, until he called to 
 mind that it was time to go on board the 
 schooner. He started in the direction he had 
 come, but missed the turning. He walked 
 on, till he finally got back to the Common. 
 In this dilemma, he asked a boy the way to 
 the market. The boy replied : " Show you 
 the way, Mr. for ten cents." David said, "Go 
 on, I will give you ten cents when we get 
 there." " No, give me the money now, and I 
 will go with you sure." David, with suspi- 
 cion, gave the boy ten cents. The young Arab
 
 I 24 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 ran away with his thumb to his nose, wagging 
 his fingers, and said ft Verdant, you wait till I 
 come back, and I'll show you the way to the 
 market, sure." 
 
 An old gentleman who had witnessed this 
 scene, understanding David's predicament, 
 advised him to take a cab. With the gentle- 
 man's assistance, a cab was called, and an 
 agreement made, to take David to Quincy 
 Market for twenty-five cents. In less than 
 five minutes, David was at the market. He 
 passed the cabman a half dollar, expecting 
 him to give him the change. The cabman 
 said, "You are a gentleman," and was off be- 
 fore David had time to protest. 
 
 lie was now in a fair way to get once more 
 on board the vessel, walking hurridly 
 through the market, with only one idea in his 
 head, to find the schooner. When he found 
 the schooner, the welcome sight was something 
 akin to the gladness of the mariner, when he
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 125 
 
 sights land after being a long time at sea. 
 When he got aboard, the jolly old skipper of 
 the schooner, by dint of questioning, suc- 
 ceeded in getting the story out of David, and 
 jokingly told the mate if David went ashore 
 again, to tie a fish line to him, and make the 
 end fast aboard. 
 
 David, if occasion required, could find his 
 way across the Western Ocean, and the idea 
 of his getting lost in the streets of Boston, 
 caused no end of fun for the jolly skipper and 
 his crew. Nevertheless, the next day David 
 went ashore but paid attention to the course 
 he was steering, keeping run of himself by 
 dead reckoning and observation, with a sharp 
 lookout for the lay of the land, as well as the 
 bearings of Quincy Market, walking leisurely 
 until he came to Cornhill. On the right hand 
 side of the street he found an antiquarian 
 book-store, and went in. A pleasant old gen- 
 tleman was in attendance. This amenity at
 
 126 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 once gave David assurance that the old gen- 
 tleman could be trusted. He talked freely to 
 him, an unusual and rare thing, for him to do, 
 and voluntarily told him so much of his story 
 that the old gentleman became interested in 
 him. 
 
 David's object, when he entered the store, 
 was to get himself books, and he made known 
 his wants. The gentleman, without a mer- 
 cenary motive, helped David make an assort- 
 ment, and truly rendered him valuable assis- 
 tance, showing that there is such a thing as 
 personal kindness among strangers in business 
 transactions, notwithstanding the maxim, 
 f There is no friendship in trade." Leaving 
 his books to be sent on board the schooner, 
 and taking a cordial leave of this gentleman 
 of the old school, David continued his ram- 
 bling, looking in the shop windows, or notic- 
 ing the passers by, speculating and theorizing, 
 and withal, somewhat excited by the superior-
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 1 27 
 
 ity of things open to his view. As he walked 
 along feasting his eyes, he was accosted by 
 an Israelite clothier with, "Come in my friend, 
 I will sell you cheap, the best coat in Boston. 
 I have got one coat that will fit you. The 
 price is cheap at ten dollars. It is a genuine 
 Liverpool pilot, and I will sell it to you for 
 five dollars, mine friend. You come in and 
 try that coat on." David tried to go on, 
 when the Jew got him by the arm, to lead 
 him into the shop. David thought the Jew 
 was too familiar on short acquaintance, and 
 gave him a shove that sent him head-long 
 into his shop. When the Jew recovered his 
 equlibrium, the epithet he applied to David 
 was, "You Cape Cod, Down east, all along 
 
 shore, son of a b h." 
 
 David now started to go on board the 
 schooner. He knew the bearings of Quincy 
 Market, and course and distance would take 
 him there. The general course he could
 
 I 28 THK ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID RORERTSOX. 
 
 define, but owing to the intricacy of the streets, 
 with their labyrinthal windings, he was per- 
 plexed and bothered. David came to a stand 
 still on a corner, trying to decide what street 
 to take, when he was greeted by an apparent- 
 ly young woman, (who could hardly, with pro- 
 priety, be termed a lady,) with a fond " How 
 do you do, dear?" David's first impression 
 was, that she had mistaken him for someone 
 else, but when she invited him to treat her to a 
 bottle of wine, David blushed with shame and 
 confusion, and was off, when she said, with 
 audacity, " You country lout, stop when you 
 get there." 
 
 David, without further disturbance or 
 trouble, arrived on board the schooner. The 
 fish were sold, the freighter discharged, the 
 stores were all on board, and the schooner 
 ready for sea. The next morning, if the 
 weather permitted, they would start the 
 schooner for home. This being their last
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 129 
 
 Boston, the captain and his mate concluded 
 to go to the National Theatre, and prevailed 
 upon David to go with them. The dramatic 
 performance of ? The Forty Thieves," en- 
 gaged David's attention, but it was contrary 
 to his nature to be enthusiastically excited, 
 and he was glad when the exhibition ended, 
 as peace and quietness were more in conform- 
 ity with his feelings than noise and tumult, 
 Not so with the jolly skipper, whose guffaws 
 and boisterous horse-laughs were hearty and 
 repeated. These, jolly old skippers that 
 flourished fifty years ago, by their upright 
 conduct and honest dealings commanded 
 respect wherever known.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 A LITTLE after sunrise, on the first 
 day of November, with a moderate 
 breeze they fiilled away for home. When 
 the watch was set at eight o'clock that night, 
 Cape Ann bore southwest, ten miles distant. 
 In conformity with that class of vessels, the 
 captain took her out, and the mate took her 
 home, consequently, it wa^s the mate's eight 
 hours on deck. The night was dark, the stars 
 obscure, the weather catching, so they decided 
 to run the shore around. 
 
 The following morning, the weather was 
 thick and hazy. They caught a glimpse of the 
 land, which they called Seguin, before it shut 
 down. They made their course good, for an 
 hour longer, when it commenced snowing, 
 and the storm had now come in earnest, with
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 13! 
 
 intense cold. The east wind howled and 
 whistled through the rigging, while all hands 
 were at work double-reefing the sails. They 
 were now in a blinding snow storm and not 
 sure of their position, amongst a large group 
 of islands. The wind was blowing in tem- 
 pestuous gusts, the cold increasing, and it was 
 utterly impossible to turn to windward. 
 
 The skipper's countenance indexed his 
 anxiety, but at length his troubled visage was 
 lighted by a pleasing thought. He hailed 
 David, saying, " Are you acquainted here ? " 
 David's laconic reply was "Yes." "Can you 
 or will you, take her in ? " :? Yes." The con- 
 fidence the skipper had in David when he 
 said yes, amounted to more than a whole 
 chapter of most men's talk. The anxiety 
 that clouded the skippers face, now vanished 
 like dew before sunshine. The schooner 
 was head reaching under close reefed main 
 sail and reefed jib.
 
 132 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBETSOX. 
 
 With the deep sea line, David got sound- 
 ings after several casts of the lead. He then 
 slacked off the main-sheet and kept her off 
 with the wind on the quarter. The schooner 
 was now driving forward with rapidity, urged 
 on by the gale. The snow was falling thick 
 and fast, with heavy and angry gusts of wind 
 veering to the eastward. The sheet anchor 
 was all ready, with thirty fathoms of cable 
 overhauled. The schooner was going at a 
 fearful rate, for the rocky coast of Maine. If 
 by some mishap, now, David should make a 
 mistake, destruction would be inevitable. 
 Every man aboard was uneasy with a painful 
 sensation of danger, except David, who was 
 calm and composed, for he knew he was 
 going right. They could now hear the surf 
 breaking and roaring on the shore to leeward. 
 
 Soon after sunrise, the wind veered from 
 south to southeast. At eight o'clock, from 
 southeast to east. From where David got
 
 OKI- 1 KOK MISCOMHS.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 135 
 
 night in soundings, his course for Muscongus, 
 was north, northeast. David uttered the con- 
 cise expression, " All right." Nothing could 
 be seen, owing to the blinding snow storm, 
 when suddenly, as if by magic, they were in 
 smooth water. 
 
 He kept on for a mile or more, with occa- 
 sionally a glimpse of the land to windward. 
 It was now still and smooth, with hardly a 
 ripple on the water, when they came to 
 anchor. The exhilerating effect produced on 
 these men, by the transition from imminent 
 danger to absolute security, is beyond my pen 
 to describe. 
 
 The roaring of the sea breaking on the out 
 shores and rocky islands on the Maine coast 
 in heavy weather, is called by the fishermen, 
 "the rote." Coming in from sea, in thick 
 weather, and hearing the rote, the fishermen 
 can define their position and locate the rocks 
 or islands by the rumbling noise of the sea
 
 136 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 breaking on the rocks. It was noon by the 
 skipper's watch when they anchored off 
 Muscongus. Their anxious care now gave 
 place to cheerful and animated gladness. 
 
 The cook prepared an excellent dinner, to 
 which all hands did ample justice. The tem- 
 pestuous gale that raged at sea, brought them 
 no anxiety, but they had sympathy for those 
 who were unable to find a harbor of refuge. 
 
 David, now in a locality he knew so well, 
 without loss of time, went ashore to visit 
 Pemaquid. There he met with old acquaint- 
 ances, and the usual greetings were ex- 
 changed, questions asked and answers re- 
 turned, lie learned that both the Commodore 
 and Capt. Ben were laid at rest in the ceme- 
 tery. He could get no information about 
 Jack, as no one seemed to know or have any 
 interest in him or his destiny. The old cot- 
 tage had been torn down, with hardly a ves- 
 tige left. The poplar tree that stood before
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 137 
 
 the old skipper's door, remained standing with 
 a grim and hideous appearance. The un- 
 welcome news caused gloomy thoughts, and 
 the melancholy scene where the cottage 
 stood, combined with the disagreeable day, 
 made David dejected. With spirits depressed, 
 he went on board. Devoted and faithful to 
 the memory of the place that had been his 
 home, he was displeased and disheartened 
 with his visit. The charms of imagination 
 were gone. Yet visions he retained, with 
 pleasant thoughts of his island home. 
 
 The next morning the wind had changed 
 to the northwest, an indication that the good 
 weather would not long continue. They 
 were under way and off for home at break of 
 day. With David for a pilot, they sailed 
 through the winding channels of these islands, 
 shortening miles of distance. On one of these 
 rocky islands to windward, they discovered 
 a wreck, apparently a schooner of about a
 
 138 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 hundred tons, with a fisherman in the near 
 vicinity, rendering what help was necessary. 
 The schooner looked like, and probably was, 
 the same that they saw off Seguin, before the 
 snow tempest. They gave vent to many ex- 
 pressions of sympathy for the unfortunate 
 schooner's condition, reflecting now that in all 
 probability, they themselves, would have been 
 in a similar situation, without David's assis- 
 tance. 
 
 Without further incidents, the schooner ar- 
 rived and anchored off David's island. In an 
 hour's time, his freight was landed. David 
 was full of gratitude for the kindness he had 
 received, and the skipper also, was duly 
 grateful to David for his assistance. Then 
 with a hearty shake of the honest skipper's 
 hand, they parted with kindly wishes for each 
 others welfare. The skipper went on board 
 and sailed away. 
 
 David's dog, that had been left in care of a
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID RORERTSON. 139 
 
 neighbor, on the adjacent island, was at home 
 to meet him, greeting him with canine fond- 
 ness. David treated her with endearment. 
 She had manifested her affection for him by 
 her actions, as plainly as words could describe 
 her joy. 
 
 The chilly November day was almost gone, 
 when David built a roaring fire in the open 
 fireplace in the cabin. Nothing had been 
 disturbed. He prepared his frugal supper, 
 eating it with all the relish of youth and 
 health. Then he sat in his easy chair before 
 the genial fire, in cheerful meditation, living 
 over again the scenes of the last two weeks. 
 He realised. the truth and beauty of the grand 
 old song, "Home, Swreet Home."
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 ON one of the clusters of islands that 
 was near to David's lived a family 
 of more refinement than the ordinary settlers. 
 They were Massachusetts born and bred, 
 meeting with adverse fortunes while living 
 
 o o 
 
 there. Hearing novel tales of the natural 
 advantages of these islands on the Maine 
 coast, they decided to settle there. Mr. Lane 
 was a smart and stirring man, past middle 
 age. Both he and his wife, were people of 
 education. They claimed to be descended 
 from Scotch nobility, having a record of the 
 family genealogy. 
 
 The family were hardy, strong and healthy, 
 and well adapted for a pioneers life in a new 
 country. His family of two boys and five 
 girls, came with him when he took up the
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID RORERTSON. 14! 
 
 land, and secured his claim as a settler. 
 Working with an enthusiastic zeal, he cleared 
 the land and built his log-cabin, and event- 
 ually received the reward that honest labor is 
 sure to bring. 
 
 When Mr. Lane came he brought his 
 library, which caused his neighbors to look 
 on him with respet, and he was always 
 treated by them, with a kind of reverance, as 
 long as he lived. Mr. Lane entertained a 
 favorable opinion of David, frequently invit- 
 ing him to his house, and nothing would have 
 pleased him more, than to have had David 
 for a son-in-law. David was popular. His 
 fame had spread amongst all the islands, far 
 and near, on the Maine coast. More than 
 one excursion was planned by the fishermen's 
 girls, to go berrying on his island, (to fish for 
 David.) 
 
 The girls of Mr. Lane were skillful at row- 
 ing a wherry, and often came alone for ber-
 
 142 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBETSOX. 
 
 ries. David always gave them a wide berth, 
 for he was a bashful fellow. After various 
 unsuccessful attempts to engage David in 
 conversation, the lively, rosy-cheeked one, the 
 girls called Mary, at last let her temper get 
 the best of her, and called David "a freckled 
 gawky," and went home in the sulks. Several 
 days passed, before Mr. Lane's girls went to 
 the island. 
 
 When Mary got over her ill-humor, these 
 merry girls went back on the island after 
 berries. They were busily engaged picking 
 berries, and did not heed the approach of a 
 tempest. A flash of lightning, followed by a 
 heavy clap of thunder, sent the girls running 
 and screaming, to David's cabin for shelter. 
 What stratagem and wiles failed to do, acci- 
 dent accomplished for the girls, viz.; they got 
 into David's cabin. 
 
 Now they determined to see if they could 
 not get something out of him besides mono- 
 

 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 143 
 
 sylablcs. The whole five of them began to 
 ply him with questions, all talking at once. 
 David was nearly distracted. He was no 
 match for these girls who outnumbered him, 
 five to one. More than that, his retreat was 
 cut off by a sentinel on guard at the door, and 
 escape was impossible. While the shower 
 continued, his cabin was under petticoat 
 authority. Mary particularly noticed David's 
 collection of books. While looking them 
 over, she mentaly planned a scheme to trap 
 him, after his cruise to Boston, in November. 
 The scheme, she put into execution. 
 
 Mary knew that it was his usual practice to 
 spend his evenings reading or studying. She 
 took from her father's library the first volume 
 of Cooper's Deer Slayer, and got her brother 
 to devise an errand to David's and leave the 
 book on his table. Her brother did as she 
 directed, and after doing his necessary errand, 
 went home. David found the book on the
 
 144 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 table, with Mary's name on the blank leaf, 
 wondering, without suspe6ting, how it came 
 there. 
 
 After supper, sitting in his easy chair before 
 his cosy fire, he began to read Mary's book. 
 He soon became interested, and as he read on, 
 his interest increased. Nothing short of an 
 earthquake would have taken his attention 
 now from the book. He finished reading it 
 that night, and the next day went to Mr. 
 Lane's house for the second volume. David 
 bit the insiduous hook that Mary was angling 
 with. Mary saw him coming and was flushed 
 with the success of her scheme. 
 
 Mr. Lane and his wife received David with 
 a hearty welcome. It was the first time he 
 had been there. Mr. Lane said he and his 
 wife were both honored to receeve a visit 
 from him, and he would be pleased to see him 
 in the future. When David was ready for 
 home the malapert Mary passed him the
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON". 145 
 
 book, neatly done up and tied with a string, 
 with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. She 
 said to herself " O, he will come again, he 
 has got the first volume of the Scottish Chiefs 
 in the bundle." 
 
 David, like other men, had a sensitive feel- 
 ing for a pretty girl. He had now discovered 
 that Mary had beautiful eyes, dimpled cheeks 
 and alluring ways, and was brimming over 
 with fun. Is it any wonder that he bit at the 
 bait? He went home with the pi6tu're of 
 Mary and her ways, impressed on his mind. 
 The calm and sedate David was in love, as 
 men in all ages, have been, and will continue 
 to be as long as time shall last. 
 
 Mary was right in her prediction and David 
 now went often to Mr. Lane's house. David 
 was fascinated by her ways and beauty, but 
 somehow, Mary, with all her wiles could not 
 make him talk to the purpose. Nevertheless, 
 his actions implied what no words expressed.
 
 146 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 David now was a constant visitor at Mr. 
 Lane's house, acknowledged and received as 
 a suitor for Mary, and well appreciated and 
 valued by Mr. Lane and his wife. 
 
 Mary had made all the advances that 
 maiden modesty would permit, but still, 
 David made no proposal. She was deter- 
 mined not to be the old maid of the family. 
 David was equally determined to acl: consist- 
 ently. He had not solved the problem to his 
 satisfaction. With precipitation on her part, 
 and procrastination on his, the lovers were at 
 cross-purposes. 
 
 When David went home, Mary's sisters 
 would quiz her about him, wanting to know 
 what he said. Mary's answer was "None of 
 your business. The freckled clod-pated dolt 
 didn't say anything." Mary's tongue was re- 
 markably expressive, and her temper was not 
 always pacific. 
 
 The winters David spent on the island,
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 147 
 
 were remarkable for their long continuance 
 of cold weather. The present winter was no 
 exception. In February, a strong bridge of 
 ice formed, so that his neighbors could go 
 and come at pleasure. The consequence was, 
 that David had to entertain more company 
 than he wished. He entertained them with 
 hospitality, but invariably, his guests did the 
 talking, but enjoyed their visit none the less, 
 for fishermen would rather hear themselves 
 talk, when they have someone to listen. 
 
 The days came and went. David remained 
 at home. His solitude which he loved so well, 
 was disturbed by too much company, now 
 that he was mentally trying to analyze his 
 feelings regarding Mary, whom he credited 
 with many virtues. Since their tiff he hud 
 been disposed to blame himself. David's 
 symptoms plainly indicated his disease, which, 
 even a quack do6tor could diagnose, namely, a 
 bad attack uf love-sickness. David was not
 
 148 THK ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 using the proper remedy, common sense. It 
 was true of him, as of sage and fool alike, 
 that when common-sense and a pretty girl are 
 weighed in the balances, common sense gen- 
 erally goes for naught. 
 
 For two weeks, David had not seen Mr. 
 Lane or his family. When one day, Mary's 
 brother made his appearance with a billet- 
 doux for him, from Mary, stating there was 
 to be a merry-making that night, and that she 
 wished him to come and go with her. Her 
 sweetly expressed and neatly written letter 
 was answered with the brief, but comprehen- 
 sive words, " I will come." 
 
 These merry-makings were not to David's 
 liking, but somehow, when Mary said "go," 
 David went. David, dressed in his best, and 
 went alter Mary; she received him at the 
 door, and put her little white hand in his 
 great, rough paw, then arched her neck so as 
 to put her handsome lace near enough for
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 149 
 
 him to kiss her. The brown freckles on his 
 face turned red. He then did the best he 
 could. 
 
 David had ice creepers on his feet. When 
 they started to go, it was necessary for her to 
 take his arm, for the ice was slippery. They 
 trudged merrily along, Mary's tongue running 
 uninterruptedly, except by David f s monosyl- 
 lables, as happy now as the birds that sing in 
 the spring time, arriving at the old fisherman's 
 house, filled with ecstacy. 
 
 All the young people for miles around, 
 were there or coming. At that time, the 
 fishermen's houses were all built alike. They 
 had a large brick chimney in the centre with 
 fire-places in each of the three rooms, which 
 were petitioned off with matched pine boards, 
 unpainted but kept scrupulously clean by the 
 good housewife and her girls. The fisher- 
 men's houses were not only built, but fur- 
 nished alike. The furniture consisted of
 
 150 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 high-backed, basket-bottomed chairs together 
 with a homemade settee, an escritoire, which 
 they considered indispensable, a clock with a 
 mahogany case reaching from the floor to 
 the ceiling, usually standing in the front room, 
 and a pine table, also made at home. A pole 
 hung from the ceiling and a gun stood in the 
 corner. The fire-place in the kitchen, was of 
 extensive dimensions, conspicuous with the 
 iron crane, pot hooks and trammels. Such 
 were their homes. They were noted for 
 honesty and plain dealings, were without pov- 
 erty or riches, and stood on an absolute 
 equality. 
 
 On this occasion, at the old fisherman's 
 house, there was a roaring fire in all the fire- 
 places. The old fisherman and his wife were 
 in the front room, each in their respe6tive 
 corners by the fire. The old man sat in his 
 easy chair, smoking, the good housewife, in 
 her rocking chair, with her knitting work.
 
 TIIK ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 15! 
 
 while the boys and girls stood ready to wel- 
 come each new arrival. When David arrived 
 he, by particular request of the old fisherman, 
 was ushered into the front room and seated 
 beside the old man, who had a great regard 
 for him. To use his own words, he " set 
 store " by him. 
 
 It was a pleasure to the old man ostensibly 
 to entertain David, but in reality, himself, by 
 telling his stories that David knew as well as 
 he did, having heard them many times 
 before. David thought the old man's men- 
 tal faculties failing, especially his memory. 
 While listening to a story about capturing 
 a privateer in the war of 1812, with bal- 
 last stones, a dozen or more girls rushed in 
 for David to pay a forfeit. David, attacked 
 front and rear, squirmed unsuccessfully. The 
 old fisherman sang out, "Gone by the board. 
 Taken by surprise. Rake 'em fore and aft, 
 David!" But he had to lower his colors and
 
 Ifj2 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBETSOX. 
 
 surrender. Tucker, himself, would have had 
 to strike against such unequal odds. 
 
 The old fisherman said " it was not a fair 
 fight. Ten to one, they were rigged all right, 
 and just out of the dock, coppered, scraped 
 and painted from royal-truck to scupper-hole, 
 but no good in heavy weather, and the way 
 they fight is a disgrace to the continental 
 navy. 
 
 With few exceptions, the settlers on these 
 islands, in days of yore, were sailors. In the 
 Revolution and the war of 1812, many of 
 them served in the navy or on board a priva- 
 teer, and after the war, they became fisher- 
 men. As long as they lived, their language 
 was sprinkled with nautical phrases. The 
 language of their descendants, now scattered 
 over the world, no matter what their business, 
 is also tinctured with marine phraseology. The 
 ancient maxim still holds true, namely: "As 
 the old cock crows, so the young one learns."
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 153 
 
 Among the party, there was a foppish young 
 sailor, dressed in a new suit, his head greased 
 with pomatum, his white handkerchief scented 
 with cologne, on his hands, a pair of gloves 
 to cover up the stains of tar, and making more 
 trivial talk than was becoming. 
 
 The old fisherman with his fiddle, struck up 
 the musical notes of "The Flowers of Edin- 
 burgh," the signal for the contra dance. The 
 young sailor went after Mary, who was not 
 going to be left because David could not 
 dance. She kept up a kind of flirtation with 
 the coxcomb, so marked, that it attracted 
 notice. 
 
 Later on, David began to grow jealous and 
 envious of the fop, and felt as if he would 
 like to wring his neck. The old fisherman, 
 like the rest, noticed the proceedings, and not 
 liking Mary to a6t as she did, watched a chance 
 to say a few words to her. " Mary, I don't 
 want to hinder you from enjoying yourself,
 
 154 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 but that sailor fellow doesn't amount to much. 
 I knew him and his folks. His grandfather 
 piloted the English into Castine, in the Revo- 
 lutionery War. My advice is: Don't swap 
 David for the like of him. I know 'em 
 both. David's got an honest hand and a heart 
 as pure as gold. The like of him is not found 
 every day." Mary sullenly pouted, and made 
 him no answer, but when out of his hearing 
 said, rf I wish the old fool would mind his 
 business." 
 
 David had excellent self-command, yet his 
 countenance was strongly expressive of his 
 feelings. He was sitting by himself, in reverie, 
 when he was startled by a pat on his shoulder 
 from the old fisherman, with the brief and 
 wise council, "You never mind, David, she 
 isn't worth the powder." Mary's brothers 
 were there. David said to them, " I am 
 going home. I wish you would look after 
 Mary."
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 155 
 
 When Mary found that David had gone 
 home without a word to her, her maidenly 
 goodness and principle caused a reaction of her 
 feelings. The capricious Mary, now gave 
 the cold shoulder to the dandy sailor, and 
 went home with her brothers, showing ill 
 humor. 
 
 David went home thoughtful and pained at 
 heart. His feelings were not of anger to- 
 wards Mary, but he grieved inwardly, making 
 no outward show except a deep sigh that 
 would escape him now and then. Lucid 
 burned the fire in his cabin. His dog fawned 
 but received no caresses. He could not read 
 or sleep, but simply sat by the fire in serious 
 contemplation, trying to reason the thing out 
 to his satisfaction. His final conclusion was 
 live or die, he was done with Mary. Alas, 
 the day! It was a long time before he found 
 the tranquility of mind that was necessary for 
 his happiness. He went about his usual
 
 156 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID RORERTSON. 
 
 vocations, thoughtfully and with a placid 
 calm, yet with a touch of sadness. He truly 
 loved the capricious Mary. 
 
 It was not his nature to seek fools for com- 
 pany, or drown his troubles in strong drink. 
 Although his mind was made up, still, visions 
 of her comely face, continually haunted him. 
 The visionary castles that had offered him so 
 much pleasure to build, he now realized, were 
 a fool's paradise. He had never solicited or 
 courted company, but now he avoided all 
 comers. In the evening, he sat staring at the 
 blaze that sent forth a bright and sparkling 
 light, prevading the cabin, allowing his 
 thoughts to wander whither they would. If 
 he took up a book to try to direcl: his mind 
 from his trouble, after reading pages, he had 
 but a vague idea of the sense of the author's 
 words. David so laid his love of Mary to 
 heart that he lived the life of a recluse, now, 
 in thought and deed, with unceasing thoughts
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 157 
 
 of Mary. He could not obliterate her from 
 his mind. The demon, jealousy, was inflam- 
 ing him, and jealousy is akin to love, and as 
 long as jealousy lasts, love remains. 
 
 March had come and gone, and it was 
 springtime with the mild west wind in con- 
 tention with old Boreas with his stormy, cold 
 and snowy north winds blustering yet, and 
 loath to die. The ospry, or fish hawks, had 
 come to re-build their nest on the old pine tree 
 that stood in plain sight of his cabin, where 
 season after season they hatched and reared 
 their young. The red-breasted robin and 
 chirping sparrow, which he so gladly wel- 
 comed the spring before, now, he scarcely 
 noticed. The fishermen, as usual, dug their 
 clams, wondering where David was, and why 
 he did not build his weir. 
 
 David was taken unawares, one day, by 
 Mary's brother who handed him a letter. 
 David knew it was from Mary. The super-
 
 158 THK ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 scription was in her hand writing. He stood 
 musing for a time, without a word, with the 
 letter unopened, until Mary's brother made 
 some remark to attra6l his attention. David 
 then wrote on the unopened letter, the single 
 word " Farewell," and passed it back to 
 Mary's brother, and walked away to live 
 again, forlorn and desolate, amongst these 
 wild and desert islands. 
 
 The next eccentric thing that David did, 
 was to load his wherry and a bateau with his 
 belongings. He fastened up his cabin and 
 barricaded the door, then wrote on the cabin, 
 the concise word "gone." But where, for 
 how long, was a puzzling question to the 
 fishermen. To avoid the inquisitiveness and 
 curiosity of the fishermen, David sailed away 
 before sunrise in the wherry, towing the 
 bateau. His destination was a solitary island, 
 remote from the haunts of men, where he 
 could enjoy solitude to his heart's content. It
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 159 
 
 was not far distant from an inhabited island 
 on the north, but east, west and south, there 
 was nothing except the boundless Atlantic 
 ocean. The island was covered with ever- 
 green trees, with a shingle beach that made 
 an excellent boat-landing, and there was an 
 abundant supply of fresh water. 
 
 Arriving at the romantic and rugged isle, 
 before noonday, he at once commenced to 
 build his camp in a sheltered nook near the 
 spring and close to the boat landing. David's 
 inventive genius was of a high order, as I 
 have said before. His primitive ideas and 
 his originality were not often excelled. He 
 built a comfortable and cosy camp with an 
 old sail, and covered it with spruce bows that 
 made it warm when the weather was cold, 
 yet cool and shady in a hot summer day. The 
 building of the camp, occupied both his body 
 and mind, and diverted his attention from the 
 affliction that had sorely troubled him, The
 
 l6o THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 days spent building the camp, brought him 
 what money cannot buy, viz: a placid and 
 peaceful contentment. At night, on a bed of 
 balmy boughs, he slept the undisturbed sleep 
 of health and tired nature. 
 
 It was Saturday when he completed the 
 camp. Like most of the ancient fishermen, 
 he was observant of the Sabbath, though not 
 to the extent of the rigid doctrinal Puritans 
 of those days, but his worship was regulated 
 by moral sense. He was a scrupulous 
 searcher of the sacred scriptures and a firm 
 believer in their mandates. The Sabbath he 
 devoted to rest and tranquility, meditating on 
 the precepts that God's Word enjoins. Dur- 
 ing the retired life which he led, he devoted 
 to himself diligent study, and he was learned 
 and versed in the Holy Writings. His pre- 
 vious trouble now gave place to quiet and 
 blissful contentment, and David once more 
 enjoyed life.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. l6l 
 
 His time was spent in the forenoon, fishing, 
 and generally before the sun was at the meri- 
 dian, he had caught a wherry load of fish. It 
 was his habitual practice to neglect nothing, 
 however trifling, and never put off till tomor- 
 row what ought to be done today. His ob- 
 servance of this simple rule was the principal 
 and essential cause of his prosperity in his 
 undertaking. By strictly adhering to this 
 practice, he succeeded where others failed. 
 When he came in from fishing, he prepared 
 and ate his dinner with a relish that the 
 healthful occupation of boat fishing is certain 
 to guarantee, with an appetite and digestion 
 that an epicure would prize above rubies. 
 
 Contrary to the usual habits of fishermen, 
 David, in a neat and tidy manner, would put 
 everything in its proper place. He fully 
 realized that he had all the time there was, 
 and always used an hour to do an hour's labor. 
 His life now passed like the flowing of a
 
 1 62 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBETSON. 
 
 deep and gentle river. The transitory spring 
 days came and went pleasantly, notwithstand- 
 ing his regular routine of labor. His work 
 was not fatiguing or irksome, and was with- 
 out hurry or turmoil. 
 
 His solitary life was uninterrupted except 
 by a singular character, known by fishermen, 
 as Uncle Simon, who for years had made his 
 appearance during the summer months, in 
 same locality, in his small schooner, living 
 aboard, but fishing in his wherry and salting 
 the fish down in the schooner's hold. They 
 often fished within hailing distance of each 
 other, and after a time, the best of feelings 
 existed between them. Uncle Simon's taci- 
 turnity was fully equal to David's, and his 
 company, therefore was congenial. 
 
 David was only twenty, and Uncle Simon 
 three score and eight, but nevertheless, there 
 was a great similarity in their characters. 
 The essential difference was, that Uncle
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 163 
 
 Simon thought, that owing to his age and ex- 
 perience, he had a right to be tenacious of his 
 own opinion and judgment, versed and tried 
 by the experience of so many years fishing. 
 Uncle Simon would occasionly manifest this 
 trait of his character. David would readily 
 acquiesce, never contradicting or gainsaying 
 his opinion, and willing that Uncle Simon 
 should enjoy his singular notions. Accord- 
 ingly, he regarded David with fondness. But 
 David caught more fish, which had a tendency 
 to take the conceit out of Uncle Simon. 
 
 It is natural for those who are interested in the history of David, to 
 desire to know the meaning of words that have been frequently used 
 in these pages. The dialed! employed, was in use more than half a 
 .century ago, among the fishermen on the Maine coast, and at the 
 present time, these words have not become wholly obsolete, Refer- 
 ence Dictionaries for the phraseology will be of little assistance, for if 
 the words can be found at all, they will often be defined in a sense 
 not used by the fishermen.
 
 I 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 N the month of September, between the 
 fortieth and fiftieth degree of latitude in 
 the north Atlantic Ocean, foggy weather is 
 not usual. A fog mull or mist interspersed 
 with showers for ten days during the month 
 rendered the weather disagreeable. The fish 
 had struck off, and David with Uncle Simon 
 went about two miles southerly of the island 
 to catch some. A glim (a word used by 
 sailors and fishermen) discovered the form of 
 a ship laying by, with her topsails to the mast 
 and her ensign in the main rigging. By invi- 
 tation of the Captain, David went on board, 
 and the first question the former asked was, 
 "Who is President of the United States?" 
 David replied, "Martin Van Burin." Is he a 
 Whig or a Democrat" asked the Captain.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 165 
 
 David answered "a democrat." " Thank God 
 
 * 
 
 the country is safe " ejaculated the Captain 
 wtih patriotic zeal. 
 
 The appearance of this Captain indicated 
 his character, which was ostentatious and 
 over-bearing. Regarding David as an infer- 
 ior and unimportant man, he addressed him in 
 a pretentious manner as follows: " I am from 
 Canton, loaded with tea and silk, and bound 
 for Boston. I have not taken an observation 
 of the sun for ten days. We got soundings 
 during the morning watch, and found rocky 
 bottom, but there are no such soundings laid 
 down on the charts." David replied, "You 
 are on the eastern coast of Maine." "I know 
 
 a d d sight better than that " rejoined the 
 
 Captain, "As course and distance have car- 
 ried me all over the world time and time again, 
 and don't you undertake to tell me my ship 
 is on the coast of Maine." David made no 
 reply, but hauled up his boat to get in, when
 
 1 66 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 the Captain now grew less arrogant, asked 
 how Cape Ann bore and at what distance. 
 Not liking to have his veracity questioned, 
 David answered, " Course and distance will 
 carry you there if you know how to run 
 them." 
 
 The Captain now became compliant and in- 
 vited David into the cabin. A Mercator chart 
 was spread out upon the table. With marked 
 condescension in his manner he said, " If I am 
 on the Maine coast how did I get there?" 
 David replied, w If you navigated by that chart 
 it is no wonder that you are off your course, 
 as all the meridians are straight lines perpen- 
 dicular to the equator and greatly exaggerate 
 your course, and besides you have not made 
 enough allowance for the Gulf Stream." 
 
 Nothing could exceed the surprise of the 
 Captain to hear this explanation from so 
 young a man, whom he had regarded of such 
 little account and to find him so well versed
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 167 
 
 in nautical science. Now, being satisfied of 
 his position, and with his conceit well ended, 
 he filled the ship away on her course south- 
 west half west about one hundred miles for 
 Cape Ann, having first courteously presented 
 David with a small chest of China tea. 
 
 Time wore on and a month had passed 
 away. The weather grew boisterous and 
 stormy. Uncle Simon was preparing to re- 
 turn home when an unexpected event hap- 
 pened. He saw something conspicuous float- 
 ing at thewindward of the island, in which 
 he called David's attention. The latter went 
 to the promontory, and with a spyglass dis- 
 covered it to be a dead whale. Uncle Simon 
 wanted to make fast to his tail, but David 
 said, "We can never tow him in this way." 
 Uncle Simon was very susceptible of anger 
 when contradicted. He stood up in the 
 wherry waving his arms and said, " If you 
 undertake to tow him head first you will have 
 to take the Atlantic Ocean along with him,
 
 1 68 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 for his mouth is big enough to swallow the 
 boat." Not convinced, however, David let 
 Uncle Simon have his way and made fast to 
 its tail with a fishing rode*. The wind was 
 fair and they both worked vigorously at the 
 oars for over an hour when Uncle Simon be- 
 came discouraged. " Now," said David, "Let 
 us try him head first." "We might as well 
 try to tow Agamenticus*," said Uncle Simon 
 in reply, but reluctantly gave his consent. 
 David then made the rode fast to the whale 
 as near the head as possible. The whale 
 floated on his side, his head with the big 
 mouth that had perplexed and harassed 
 Uncle Simon was under water. Whether it 
 was open or shut was a quandary. 
 
 The wind was fresh to the southward, with 
 the sail on the wherry, while David and 
 
 *Rode, a rope used by fishermen to anchor their boats when fishing 
 and made faet to the aschor or a stone called by them a killock. 
 
 *Agamenticus is conspicuous and a noted land mark by the fisher- 
 men. It has been seen on ship board when forty miles or more distant.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 169 
 
 Uncle Simon bent their backs to the oars 
 strong and powerful. They soon had the sat- 
 isfaction of seeing the whale following in the 
 wake of the wherry. After a hard pull they 
 grounded the whale near David's camp on the 
 shingle beach. Obstinately, with a firm ad- 
 herance to his own opinion, Uncle Simon 
 said, " We could have never got him ashore 
 if the wind had not breezed up." David made 
 no reply. It was almost night; after making 
 the whale secure, and then eating their supper, 
 turned in to obtain the needed rest that tired 
 nature demanded, fully realizing hard labor 
 would be in order for the next ten days. 
 
 The following morning an assembly of 
 fishermen had congregated, expressing their 
 opinion how many barrels of oil the whale 
 would make. It became necessary for Uncle 
 Simon and David to employ help to try out 
 the whale. A kettle was obtained from a 
 neighboring island, and now hard work and a
 
 I7O THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 plenty of it for a week or more, resulting in 
 forty barrels of oil a piece of good fortune 
 Uncle Simon called a God-send. 
 
 When the oil was ready for shipment they 
 fortunately found a freighter and shipped 
 the oil and their fish for a western market, 
 Uncle Simon going in the freighter as super- 
 cargo as far as his interest and David's was 
 concerned. 
 
 The weather being chilly and the nights 
 cold, he could no longer keep comfortable in 
 the camp. He now put all his belongings on 
 board the pinkey, and sailed early next morn- 
 ing for his island home. The cabin if it had 
 not been molested would afford comfort and 
 warmth. He would from choice have spent 
 the winter on this desolate isle, solitary with- 
 out company, if his camp would have pro- 
 tected him from the inclemency of the 
 weather. 
 
 He arrived at his island home about mid-
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 1 71 
 
 day. The cabin had not been disturbed. 
 Before night he had everything in well-regu- 
 lated order, making a fire and then getting 
 his supper, which on this occasion consisted 
 of a bowl of gruel for the reason he had con- 
 tracted a severe cold while trying out the 
 whale oil. With this exception the cabin 
 afforded him a refreshment of spirits with a 
 feeling of rest and quiet, a reverse from 
 the bustle and tumult of the last fortnight, 
 which had not been agreeable to him. 
 
 Before turning in for the night he brewed 
 a pot of thoroughwort or boneset tea, which 
 he drank down, but it did him no good. The 
 next morning his cold was worse. He kept 
 about for three or four days, when a continu- 
 ous fever set in. He now, a part of the time 
 was delirous, yet in his rational or lucid inter- 
 vales of reason he realized his condition. He 
 sent his dog with a note tied around her neck 
 to Mr. Lane. The dog had been trained to
 
 172 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBETSON. 
 
 fetch and carry, and understood what was 
 wanted and speedily executed the errand. 
 Mr. Lane with his daughter Mary were soon 
 at the cabin. Mr. Lane quick to understand 
 the real state of affairs said, " Mary you stay 
 here while I and the boys go to the main for 
 the do6tor. We shall probably be back early 
 tomorrow morning if by chance we find the 
 doftor at home." 
 
 Mary, born with good sense and not want- 
 ing confidence, immediately went to work to 
 make him gruel and herb tea and putting 
 things in order generally. David laid in a 
 kind of stupor, apparently insensible, murmur- 
 ing with a low articulate voice, unintelligibly. 
 She tried to get him to swallow some gruel, 
 and after a time she succeeded by urgent im- 
 portunity, by using kind and gentle words. 
 Mary, quick to contrive and inventive to 
 manage, made ready use of her intellectual 
 abilities, and before the do6tor arrived the next
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 173 
 
 morning, had everything clean, and the cabin 
 looked comfortable and cosey. 
 
 In due time Mr. Lane with the doctor ar- 
 rived at the cabin, and without delay he 
 examined David and shook his head and said, 
 " I ought to have been called sooner. David 
 is a very sick man, his fever is now seated 
 and I cannot break it up and it will have its 
 course." He then said to Mary, "You will 
 have to be the doctor, all will depend on you, 
 keep up his strength with nourishing food 
 that he can digest." Then leaving an opiate 
 and a tonic with instructions for their use he 
 was ready for home. 
 
 The west wind that had been blowing a 
 fresh breeze in the forenoon, at noon was 
 a brisk gale. The boat they had crossed the 
 bay in was not competent to go back. The 
 doctor said he must go if it were possible, as 
 he had a patient he must see that was danger- 
 ously sick.
 
 1 74 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 There lived on the large island to the 
 
 leaward, Captain H , who was the owner 
 
 of a whale boat. Mr. Lane went to see him 
 in his boat and explained to the Captain the 
 condition of affairs. The old captain called 
 for volunteers to man the whale boat, and he 
 soon had six stout and vigorous young fisher- 
 men ready to cross the bay any time when 
 the old captain said go. They were off in a 
 hurry with the old captain in charge, dressed 
 in oil-cloth, standing up steering with an oar, 
 while the six young fishermen bent their 
 backs to the oars with a will, jovial with mirth 
 and gaiety, although for the time living in two 
 elements, air and water. Getting the do6lor 
 on board well covered up in tar-pauling, they 
 were off for the main shore. The do6lor 
 was popular with sailors and was their prin- 
 cipal physician for more than thirty years. 
 
 Mary's vigilance and watchful care and 
 honest devotion to David's wellfare, obeying
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 175 
 
 the do6lor to the letter with a strict constancy 
 to duty, under her careful nursing he at last 
 began to recover strength. Her inconven- 
 iences were numerous, but she overcame all 
 obstacles with ingenuity, being quick to see the 
 means that suited the ends. 
 
 During his sickness Uncle Simon returned 
 to adjust and settle the account of David's 
 shipment with bills and papers for vouchers. 
 David was delirious and much against Uncle 
 Simon's will, he was obliged to settle with 
 Mary. She had already taken a dislike to him 
 the for reason of his obstinate and perverse 
 ways. Uncle Simon was honest and Mary was 
 acute of mind and penetrating to look after 
 David's interests. Uncle Simon's hasty temper 
 caused him to show Mary disrespect because he 
 thought she did not verify his statements. 
 Mary, yielding to the dictates of prudence, 
 using discretion and keeping her tongue 
 under submission until Uncle Simon had paid
 
 176 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 her the money, then let it run rendering him 
 no thanks for his favors. Uncle Simon bade 
 her a grouty farewell, then went on board his 
 pinkey and sailed for home. As soon as he 
 was gone she muttered, "Well that old man 
 is destitute of good sense, but I got out of 
 him all the money that belonged to David." 
 
 It was a pleasant still day as is sometimes seen 
 before winter comes in earnest, and valued 
 more for their scarcity, when David's faculty of 
 reason returned to him. Lying in his berth, 
 trying to make out what it all meant, he was 
 free from aches or pains as his fever had now 
 burned out. He lay in his berth in a quiet 
 and calm meditation. The weeks that had 
 passed were obviously unintelligible to him. 
 Mary was sitting in a rocking chair sewing, 
 the fire in the fire-place burning clearly and 
 brisk. The sun was shining through the 
 dwarft spruces and cedar thickets, throwing a 
 mellow light on the cabin floor. The stand
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 177 
 
 stood near the head of his berth covered with 
 a cloth as white as snow, and upon it a small 
 tray containing a wine glass and two or three 
 phials and a few lemons. The floor was as 
 clean as sand could make it, and everything 
 was orderly and scrupulously neat. A bunch 
 of chrysanthemums in a vase adorned a shelf, 
 making a striking contrast between their 
 beauty and the rugged and uneven walls of 
 the cabin. His dog during his sickness had 
 lain on a rug in front of his berth, now sat 
 looking him in the face slowly wagging her 
 tail, apparently realizing that her master had 
 recovered consciousness, manifesting it by a 
 low bark. The bark of the dog with a quick- 
 ness of apprehension which Mary inherited 
 innately, hastily brought her to his bedside. 
 Although he looked poor and emaciated, 
 yet his eyes brightened and his visage lighted 
 up with pleasant smiles when he perceived it 
 was Mary. He was about to speak when
 
 178 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 Mary put her white hand to his mouth and 
 said, "Don't you talk David." She direftly 
 got him some broth, which she always had 
 ready, made from sea birds, liberally supplied 
 with rice. He received it with the same 
 pleasant smile, drinking a cupful with an ap- 
 parent relish. 
 
 Some of Mr. Lane's family relieved Mary 
 nights. She saw her brother coming, and ran 
 out to meet him to tell him the glad tidings. 
 She had done her duty and no mother could 
 have done more for her son. The happiness 
 which she now felt sprung from enjoyment, a 
 benificent disposition to do good. The anti- 
 quated maxim has grown old and out of use, 
 but remains true nevertheless: "Virtue brings 
 its own reward." 
 
 If there is a destiny that shapes our ends, 
 no man constitutes his own history. He can 
 only palliate and conceal it. Every new day 
 brought renewed strength to David. Mary's
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 179 
 
 watchful care never relaxed as long as he was 
 an invalid. Her care for him during his dis- 
 ordered indisposition undermined and weak- 
 ened her affe6lion in a measure. The famil- 
 iarity which was brought about as his nurse, 
 was partially the cause of the reaction of her 
 feelings. Every day he improved and every 
 day she grew less anxious yet cautious, giving 
 heed as she ought, to her maiden modesty; 
 still her heart was full of a mixed sensation of 
 love and sympathy. She possessed all the 
 good qualities, also one or two more. It was 
 evident- now that Mary was no love-sick mai- 
 den pining and wasting away. 
 
 David now was fast recovering his health 
 and strength, and had become so enamored 
 with Mary that he made love to her with a 
 full intent and purpose as honest and as hon- 
 orable as was ever offered to the shrine of a 
 goddess. 
 
 David like other men was not entirely des-
 
 l8o THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 titute of conceit, yet he had no haughty or 
 proud opinion of himself. All the gratitude 
 he felt for her, and his old love revived this 
 love, for Mary was genuine, chaste, and faith- 
 ful. Whether he was now a sage or fool or 
 six of one and a half a dozen of the other, the 
 sequel of David's adventures or history show. 
 Mary with all her good qualities was yet 
 capricious in mind and temper. After being 
 relieved that night and going home she sat up 
 late in meditation. The result was she would 
 not marry David, and assigned to himself the 
 reasons: first, he was carrot-headed, and 
 freckled as homely as a brush fence; second, 
 he would not talk, and was no company for 
 anybody; third, he was a hermit, and had 
 rather live in a camp than a house; fourth, he 
 is jealous pated. She kept on enumerating 
 his failings without giving him any credit for 
 his moral goodness, and with a burst of ill 
 humor went to bed in the tantrums.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. iSl 
 
 The next morning when her brother came 
 home from David's and was ready to ferry 
 her across, which had been his usual practice, 
 Mary said, " O he's well enough, I shan't go 
 over till after dinner, then I will go and cook 
 him some victuals. He is as ravenous as a 
 wolf. If he could get all he wants to eat 
 he would breed a famine." David spent the 
 forenoon watching for Mary, with an uneasi- 
 ness of mind, having a craving appetite, and 
 at most high noon he began to cook some din- 
 ner for himself. 
 
 There had lately been introduced among 
 the island homes the tin kitchen and the tin 
 baker, a decided improvement over the Dutch 
 oven and the spider. Knowing their value 
 by their use at home, Mary had sent and 
 bought them. David considered them an in- 
 novation, so he baked his bread on the spider 
 and suspended the fowl from the mantle be- 
 fore the fire, and put the potatoes in the Dutch 
 oven to cook his dinner his usual way. While
 
 l82 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBETSON. 
 
 the dinner was in progress Mary arrived at 
 the cabin, and with an emphatic utterance she 
 said, "What are you doing? why don't you 
 use the baker and kitchen?" David made 
 her no reply. Mary talking to herself, "Well 
 there is no sense in him, using that old Dutch 
 oven and spider." Then with a flirt, quickly 
 put the fowl in the kitchen, the bread in the 
 baker, and soon had dinner ready. 
 
 If she had turned the cabin upside down he 
 would have entered no protest. He had a 
 chronic love-sickness and was suffering a 
 relapse of his former bad state, pressing his 
 suit with fondness and affetion for Mary to 
 be his wife, in his homely way. Mary not 
 knowing her own mind would neither acqui- 
 esce, nor refuse compliance with his request. 
 
 Her actions on this occasion perplexed and 
 harassed him. Still she adhered to them with 
 conservative tenacity which nearly drove 
 David distracted. After Mary went home, 
 she used the privilege that lovers are allowed.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 183 
 
 the enjoyment of soliloquy. "Well, I sup- 
 pose I have got to have the fool, but he has 
 got to get off that island and build or buy a 
 house fit to live in where I can see somebody 
 and live like other folks. Besides he has got 
 to get a cook stove. Then I will heave the 
 old Dutch oven and skillet out of doors, and he 
 will have to sleep on a bed-stead instead of a 
 box like a lunatic." She kept on until she 
 had exhausted all her volubility. 
 
 David now once more with gun and dog 
 betook himself to his own diversions of 
 pleasure and profit, and went hunting after 
 minks when there had been a light fall of 
 snow, at other times after ducks and sea birds, 
 with his usual success. In pleasant days in 
 his wherry he rowed for miles among these 
 unfrequented woody islands, as in days of 
 yore, charmed or fascinated still. 
 
 When he returned home at night, after pre- 
 paring and eating his supper, instead of sit- 
 ting before his fire with his book, he now in-
 
 184 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 variably went to Mr. Lane's home and spent 
 the evening with his family, but Mary was the 
 only attraction for him there. He went, in 
 hopes to get a chance to press his suit, but 
 went home night after night disappointed. 
 Mary neither by word or actions, alluded to 
 the subject nor allowed him any opportunity, 
 nevertheless David had patience and perse- 
 verance both, to overcome the difficulty. If 
 by luck or chance an opportunity offered him 
 to say a word of endearment to her, (using a 
 fisherman's phrase) she would snub him with 
 a round turn standing. The fact was Mary 
 had two strings to her bow.
 
 ONE afternoon David was sitting in his 
 cabin thinking and contemplating 
 and somewhat dejected withal, caused by 
 his blind love for Mary, never doubting but 
 she was worthy and amiable, when his dog 
 barked with her ears pricked up. It was a 
 stranger that had come, or his dog would not 
 have barked. A knock at the door also indi- 
 cated the presence of some one. A strange 
 man now stepped into the cabin. " Are you 
 David Robertson?" he inquired with a broad 
 Scotch accent. " Yes," was the concise 
 answer of David. " It a gang long row from 
 the main land, I will have to introduce myself 
 and business. I am a Scotchman, born and 
 bred in Scotland. My name is Holiday, and 
 my vocation is a fisherman, and its many the 
 trap I have set and weire I have made on the 
 Solway, Glide and Lorn Firth, and many
 
 I 86 THE ROMANTIC STOKY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 the muckle fish I caught in the lochs of bon- 
 nie Scotland. I have heard of you and your 
 weir and I have come to see what can be 
 done here. The winter lies heavy on the glen 
 in Scotland. The fish are growing scarce, so 
 I have come to seek my fortune in the new 
 country, where report says a poor man would 
 do well." 
 
 A social evening was spent by Mr. Holiday. 
 He appeared to be an enthusiastic, ^talkative 
 man and David thought he knew what he 
 was talking about. David listened with in- 
 terest to hear him narrate particulars and des- 
 criptions of taking fish in Scotland. When 
 it was time to turn in, Mr. Holiday said, "I 
 would like to have you go with me tomorrow 
 and I will liberally pay for your trouble." 
 David answered, "Tomorrow is the Sabbath, 
 (which he always regarded with veneration). 
 My observations of nature and the Holy Book 
 convinces me of an invisible power: A 
 Supreme Being in whom I believe. There is
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 187 
 
 a command in the Book to regulate our moral 
 conduct: viz, Remember the Sabbath day and 
 keep it holy." The Scotchman, stung by this 
 unexpected rebuke, with pathos bowed his 
 head, remarked, "I beg your pardon: I dinna 
 ken, Gude preserve us, tomorrow was Sun- 
 day, 1 ' using his Scotch diale6t when animated 
 or excited. 
 
 David in this respect was only following 
 the example of many of the fishermen in early 
 times. Tithing men were chosen by the 
 island towns for the special purpose of hav- 
 ing the Sabbath observed. 
 
 David then said to Mr. Holiday, " If agree- 
 able to you, stop with me. On Monday I will 
 go with you, and show you some localities 
 where the outlook is good to build weirs. 
 On Monday a storm of snow and wind obliged 
 them to stay snug in the cabin. Towards 
 night it stopped snowing, when David sug- 
 gested to Mr. Holiday to go with him to visit 
 at Mr. Lane's, which Mr. Holiday readily
 
 1 88 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 agreed to. The distance being short, they 
 soon arrived at Mr. Lane's house. David in- 
 troduced Mr. Holiday where they received a 
 cordial and hearty welcome. Mr. Holiday 
 was agreeably entertained by Mr. Lane. Few 
 could please or divert their guests as well as 
 Mr. Lane, while none could do it better. 
 
 Mr. Holiday and Mr. Lane discussed busi- 
 ness, politics and religion with mutual satis- 
 faction. David said little, as usual, thinking 
 and drawing his own conclusions, with now 
 and then a modest and diffident look at Mary. 
 Mr. Holiday was observant and noticed the 
 sheep's eyes David cast at Mary and under- 
 stood what it meant. He possibly in his 
 palmy days had been in the same boat. 
 
 When they were returning to the cabin Mr. 
 Holiday broke out with a mixture of Scotch 
 and Gaelic, "On, ey ! David, she has a blue een, 
 with dimple cheeks and as bonnie a lassie as 
 the sun ever sheen on, and Scotch blood in 
 her veins, I canna be mistaken, David, ye will
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF OAVlD ROBERTSON. 189 
 
 noo see the like of her, except in the Glens of 
 Scotland. What a dower she will bring ye 
 too. A house full of bairns that will keep ye 
 name green for generations." 
 
 Three or four still cold days succeeded the 
 snow storm. David and Mr. Holiday in the 
 wherry, went cruising among the group of 
 islands that thickly studded the eastern coast 
 of Maine, to find a suitable locality to build 
 the weirs. The set of the tide has to be 
 taken into consideration. After mature 
 thought and deliberation, Mr. Holiday con- 
 cluded to build several on the western end of 
 a large island, so as to get the benefit of both 
 the east and west bays of the Penobscot. Mr. 
 Holiday proposed to David to join in partner- 
 ship together, but David respectfully refused, 
 and remarked, "Your ways are not like mine, 
 nevertheless I will render you all the assis- 
 tance I can." The disappointed Scotchman 
 said, "Well, well, you are a pleasant compan- 
 ion and an arch lad, but somewhat scatter-
 
 190 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 brained, and not mindful of what is best for you. 
 ? You get your whak, and get na mairV * 
 That Dulcinea with the blue eyes and the fair 
 hair has turned your head, and you have gone 
 "daft," allowing his quick temper, so easily 
 vexed to get the advantage, with the next 
 breath begging David's pardon. 
 
 Mr. Lane was a fine specimen of an old 
 school gentleman now growing old with a 
 gradual failing of health. His oldest son whom 
 he had not seen for three years, who had been 
 to sea, on foreign voyages had come home to 
 see his parents. He commanded a fine ship 
 and possesed a certain dignity of manner, be- 
 sides the reputation of being one of the 
 most capable ship masters belonging to Maine. 
 " A good son maketh a glad father." a trite 
 expression, and I know of no better one. 
 
 When his son stepped into the house a tear 
 of joy was in the old gentleman's eye. With 
 filial love he said, "I have a good mind to kiss 
 
 *Meaning you get your portion of food and get no more.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 19! 
 
 you my son." p<; Well," he rejoined, " kiss me 
 father," his mother manifesting her joy by 
 clasping his hand, with her fond eyes of blue 
 beaming with admiration for her noble son. 
 Mary and her mother were all that were home. 
 The other girls lived in Massachusetts and 
 were married. 
 
 The cooking of delicate niceties for him by 
 Mrs. Lane and Mary was no irksome task, 
 but an enjoyable pleasure. Go where you will, 
 roam where you may, there are no victuals 
 so savory or relishing so well as the cooking of 
 those old time mothers. He said, " Mother 
 dear, I have the best the world affords aboard 
 the ship, but nothing ever was so good and 
 palatable as your cooking." 
 
 He staid with his parents at home only 
 three days when absolute necessity compelled 
 him to go. A destiny unutterable by decree 
 or fate seemed now to follow Mr. Lane. His 
 youngest son, whom he expected to be the 
 support of his old age now wills to leave and
 
 192 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 go to sea. His father, mother and brother 
 did all they could to discourage him but of no 
 avail. The next morning they saw their son, 
 the captain with his brother depart. Sad and 
 lonely now was the old home with no children 
 left but Mary. Misfortune never comes alone. 
 Another calamity followed hard. His wife 
 was taken sick and confined to the bed. It 
 seemed to him there was nothing left but hope, 
 and even that he was making a poor use of. 
 David now in turn staid with Mr. Lane, look- 
 ing after his interest, knowing what ought 
 to be done, and doing more than was absolute- 
 ly necessary, distinguishing himself more than 
 ever by his profound taciturnity. 
 
 Mr. Lane took it for granted and looked on 
 David as his subsequent son-in-law, and to 
 serve and care for him in his old age. The 
 confidence he placed in David was unlimited 
 and he merited and earned it by his faithful 
 fidelity. Reference has been made that order 
 was a leading trading trait in David's char-
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 193 
 
 after. Before a week had elapsed the general 
 appearance of the house and surroundings 
 looked more like a gentleman's residence than 
 a rustic farm house. 
 
 To a gentleman of Mr. Lane's refined intel- 
 lectual discernment this personal quality of 
 David's was in accordance with Mr. Lane's 
 will and pleasure. He looked on David as a 
 benign benefactor.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 MRS. LANE, poor woman, was wast- 
 ing away with the fearful and 
 terrible disease, consumption,* at times flat- 
 tered by delusive hopes, at other times giving 
 up in despair. An aunt of the Lane family, 
 hale and hearty, who was a lady of uncertain 
 age, but eventually ten and forty (for it is one 
 of the hardest things to remember an old 
 maiden lady's age) with her nephew of twenty, 
 who had come to live with Mr. Lane at his 
 request, the aunt to do the housework, the 
 nephew to do the farm work. 
 
 Mary's invalid mother now needed all the 
 care she could bestow. Mary did all for her 
 
 "The Pulmonic Consumption was the scourge that laid waste and 
 made lonliness and solitude in many of the primitive fishermen's homes 
 on the coast of Maine, and caused no doubt by privations and hard- 
 ships they were obliged to endure. The disease was the cause of great 
 anxiety owing to its deceitful nature. The patients themselves were 
 often hopeful while their friends knew that dissolution was inevitable.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STOKY OK DAVID ROBKRTSON. H)^ 
 
 mother that could be done with aptitude and 
 tenderness, never swerving from her duty or 
 manifesting any signs of ill humor. No 
 mother had a more affectionate daughter. 
 
 Previous allusion has been made to David's 
 character in the following respedl, he had a 
 natural impulse to prepare and have ready 
 what was necessary without making disturb- 
 ance or trouble. 
 
 Miss Mary, seeing how good David was, 
 her heart swelled and yearned towards him, 
 but her secret meaning and real intention was 
 to let him go if her scheme did not miscarry. 
 
 The vernal March once more began to 
 thaw the ice on the rocky island shores 
 breaking it up into cakes, while the prevalent 
 north-west winds drove them southward. The 
 willow was now putting forth its buds tipped 
 with soft, feathery down. The wild untama- 
 ble sea-gulls light on the shore nearer than is 
 their wont to the fisherman's cottage, while 
 now and then is seen the aquatic birds of
 
 196 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROREKTSON. 
 
 passage returning north. These signs are the 
 welcome heralds of spring that make glad the 
 hearts of the humble fishermen. 
 
 David now concluded to build a weir ex- 
 tending across the passage from the island to 
 Mr. Lane's. It would be superior and of 
 greater extent than his original, and so con- 
 structed as to take the fish coming and going 
 through the passage. William, Mr. Lane's 
 nephew and hired man helped David build 
 the weir. It was of primitive construction 
 and not in conformity with Mr. Holiday's 
 ideas. Mr. Holiday was at work in the 
 vicinity and paid David a visit one day, vol- 
 untarily giving him counsel and information 
 in relation to building the weir, but David 
 built the weir in accordance with his own 
 judgment. David and William labored dili- 
 gently and the progress corresponded to their 
 labor. The last day of March the weir was 
 complete. Mr. Holiday at that time had four 
 weirs in progress and none complete. Help
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 197 
 
 was scarce and hard to procure. David now 
 made his word good and helped Mr. Holiday 
 execute and complete his weirs, yet still liv- 
 ing and making his home at Mr. Lane's. 
 
 David, during the cloudy and hazy month 
 of April,, assisted Mr. Holiday to complete 
 his weirs, fulfilling his promise. William 
 proved to be a faithful and trusty man and 
 had an abundance of time after his farm work 
 was done, to look ofter David's weirs. 
 
 The first of the migrating fish that make 
 their appearance are salmon and alewives. 
 The salmon were smoked for market. The 
 alewives that were caught were mostly sold to 
 the fishermen. Mr. Holiday now considered 
 himself under an obligation to David, and well 
 he might, for he had rendered Mr. Holiday 
 valuable service by hard and tiresome labor. 
 Nevertheless the Scotchman was conceited in 
 his notions, and self-willed. The information 
 he had voluntarily imparted to David, he con- 
 sidered as equivalent in part for David's labor.
 
 198 THK ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 Mr. Holiday built the weirs in imitation, in 
 part, after the kind in use in Scotland, with 
 hooks, traps and pounds, which David thought 
 a part were superfluous at least. If David 
 made a suggestion to save labor Mr. Holiday 
 would answer in reply, " Ay, ay, my bonnie 
 laddie, you wait a bit," with unbounded self 
 confidence. David received an inadequate 
 compensation for his services. In the mean- 
 time the nebulous month of April gave place 
 to May, the dreary winter that brought soli- 
 tude and gloom on the lonely isle, now gave 
 place to balmy spring. 
 
 Mrs. Lane yet with hopeful expectations as 
 the days went by became weaker, until at 
 last she was reconciled to her fate with com- 
 posure. She had discharged all her duties to 
 her husband, her children and the world, 
 to the best of her ability. Early one beauti- 
 ful May morning, a short time after sunrise 
 her spirit returned to her Creator. Upon her 
 placid features was a pure and peaceful
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 199 
 
 look as if she were asleep, taking her rest. 
 So quiet and tranquil was the departure of 
 her soul to God that her husband and Mary at 
 her bedside hardly knew when the separation 
 took place. Her memory has been kept 
 green by her children and her children's chil- 
 dren. Truly the memory of the just is blest, 
 for the reason that she lived her life in con- 
 formity to the laws of God. 
 
 They laid her to rest in the field near a 
 maple tree, when the western descending 
 sun shines on a tree, it shades her lonely 
 grave. Half a century has passed and gone. 
 The golden-rod and clover blending with 
 the grass, bloom over her grave, and gongs 
 of birds on the branches of the maple still 
 sing her requiem. 
 
 Mr. Lane regarded his wife with excessive 
 fondness. Unhappy and pitiable he sat in 
 his arm-chair with his head bowed down on 
 his breast day after day, apparently in a hope- 
 less state of despondency. David tried to
 
 2OO THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID RORERTSOX. 
 
 encourage and animate him with but poor 
 success. Now and then he would give utter- 
 ance to his thoughts with the brief words, 
 " My poor wife," followed by a sigh. 
 
 One day Mr. Lane said to David, " Do you 
 think I will ever see my wife again in the 
 habitation of God? I have not obeyed the 
 laws of God as I ought," David, instead of 
 answering his question, handed him the Bible 
 and his spectacles, calling his attention to the 
 frequent allusions pertaining to the question 
 in the Holy Scriptures, mentioning chapter 
 and verse, allowing Mr. Lane to find them. 
 After reading the passages with intellectual 
 admittance of their precepts, Mr. Lane found 
 the question answered which he had asked 
 David. David then remarked, " I hold it is 
 deviating from God's law to murmur, and not 
 be reconciled to your wife's death." Mr. 
 Lane with penitence and contrition said, rr For 
 the rest of my life I will sacredly try to live 
 in obedience to God's divine laws."
 
 TUE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 2OJ 
 
 Mr. Lane, by divine grace, was restored to 
 a sound state of mind, his disquieting condi- 
 tion now giving place to a more cheerful man- 
 ner. In the meantime things seemingly began 
 to improve. David when not employed in 
 tending the weir, devoted himself to the use- 
 ful purpose of agriculture, improving on the 
 mode of tillage that had usually been prac- 
 ticed by Mr. Lane and his neighbors, and 
 obtained better results, lightening the labor by 
 exercising his power of doing the work with 
 ability. With his good common sense he 
 reigned supreme over Mr. Lane's dominion. 
 
 As the spring passed away, his manage- 
 ment of the farm showed wisdom and discre- 
 tion; but always a6ting in conjunction with 
 Mr. Lane, who on his part was perfectly wil- 
 ling for David to do as he had a mind to, 
 because he saw that he had hold at the right 
 end. 
 
 David still continued very much in love 
 with Mary, and unaware he had a rival.
 
 2O2 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBKTSON. 
 
 After a decent interval of mourning had 
 elapsed, he once more pressed his suit with 
 courage, in his homely manner. Mary in re- 
 ply was petulant, and called him a stupid 
 monomaniac, but David did not seem to mind 
 it, with a strong adherance to the trite maxim, 
 " A faint heart never won a fair lady." Pa- 
 tience and perseverance were strong traits of 
 his character. As long as he did not see any 
 cause of jealousy, she might taunt him to her 
 heart's content. He never lost his patience, 
 and would bear her expressions with the air 
 of a martyr. He did not understand Mary at 
 all. 
 
 The Jack-a-dandy sailor when in foreign 
 parts had been secretly corresponding with 
 Mary; and when at home, on several occasions 
 paid her a visit, but by chance or design, pre- 
 sumingly on Mary's part, he had never met 
 David, 
 
 These proceedings of Mary's were a source 
 of annoyance, weighty and troublesome to
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 203 
 
 Mr. Lane, but he lived in hopes that Mary 
 would come to her senses. 
 
 The sailor was not without friends in Mr. 
 Lane's house. Even the spinster sister of 
 Mr. Lane had become a proselyte of Mary's 
 sailor. After listening to his marvelous Mun- 
 chausen tales of mountains of sugar, rivers of 
 rum and mermaids innumerable, all daughters 
 of Amphritite, and wife of old Neptune, who 
 was father to the whole of them. 
 
 Mary's sailor was at home wherever he 
 happened to be. On every opportunity he 
 made love to Mary with obstinacy that out- 
 weighed reason, being proficient in vows of 
 the same kind that men have made and not 
 many have kept, since the time that Adam 
 was numbered with transgressors. 
 
 David in a happy ignorance how matters 
 were proceeding was early to bed and early 
 to rise, with the prospect of a bountiful har- 
 vest in the near tuture for his honest labor. 
 The weir was a success with lucrative results,
 
 204 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROP.ERTSOX. 
 
 even better than he anticipated. The sequel 
 proved that his agricultural labor as well as 
 his fishing, left him with abundance and 
 ample store, owing to hard work combined 
 with good sense and a set purpose. More 
 than all, whatever he did he did well. 
 
 The sailor-dandy's subtile flattery and obse- 
 quious manner was not without effecl: on 
 Mary. The stronger the flattery the greater 
 the influence. 
 
 His good looks, smooth tongue and fluency 
 of cheap talk suited the fancy of the capri- 
 cious Mary. She had her misgivings, never- 
 theless, but would do as she had a mind to. 
 Her father might prate or preach, but she 
 would lie in the bed she had made, and it 
 was none of his business or anybody's else. 
 Mary in vindication of herself could not help 
 making comparisons in the sailor's favor. 
 
 When the ripe wheat and golden corn were 
 harvested there was abundance and to spare, 
 and the heart of David was gladdened by the
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 2O5 
 
 sight. And when prosperity had reached the 
 climax, unbeknown to David, Mary went off 
 with the dandy sailor, with nothing to his 
 credit excepting what he had on his back. 
 
 Poor Mr. Lane! The children he had 
 reared so carefully and in whom he had tried 
 so hard to inculcate the moral duties of relig- 
 ion and virtue with faithful instructions in the 
 ways of wisdom, had now all forsaken their 
 home to seek what they will never find, the 
 content and happiness of their childhood 
 days. 
 
 Another source of trouble to poor Mr. Lane 
 was what David would do when he told him 
 that Mary was gone. He was well aware 
 that David would receive the bad tidings 
 hard, but was in hopes he could comfort and 
 cheer him. Mr. Lane dreaded to tell David 
 of Mary's inconstancy, but he knew it was 
 his duty and swallowed the bitter pill. After 
 deliberate reflection he made known to David 
 the sad story.
 
 206 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 David was confounded with astonishment, 
 and dumb with silence. What were his 
 thoughts no one ever knew, for he never gave 
 them utterance. That night he went back to 
 his cabin followed by his faithful dog. The 
 next day Mr. Lane told William to go over 
 to see David and carry a message, consisting 
 of sympathetic and friendly expressions 
 united with affection, for him to come back. 
 William went but could not find David. 
 The cabin door was fastened and all was still 
 as the silence of mid-night. William went 
 back home no better off than when he came. 
 
 The days and weeks went on, and the 
 frosty nights of October were followed by 
 chilly November, and yet Mr. Lane had not 
 seen or heard from David. 
 
 On a pleasant Indian summer day a fish 
 freighter anchored off Mr. Lane's fish house 
 when, Captain W. went on shore. Lo, David 
 was with him! Mr. Lane seized David by 
 the hand, and holding it, with a pleasing
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 2Oj 
 
 countenance and eyes beaming with gladness. 
 
 Then and there with hands joined, stood 
 two honest men, the noblest work of God, 
 one old and venerable, the other young and 
 respectful, and both marked and character- 
 ized by candor and justice. 
 
 Mr. Lane with words that excite tender 
 emotion said to David " Don't never forsake 
 me again. I have a mental perception that 
 old age advances rapidly, My white head, 
 impaired vision, and trembling hand are sure 
 signs of the near approach of the grim tyrant 
 that has been a terror so many years. I 
 have now lost my dread, and now I am revived 
 and comforted by the promises in the Holy 
 Book, and am ready to welcome the harbinger 
 with hope and courage." 
 
 Time seemed to make no difference with 
 the jolly old skipper. He now entered his 
 protest, saying, "I have been trying to per- 
 suade David to go this trip with us. I am 
 already indebted to him for saving my
 
 208 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 schooner, and probably my life. It is now 
 late in the season, and with David on board I 
 would feel relieved. In bad weather I can 
 depend on him. I shall be back in ten or 
 twelve days if God wills." Of course David 
 could do as he pleased but as yet he had not 
 said a word. 
 
 Mr. Lane yielded to the skipper's earnest 
 entreaty, and David went once more on board 
 as a fisherman, after a promise to Mr. Lane 
 that he would come back and report. As 
 many hands make light work they soon 
 boated the fish and surplus of the farm pro- 
 ductions on board the freighter. 
 
 Mr. Holiday was on board with his fish and 
 the freighter was deep as a loaded sand-barge. 
 The jocose merriment of the fishermen with 
 the talkative Scotchman was good medicine 
 for David, and he had to take it in large 
 doses, nauseous as it was to him and it did 
 him good, because he could not think on 
 account of their frivolous talk.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 209 
 
 It had been a calm day, what the fishermen 
 call a weather breeder. At night a gentle 
 mild air breezed up to the morth-east, and 
 this being a fair wind they were off and away 
 for Boston the next morning at eight o'clock. 
 Monhegan was beaft the beam, the wind 
 north-east and increasing. "What do you 
 think? She will be up with Cape Ann 
 before six o'clock at this rate?" The mate 
 replied, " I think we had better let her go 
 until noon, then if it comes on too tough or 
 shuts down thick David can make a harbor 
 long as as we can show a rag of canvas." 
 All went well, and early next morning they 
 arrived in Boston under double reefed sails. 
 For a week after a heavy north-east gale 
 raged at sea. 
 
 NOTE The heavy gales commence to the leeward and it is often 
 the case that moderate north-east winds off the coast of Maine will be 
 blowing a brisk gale off Cape Hatteras. Hence a vessel sailing 
 south-west with a north-east wind is sailing into the gale. 
 
 Historical records make allusions to this remarkable gale. Naviga- 
 tion suffered on the Maine coast severely and it was the heaviest 
 gale within the memory of the old fishermen. This remarkable N. E. 
 gale happened in December, A. D. 1839. Of sixty sail that anchored 
 in Cape Ann harbor for shelter fifty-five were wrecked.
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 DAVID'S rustic manner had improved. 
 He did not attract notice as on his 
 former visit, and no longer gazed with aston- 
 ishment like an awkward country bumpkin. 
 The young Arabs no longer artfully practiced 
 their tricks nor made him a butt of ridicule. 
 Even the Courtesans and Jews let him pass 
 without remarks or observation. 
 
 In wandering around the docks David's 
 close attention was drawn to a small schooner 
 with a sign on her foremast, " For Sale," and 
 he carefully looked her over. She was well 
 adapted for a fisherman, with good accommo- 
 dations, good sails and well fitted generally, 
 and as a whole pleased his fancy. 
 
 The wharfinger who had the care of her, 
 remarked to David, " You can buy her cheap, 
 the owner has no use for her. He has to pay
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 211 
 
 wharfage and also me for taking care of her." 
 David asked the wharfinger the price, and in 
 reply the wharfinger answered: "Three hun- 
 dred dollars, and that is less than half what 
 she is worth." [David replied, "I will give two 
 hundred dollars, if I can be guaranteed her 
 bottom is in good condition." 
 
 The wharfinger with a show of anger, 
 mixed with an apparent disgust said, " If he 
 gives her away it will be to some of his friends 
 not to you. If that is your best offer you 
 will never own the boat." He asked David's 
 name and address, then with the usual compli- 
 ments each went his way. The next day the 
 owner of the schooner accepted David's offer, 
 and David thus became the owner of the 
 schooner, Rover. 
 
 There was a poor apology for a man who 
 had been hanging around the skipper of the 
 fisherman for two or three days without 
 money or decent clothes, soliciting a passage 
 in the freighter. He told a deplorable story
 
 212 THE ROMANTIC STORY OP DAVID ROBERTSOV. 
 
 of ruin caused by the demon rum saying, " I 
 do not want to stay here as I am so passion- 
 ately addicted to drinking spirituous liquors 
 that I have become a habitual drunkard. My 
 only chance left is to go where I cannot 
 obtain it." His honest confession caused 
 David to look on the poor inebriate with com- 
 passion. In a pleasing manner David said to 
 him, "Will you go with me?" "Yes," he 
 replied, and then went with David where his 
 schooner lay. While on the way David pur- 
 chased his outfits to last him home, and when 
 they were on board the schooner David said 
 to the man, "Are you willing to go with me 
 in the schooner?" r? Yes, where you go 1 
 will go gladly if you will have me." 
 
 David with trusty confidence in the man, 
 handed him a ten dollar note to go and get 
 some necessary clothing for himself. The 
 man with genuine surprise and with a tear in 
 his eye, said, "There is not another man in 
 Boston who would trust me with money and
 
 THE ROVER.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 215 
 
 you with your kind heart would not if you 
 knew me as well as I know myself." He 
 went out and was back in a short time with a 
 pair of cheap boots, a pair of trousers and a 
 woolen shirt. He gave David back the resi- 
 due of the money with the remark, "This is 
 the first time for ten years when I was sober, 
 with money in my pocket that I passed a bar- 
 room without a drink of liquor." 
 
 With the stores aboard they dropped the 
 Rover off the point of flats and let her swing 
 to her anchors. David now asked the man 
 his name. In reply he said, "You may call 
 me Smith, but that is not my name, for I am 
 ashamed to tell an honest man my name." 
 " Do you obje6t to stop aboard alone and look 
 after the schooner, Smith ? " " No, for a long 
 time I have slept on a brick floor in an engine 
 room. I am glad of an opportunity to sleep 
 in a berth." David then told Smith he could 
 set him ashore, and said, "Tomorrow is the
 
 21 6 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBKTSON. 
 
 Sabbath, you come to the slip at Long Wharf 
 in the dingy after breakfast." 
 
 When David landed he dire6tly went on 
 board the freighter where he was hailed by 
 the jolly skipper with, "Well, I am glad to 
 see you, I could not think for the life of me 
 what had become of you. There are no land 
 sharks hereabouts that know enough to get 
 you foul. When you went off you had old 
 Hard Up in tow. What did you do with 
 him? He is no good only for eel bait." 
 David without reply to the skipper's oratory 
 inquired if he was ready to go home. '* Yes," 
 rejoined the skipper, all ready these two days, 
 waiting for the weather to clear up and the 
 sea to smooth down. " What do you think, 
 David, shall we have a clear day tomorrow ? " 
 " It is the Lord's day tomorrow, skipper," 
 David replied, "and I hope you will wait 
 until Monday. I am not going home with 
 you in the freighter." :? What" exclaimed 
 the skipper, struck hard aback. " r What will
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 21 7 
 
 I say to Mr. Lane? I, myself heard you tell 
 Mr. Lane that you would come back with us." 
 
 At this, mate, cook, Scotchman and all 
 chimed in with the skipper with their protest, 
 " David falsify his word," they muttered. 
 "That is preposterous." David said, " I shall 
 try not to break my word with Mr. Lane. I 
 told him when I left I would come back and 
 report." The skipper knew by experience 
 that it would be of no use to pump David, so 
 the enigma remained unsolved when all 
 turned in for the night. 
 
 The Sunday morning that followed was 
 clear, calm and cold. After breakfast David 
 went to Long Wharf. His man was there 
 waiting, looking miserable with his bloated 
 face. His blood-shot eyes and trembling 
 hands quivering involuntarily like an aspen 
 leaf, all betokening his misery. Leaving the 
 dingy in care of the man that had charge of 
 the slip, David bade Smith go with him. 
 Smith would have walked behind David like
 
 2l8 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 a menial, but David insisted on his walking 
 by his side. David was devoting an honest 
 zeal in a good cause. 
 
 They leisurely walked on towards the north 
 end of the city, and soon arrived in the local- 
 ity that had been the haunts of Smith for a 
 decade of years. Here was where the old 
 topers congregated then as well as now, and 
 none was more familiarly known there than 
 Smith. As they passed on they were saluted 
 by a sot who had arrived beyond the bounds of 
 decency, " I say 'Hardup,' where did you pick 
 up that psalm-singing hypocrite? Will he 
 stand treat if I go along with him?" The 
 sweet notes of the chime bells were agreea- 
 ble melody in David's ears, and in his imagi- 
 nation they seemed to say, " Peace on earth, 
 good will to men," and impressed him with 
 awe and veneration to God and his laws. " I 
 am going to Father Taylor's Church, and 
 want you to go with me Smith, and show me 
 where the church is, and go with me." Smith
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 219 
 
 said, " Father Taylor has often-times tried 
 to get me to go to meeting, but I would not 
 go. I will go with you, but I should think 
 you would be ashamed to go to church with 
 me." When David and Smith went into the 
 church Father Taylor exclaimed, 
 
 " Hallelujah ! Here is the old Misery hi port with the old ship of 
 Zion's pilot aboard. The Misery has been sailing under counterfeit 
 colors for ten years, and now wants overhauling from royal truck to 
 scupper-hole, and her bottom calked and coppered before she is sea- 
 worthy. She ain't fit to sail in company with the old Zion, who 
 always lands her cargo safe. Brother Sailor, don't be afraid to ship 
 in the old Zion. She will carry you safe through all your troubles and 
 tribulations. She is staunch and sound as a pump bolt. When 
 driven by storms and lashed by tempests she will land you at last in a 
 snug harbor, with all those that sail by her chart and steer by her 
 compass. Now brother sailor let me persuade and advise you. In 
 your watch below read in your Bible the fifty-first psalm. When you 
 are beset by storms, when the tempestuous gales rage, and the nights 
 are dark and drear, and you have to stand to the deck in the cold 
 rain, remember the mandates that God enjoined. If by chance you 
 escape a watery grave, or are buried in the ocean, while life lasts ever 
 remember God's ordinance and keep his command. If you comply 
 with God's precepts you are certain to arrive at a peaceful haven at 
 last, where the poor storm-beaten sailor will obtain eternal rest." 
 
 The dejected appearance of poor Smith 
 was pitiable indeed. The tears fell from his 
 eyes, and many an eye was moist that heard
 
 220 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 the venerable man. Father Taylor*, with his 
 arms extended, then pronounced a heartfelt 
 benediction and dismissed his congregation of 
 men that follow the sea. Mid the cold and 
 cheerless hours of night when the poor de- 
 luded sailor has to stand his watch of eight 
 hours on deck, the sympathetic expressions of 
 Father Taylor would often comfort him with 
 the hope of a future reward. David and 
 Smith left the church together and leisurely 
 walked side by side without exchange of sen- 
 timent, each in silent communion with his 
 own thoughts, to the place where they had 
 left the dingy and separated, Smith to go on 
 board the Rover while David went back on 
 board the freighter. 
 
 The heavy north-east gale that had raged 
 
 *Rev. Edward T. Taylor, born in 1793, died 1871. He was a Bethel 
 minister in Boston from 1830 until his death. " Father Taylor," as* 
 he was called mingled nautical terms and figures in his discourses, 
 and by his wit, pathos and magnetism controlled the minds and 
 wrought upon the feelings of his hearers in a remarkable degree.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 221 
 
 at sea for the week past had at last become 
 pacific, but as yet the weather remained un- 
 settled. Early Monday morning the skipper 
 filled away, leaving David on the pier, who 
 cast off his fasts. With a blithesome manner 
 unusual to him he wished the skipper a pleas- 
 ant passage. The good old skipper was 
 seriously troubled to leave David behind, but 
 could give no satisfactory reason or motive 
 for David's actions. The Scotchman, who 
 had his oar in on all occasions said, "That is 
 a short story and soon told. David will never 
 come back, and many a good man besides 
 David has gone wrong when jilted by a tri- 
 fling young woman." The skipper with a 
 burst of passion at the insinuation of the 
 Scotchman said, " When David goes wrong 
 you will see the dead ducks flying over the 
 dry lochs in Scotland." 
 
 A short time intervened before David was 
 underway and following in the wake of the 
 freighter. There were light airs and calms
 
 222 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 with passing clouds for twenty-four hours 
 after leaving Boston. The next morning they 
 were off the Isle of Shoales. The light winds 
 commenced to breeze up with heavy clouds 
 rolling up in the south-east and a bright glim 
 low down in the western horizon. The sea had 
 gradually changed color from a blue to a gray 
 black. These signs David well knew meant 
 that a snow storm was brewing and concluded 
 to make a harbor before night if possible. 
 
 David, who had kept astern of the freighter 
 by intention and for a purpose, now properly 
 trimmed his sails and was soon along side of 
 the freighter to leaward with Smith at the 
 helm, while David kept himself from being 
 seen by those on board the freighter. 
 
 The old skipper on board the freighter 
 hailed Smith with his vociferous voice, 
 "Schooner ahoy!" Smith answering dictated 
 by David, "Hallo! Where you bound?" 
 Smith replied, " Going to try to make a harbor 
 in Portland. If it shuts down to snow before
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 223 
 
 we get there we shall go in to Wood Island." 
 David let the Rover range ahead of the 
 freighter a mile or more, and then slacked off 
 his fore sheet so the old skipper could keep 
 in company. 
 
 At twelve o'clock the wind increased, and 
 both schooners had all the wind they wanted. 
 David double reefed the mainsail. The old 
 skipper carried his three lower sails for an 
 hour longer to try to keep up with David, 
 when he had to douse, and put two reefs in 
 one, fore and aft. David now took in his 
 foresail so as to keep in company. At three 
 o'clock it began to snow but David had the 
 bearings of Cape Elizabeth when it shut down, 
 now with the good harbor of Portland under 
 their lea where they safely anchored before 
 dark. 
 
 On that memorable stormy, dismal 'Decem- 
 ber night tradition and history both say the 
 snow fell between sunset and sunrise eighteen 
 inches. The next night the wind came off to
 
 224 TIIE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 the west-north-west. The weather was clear, 
 and the quicksilver in the thermometer stood 
 at zero when David got under way for home, 
 leaving the skipper to come when he got 
 ready. 
 
 David came to anchor off Mr. Lane's house 
 a little after sunrise the next morning. The 
 freighter rounded to close aboard David's 
 schooner late in the afternoon, and with 
 evident surprise the skipper said, " That is our 
 company-keeper. I wonder what she is a 
 doing here? As I am a sinner there is c Old 
 Hardup,' if I am in my senses. The skipper 
 with astonishment went ashore where he was 
 met by Mr. Lane and David, with extended 
 hands to greet him. David remarked with a 
 twinkle in his eye, " I came a little ahead of 
 you skipper to report." 
 
 The skipper after discharging his freight 
 took leave of Mr. Lane and David with 
 expressions of sincere affe6tion and good will 
 which was returned by them, with a hearty
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 225 
 
 shake of hands, left them and sailed away to 
 his eastern home. 
 
 NOTE. The fishermen a half a century ago would greet each other 
 with a cordial and warm reception when they met, and with a corres- 
 ponding feeling of regret when they parted. The world is morally 
 better because these men lived and flourished. As like begets like, 
 and as their descendants are scattered over a wide domain and receive 
 innate their traits of character from their progenitors, good results 
 came thereof. 
 
 Between the years of 1835 to 1845 so entirely engrossed were the 
 inhabitants of these islands and their environs in shipbuilding that 
 they neglecled their agriculture and fishing interests. In most everv 
 creek from Bangor to Thomaston were being built coasters, brigs and 
 ships, and to a limited extent from Quoddy to Kittery. These ves- 
 sels were extensively manned by fishermen, so while navigation and 
 shipbuilding flourished, agriculture and fishing were abandoned by the 
 young people. Fisherman and sailor are synomymous terms in a 
 measure, for it was not of rare occurance that the young skipper of a 
 fisherman at middle age became a ship master, while the deep water 
 young sailor who had merited the distinction of a ship master in the 
 regular order of progression would be of but little use and no orna- 
 ment on board a fisherman.
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 MR. LANE'S oldest son had become 
 a man of influence. While David 
 had been absent he paid his father a visit and 
 persuaded him to move off the island. The 
 Captain ( his son ) was the owner of a large 
 estate situated where all the necessaries of life 
 could easily be obtained. A vessel was hourly 
 expected to transport him and his chattels. 
 The greatest drawback was the transportation 
 of his hay and getting his flocks and herds on 
 board the vessel. David offered a suggestion 
 for Mr. Lane's consideration, which was to 
 have the stock wintered on the island. " It 
 would save moving the hay, and I will see 
 they are well cared for." "That will never 
 do David," replied Mr. Lane, " I want you to 
 go with me."
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSOtt. 227 
 
 The Captain was mindful of the strong 
 attachment his father had for David. With 
 ample means at his command, and having no 
 wife to draw or divide his affections they all 
 centered in his family, particularly his father. 
 It was a gratification to the son to please his 
 father, no matter at what cost.* The induce- 
 ment the Captain offered David to go with 
 his father was that David should be a joint 
 heir with his brother and sisters at his death. 
 
 David respectfully declined. His singular 
 way was that of but a small part of mankind, 
 and besides he had a little secret which he 
 had kept well protected. He did not like the 
 old maiden sister of Mr. Lane's. 
 
 After a time the vessel arrived that was to 
 convey Mr. Lane and his people with their 
 movables. Mr. Lane had decided to leave 
 the stock in David's care. He felt downcast 
 and dejected to leave the place that had been 
 
 *The Captain died wealthy and his money established the basis of one of 
 t he institutions of education in New England.
 
 228 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 his home for years. The venerable man who 
 was once strong-minded manifested signs of 
 dotage when he shook hands with David. 
 He then said, rf lf our tenancy of life con- 
 tinues may we perchance meet again and 
 finally meet in the celestial dwelling where 
 dis-uniting can never exist," and then with 
 heartfelt sorrow went his way. 
 
 David would have desired to spend the 
 winter in his cabin in privacy. He had an in- 
 genious scheme in contemplation, which was 
 that he could take fish in nets and do away 
 with the hard labor which the building of 
 weirs necessitated. He enjoyed himself at all 
 times best alone, especially when he was 
 mentally at work on some project. Hence 
 the least company he had the better he was 
 pleased. 
 
 An old and somewhat eccentric fisherman 
 with Mr. Holiday for a companion would 
 now and then pay a visit to David in pleasant 
 days, but in bad weather he was well rid of
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBETSOX. 229 
 
 them for the reason that it was too much like 
 work to row the wherry to and from his 
 island. When there they could sit around 
 his open fire telling stories alternately ; the 
 Scotchman relating the wonderful heroic 
 deeds of renown of the Highland Chieftain 
 in Scotland, while the fisherman's stories 
 related to Maine localities, each in turn 
 listening with pretended credulity. As a 
 general thing the stories they told were with- 
 out merit or worth, nevertheless it was a 
 pleasing satisfaction to each of them to hear 
 themselves talk. 
 
 When the old fisherman's turn was in order 
 he said to the Scotchman, "Did you ever 
 hear the story of the twin brothers, Mike and 
 Jim?" * No, but I have heard " ''Belay that 
 Mr. Holiday, it's my turn you know, Ha, I 
 shall have to tell it to you. You are the only 
 man on the Maine coast that has'nt heard it. 
 
 ** Jim and Mike were twin brothers who were owners of a sloop and 
 femnd employment carrying cord worxl to Boston. They were captain, 
 cook and all hands in torn. And as merry fellows as ever lived, and
 
 230 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID RORERTSON. 
 
 often-times played their jokes on one another. It Mike played a joke 
 on Jim, he would bear it with a facetious merriment, and then hide 
 his time and pay Mike the principal and interest. 
 
 " They were on the passage home from Boston in the old sloop on 
 a pleasant summer night. It was Mike's eight hours on deck. At 
 twelve o'clock he called Jim. Mike went below and turned in, and 
 in five minutes was fast asleep. Jim went below and set the watch 
 ahead to four o'clock and sung out: 'Four o'clock brother Mike, it's 
 your watch on deck.' Mike turned out and said, 'Brother Jim, I 
 never was so sleepy in my life.' but went on deck and took the tiller, 
 while Jim turned in for another snooze. 
 
 "At five o'clock there were no signs of daylight, six o'clock and still 
 no daylight. Mike was awe-stricken with terror and went down and 
 sung out to Jim, 'Turn out, Brother Jim, there's going to be another 
 dark day.' "* 
 
 The Rover was hauled up in a sheltered 
 nook or cove almost hidden from view by 
 stately trees, where she lay secure against the 
 turbulent and tempestuous storms that pre- 
 vail in winter on the coast of Maine. Smith, 
 who intended to winter in the cuddy of the 
 schooner now became a tenant of Mr. Lane's 
 and lived in his house subservient to David 
 and took care of the barn and found employ- 
 
 *The remarkable dark day which astonished and amazed the 
 settlers, was a theme for conversation among the fishermen for many 
 years and used by them in a chronological manner to mark events as 
 before or after the dark day.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 23 1 
 
 ment cutting wood for a dollar a cord, the 
 money being paid him every Saturday night. 
 The monotony of his secluded life was hardly 
 congenial, but he willingly bore the brunt, 
 and was proud of himself to be a man again. 
 
 He was having a hard fight against the 
 demon rum. which had brought the curse, 
 disgrace and poverty upon him. It took 
 years before strong drink had the entire con- 
 trol of him, and now it would take years to 
 break the longing desire. 
 
 Whether his resolutions will be adequate 
 to restrain his appetite, time alone will tell, 
 in the meantime Smith adhered to his deter- 
 mination with constancy and courage. 
 
 The winter so far had been clear from ice. 
 David was industriously employed knitting 
 salmon and herring nets, to form a seine with 
 a pound when they were set. Sitting by the 
 window in his cabin one cold, raw day at 
 work on his nets, he saw through the opening 
 in the clump of dwarf trees, a boat with three
 
 232 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 men apparently trying to land on Mr. Lane's 
 island. With his spy glass he recognized 
 them as his neighbors. The boat was head- 
 ing for the island, but was making use of an 
 angle of ninety degrees for a course to get 
 there. They were in imminent danger of 
 being blown to sea. David without loss of 
 time started in his wherry. But luckily their 
 boat grounded on a rock. They managed to 
 get out on the rock, and had passed out the 
 jug, when the boat, relieved of their weight, 
 floated away, and was drifting seaward with 
 a strong north-east wind. They floundered 
 to the shore with their boots full of water. 
 The weather was icy cold, and it was almost 
 night. They could just stiver* and go, having 
 lost all except what they stood in and the jug. 
 In this condition they arrived at the house 
 where they were received by Smith. They 
 handed Smith the jug and said, " Take a 
 hearty draught; it is good for all complaints 
 
 *Stiver, a local word uted by the fishermen.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 233 
 
 of long standing. Smith shook his head. 
 But they pressed him with arguments, and at 
 last persuaded the poor fellow, whose appe- 
 tite was so strong that he was about to give 
 way ,^ when David put in his appearance with 
 a semblance of an accident on his part, and 
 broke the jug. This brought a drunken howl 
 from the men that ought to have put to shame 
 a hyena. Their mirthful gabble now turned 
 into frowns with deplorable complaints for 
 the loss of the jug. 
 
 David left for home having no fear that 
 harm or danger would come to Smith now. 
 With a shake down of hay on the kitchen 
 floor, Smith made them as comfortable as his 
 circumstances would admit. When the effe6t 
 of the liquor began to pass away they suffered 
 excruciating pains with their frost-bitten feet. 
 With many a resolution formed, and many a 
 curse expressed, they vowed that they would 
 never more drink liquor. Their firm resolves 
 they kept for a time, but their ungovernable
 
 234 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 love for rum proved stronger than their vows. 
 It was some days before they were able to go 
 home, (two of them were always lame after- 
 wards, but rheumatism had to bear the blame 
 while rum went scot free.) 
 
 David's cabin seemed what it really was, 
 the most secluded and quiet place in christen- 
 dom. His favorite seat was a rustic chair 
 ingeniously wrought by his own hands. He 
 usually sat by the cabin window where a 
 glimpse of the Penobscot bay could be seen 
 through a bowery avenue, thinking of many 
 
 
 
 things past, but always returning to the thought 
 that kept his brain active Mary. 
 
 He made no inquiry, sought for no infor- 
 mation, and did not know what had become 
 of her, nor would he allow any derogatory 
 remarks about her to be made in his presence. 
 He was logical, and tried his best not to blame 
 her, mentally exaggerating her many virtues.
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 MARY was married, and the honey 
 month was only too quickly gone. 
 Her husband now must keep the pot boiling, 
 and necessity obliged him to go to sea. Mary's 
 home was with her husband's father who 
 had a large family. He was good natured but 
 inclined to be shiftless, and put off what might 
 be done today till some other time. A farmer 
 and a fisherman, yet neither one nor the other 
 only when want made it absolutely necessary. 
 Her mother-in-law was as good a woman as 
 ever lived, but had become discouraged years 
 ago, and had learned the bitter lesson by ex- 
 perience, "that what can't be cured must be 
 endured." 
 
 Mary was a descendent from stock that 
 would make old shears cut, and now went to 
 work to renovate the house from cellar to
 
 236 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 garret, turning things upside down generally. 
 She began to scrub and thump, with the soap 
 suds flying half mast high, and drove the old 
 man into the pig pen or some where else to 
 smoke his pipe. The old trash that had lum- 
 bered the house for half a century was hove 
 out of doors, or out of the chamber window 
 helter skelter, The old cat with her kittens, 
 her back and tail up, ran under the barn, 
 while the yellow dog, with his tail between 
 his legs, had taken for the woods, howling, 
 accidently or on purpose, got scalt. 
 
 The young ones got Indian bread and milk 
 for breakfast, dinner and supper, while the 
 old man was served with a hakes tail and 
 baked potatoes. It was blue Monday every 
 day until the house was as clean as soap and 
 sand could make it. The old man, ill at ease, 
 thought of the hand-writing on the wall and 
 cried, " Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin." 
 
 Mary finished her scrubbing, and had the 
 seven by nine glass replaced in the window
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 237 
 
 sashes in lieu of old hats and rags. The 
 smoky ceiling was white-washed, and the 
 dingy walls neatly papered. The little furni- 
 ture they had, Mary arranged with formal 
 order to appear to the best advantage. 
 
 The old lady, Mary's mother-in-law, was 
 pleased to see the old house once more neat 
 and orderly yet sadly meditated upon the cares 
 and troubles she had sustained. She had be- 
 come weary in well doing, and remembered 
 the time when she came to the same house a 
 blushing bride more than a score and ten 
 years ago with flattering hopes which were 
 never realized. 
 
 The ways of Mary brought home to her 
 mind her own experience. She had seen her 
 beauty fade, fruition end in care and trouble, 
 and hope delayed until the heart ached. Her 
 emulation and ambition were gone. 
 
 Mary had kept her father-in-law usefully 
 employed in cutting wood and bringing water 
 from the spring until it was dry, which, he
 
 238 THE ROMANTIC STORY OP DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 solemnly affirmed, had not been the case 
 before for, fifty years. Mary with gentle en- 
 treaty persuaded the old man to clear up the 
 external surroundings of the house, lending a 
 hand herself when not employed alleviating 
 her mother-in-law from the labor of the 
 housework, which was caused in a measure 
 by the inconveniences she was obliged to 
 submit to, proceeding from the habit of idle- 
 ness, sloth and laziness on the part of her 
 husband, who more than thirty years ago had 
 promised in the presence of a venerable God- 
 fearing man that as long as his life should 
 last he would foster and treat her with affec- 
 tion and support her to the best of his ability. 
 The old dog Jowler, a pet and favorite of the 
 family had come home and taken up his quar- 
 ters in the barn, but could not be coaxed to 
 come into the house. A scalt dog as well as a 
 burnt child dreads the fire. Jowler resented the 
 ill turn and surly treatment, and Mary had one 
 enemy in her new home, but that was a minor
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID HOBETSON. 239 
 
 trouble, since she erroneously believed that 
 dogs and fleas were inseparable. 
 
 The order of things with Mary's manage- 
 ment of domestic affairs, stimulated the old 
 man to a more vigorous exertion. He was 
 hale and hearty, and some how he was ill at 
 ease sitting in the chimney corner smoking his 
 pipe as had been his custom, and now went 
 to work. Only a month had passed since 
 Mary's husband went away. In that time a 
 great mutation had taken place, brought about 
 by Mary's inborn peculiar bent of mind. 
 
 The weekly mail at last brought a letter for 
 Mary from her husband. The contents in- 
 formed her that he had shipped first officer of 
 a brig bound for the island of Cuba to load 
 sugar for a port north of Hatteras. If all went 
 well he was in hopes to be at home in three 
 months. Many expressions of endearment and 
 the formal good bye, were the purport of the 
 last letter he probably ever wrote. The brig 
 was capsized at sea outward bound and he
 
 240 THE KOMANTJC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 was drowned, and months elapsed before the 
 sad tidings reached home. 
 
 Mary, after reading her letter until she knew 
 it by heart, said to herself, a poor girl has got 
 more courage than sense to marry a roving 
 sailor. She supposed that she was now in her 
 future home, and was zealously endeavoring 
 to make it as comfortable as possible. Things 
 seemed to prosper; and with fore-thought, 
 economical management, and industry on 
 Mary's part, brought about strange results. 
 With her frugality she had been able to pur- 
 chase an additional cow, and now had three 
 pigs in the pen to keep the solitary pig com- 
 pany that had a prior right. 
 
 By hook or crook she managed to get the old 
 man to plant an acre of potatoes in the place 
 of the small patch which had been his us- 
 ual custom. Mary and her mother-in-law 
 worked together in harmony, and even her 
 father-in-law liked her, notwithstanding she 
 wheedled and coaxed him with soft words, and
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 241 
 
 made him earn his bread by the sweat of his 
 brow. Mary like all of us, was falible, and 
 sometimes the chimney smoked; a smoky 
 chimney is * * * * * * two bad things. 
 
 The time went on, the rose of beauty 
 bloomed, the little tit-mouse with its shrill and 
 wild notes sings on the branches of the arom- 
 atic Balm of Gilead tree that grows before the 
 door. The swallows build their nests in the 
 eaves and there rear their young. The red 
 breasted robin skips over the green lawn with 
 his sharp eye on the lookout. 
 
 Now here, now there, when the sweet mel- 
 ody of his song is heard, the husbandman 
 makes ready for rain. In the sylvan glen 
 while the morning sun still shades the valley, 
 and when the cuckoo's note of love to his 
 mate is heard, a sultry day follows. 
 
 Mary's favorite seat was on the stoop, that 
 led to the front door with a rustic seat. Here 
 could be seen a wild fascinating scenery diver- 
 sified by woods, mountains, rugged hills and
 
 242 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 ledges, a frequented thoroughfare where 
 fishing and coasting vessels were continually 
 passing. From this retreat the view facing 
 the east was unobstructed. On the left there 
 stood stately trees of lofty grandeur. On the 
 right the landscape is one of undulating past- 
 ures interspersed with evergreen shrubbery, 
 when the sable shades of night overshadow 
 the house. Silence pervades the place, save 
 when the sweet songs of the nightingale or the 
 placid notes of the whippowill are heard. 
 
 The fleeting days of spring glided quickly 
 away, like a river whose onward flowing to 
 the ocean is rapid and free. Mary's ignorance 
 is blisj, 'tis folly to be wise. The trite maxim 
 told by the Sage's " Lang Syne" would be ap- 
 plicable now to Mary's case. She was elated, 
 with florid hopes, fluttering with joy as she 
 went about her work. Lark like, singing 
 snatches of songs with her rugged health and 
 rosy dimpled cheeks, busy as a bee, with her 
 nimble ringers making, fixing and altering
 
 MARY SEATED ON THE STOOP AT HER COTTAGE DOOR.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 24^ 
 
 things generally and wondering what her hus- 
 band would say when he came home. 
 
 The fugitive spring refuses to stay, and 
 summer comes ushered in with gentle breezes, 
 wafted from the Balm of Gilead tree, blended 
 with the perfume of lavender, that grows 
 profusely around the house. The sweet ver- 
 nal grass that imparts its pleasant odor, Mary 
 gathered in clusters and put it in the antiqua- 
 ted English pitchers that were common in 
 those days in the fishermen's and sailors' cot- 
 tages. 
 
 On a beautiful day in late summer, Mary 
 was sitting on the rustic seat on the front door 
 stoop (her usual practice) shaded by the 
 branches of the Balm of Gilead tree. A mild 
 west wind was blowing and a field of golden 
 barley waving in the wind, ripe for the garner. 
 The field in front of the house was a gradual 
 descent to the shingle beach, a hundred rods 
 away, washed by the tide waters of the beau- 
 tiful Penobscot. Fishing boats and coasting
 
 246 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 schooners were sailing by with all their sails 
 set and drawing. The field was shorn of its 
 flowery verdure by the hay-makers, but yet 
 remained a picture of beauty. 
 
 For days, weeks and months, Mary was 
 anxiously waiting for her husband, who would 
 never come. When the weekly mail arrived, 
 she invariably went to the post office, rain or 
 shine, as long as circumstances would admit 
 only to return disappointed. 
 
 Eight months had gone by since Mary's 
 husband went to sea, she was now disheart- 
 ened and depressed in mind and spirits. 
 Through the long pleasant summer days she 
 would sit on the bowery stoop ihonghtfully 
 reflecting on the past and speculating on the 
 future. Sometimes a transient hope of possi- 
 bility that her husband was living only to be 
 rejected as a preposterous conclusion. A 
 neighbor brought her a letter at last with a 
 line of black on the margi n of the wrapper. 
 She startled and trembled with intuitive per-
 
 V I 
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 247 
 
 ceptions. It told her the sad story without 
 breaking the seal. 
 
 Mary was chaste as a maiden, faithful when 
 a wife, and now a widow, and more than that, 
 all in a year. 
 
 Mary passed a lonesome winter with the 
 old folks she and her mother-in-law living 
 together in unity, consoling and comforting 
 each other in their mutual afflictions. Amidst 
 their distress the black cloud that hung over 
 the old homestead had a silver lining, as they 
 had a bountiful supply of provisions for win- 
 ter, an impressive difference between the stint 
 and scantness that Mary's mother-in-law had 
 been obliged to conform to for so many years. 
 Her larder was stored with beef, pork and 
 bacon; her pantry with butter and cheese; the 
 cellar with vegetables and potatoes. In the 
 chamber corn and barley, all brought about by 
 Mary's ideas and intelligence. 
 
 On an early spring morning Mary left the 
 old house to go home and live with her father,
 
 248 THE KOMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 which grieved the old folks to the heart, to 
 part with her. The neighbors with good will 
 came to bid her farewell, and when she was 
 ready to go, the family, neighbors, dog and 
 all, walked with her to the shore where the 
 boat was in waiting to take her away. 
 
 When the last good-bye was said with, 
 "Good speed," they sadly and slowly went 
 home. The old man said that Mary was 
 better than gold, at the same time wiping his 
 moist eyes with his hand.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 DURING the winter the charm of 
 solitude which David found so con- 
 genial, was broken now and then by Smith 
 and an occasional visit from the Scotchman 
 accompanied with some intimate crony, who 
 were apt to stop until they wore their wel- 
 come out. When the Scotchman was present 
 David kept the nets out of sight to avoid the 
 Scotchman's gratuitous advice which David 
 counted for naught. On one of the Scotch- 
 man's visits he remarked to David, " You did 
 well last year with your weir, and not to be 
 wondered at. You have got the best berth to 
 take fish in there is in Penobscot bay." He 
 said with undue fondness for his own opinion, 
 " If I had your berth I would make a fortune." 
 David said, " You may have it and welcome." 
 The Scotchman's surprise was without bounds
 
 250 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 or limit. When he found his tongue he said, 
 :? That bodes no good. The moon is at the 
 full, you have got the lune's*, and your wits 
 have gone wool gathering." After sober 
 second thought he made David an apology- 
 saying, "I always went off half cocked." He 
 went home rejoicing at his own good fortune 
 yet thinking that evil days had come to poor 
 David, and his mind was certainly shattered- 
 There is no uncertainty about it. 
 
 When David had completed his nets he 
 followed his usual vocation with his gun and 
 dog. When the tempestuous storms of March 
 prevail he sat in his arm-chair before the 
 cheerful fire with a book, but made a specialty 
 of studying Aunt Nancy's old Bible. Sages 
 of old as well as modern, have told that all 
 men have a money price and "The love of 
 money is the root of all evil." Be that as it 
 may, the reverence that David had for the old 
 Bible remains a doubtful maxim to those 
 
 *Affedled by madness.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 2^1 
 
 living that knew David well. As regards to 
 the tenets of his religious creed he was silent, 
 but evidently manifested his belief in prayer 
 and devotion to his Creator and that interdic- 
 tion surely followed them that failed to obey 
 divine law. 
 
 It was early spring when David got the 
 Rover ready to carry his primary and unique 
 scheme into effect. Smith was to go with 
 him. and they were to make their homes on 
 board the schooner while tending the nets. 
 
 The locality where David set the nets was 
 off the rocky points that project into the bay 
 where there were coves, in lieu of a harbor, 
 where the Rover could lay at anchor except- 
 ing in heavy weather. 
 
 From these headlands it was impracticable 
 to build weirs owing to the depth of the 
 water and the rocky bottom. When there 
 was a fresh south-west wind the salmon fol- 
 low the surf that breaks on the shore. On 
 
 NOTE. The migrating salmon make their appearance on the Maine 
 coast in April and continue until July to assend the rivers for spawning .
 
 252 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 such days they were taken in large quantities 
 by David and Smith. 
 
 When there was a breeze at night these 
 salmon were put on board the Rover and 
 taken to Thomaston*, where they were turned 
 over to an agent. With all possible dispatch, 
 the owners then came back home to look 
 after the nets which was absolutely necessary. 
 This necessitated work without sleep, but the 
 returns for fresh salmon were far in excess of 
 the smoked. 
 
 The Scotchman with elated mind toiled 
 early and late building the weir, still remain- 
 ing tenacious of his own opinion, and locating 
 the weir off a projecting point in a more ex- 
 posed situation than where David had his weir 
 the previous year. 
 
 His anticipations and anxiety overcame his 
 prudence and discretion. He built the weir 
 long before the migrating fish would arrive. 
 When asked by an old weather-wise fisher- 
 
 *Now Rockland.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 2^3 
 
 man the reason of building the weir so early, 
 he said, " It is the early bird that catches the 
 worm." The fisherman replied, " If we get 
 the line gale your weir instead of catching 
 worms will catch the devil." 
 
 The boat fishermen were ashore 
 
 OO O 
 
 clams for bait. The tide served late when 
 the old weather-wise fisherman said, " It is 
 now the last of March and we have not had 
 the equinoctial gale. The wind is north-east, 
 do you mind how dismal and wailing the 
 wind sounds among the trees, in my opinion 
 we shall have heavy weather before morning." 
 As the old fisherman predicted, a terrible 
 gale came on that night with an unusual high 
 tide which played sad havoc with the Scotch- 
 man's weir. The succeeding morning the 
 Scotchman was looking at the place where 
 the weir was. Filled with anguish and great 
 passion he exclaimed in Scotch dialect, "I 
 maun be in the sheugh o' dule* and my weir 
 
 *I wish I was in h 11.
 
 254 TIIE HOMAXTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 in Scotland." The dejected and down-hearted 
 appearance of the poor Scotchman was pitiful 
 to look upon. The fishermen now in the 
 place of laughing and ridiculing him at his 
 ludicrous Scotch dialect as it had been their 
 practice, expressed their sympathy by words 
 and actions. 
 
 The material of which the weir was made 
 was washed ashore and it was scattered along 
 the shore above high water and out of the 
 tide way. A consultation was held among 
 the fishermen and the result was they agreed 
 to turn to and rebuild the weir. They then 
 said to the Scotchman, ff You go to the main 
 and get liquor enough.'' This proposition 
 was heartily received by the Scotchman, who 
 well knew where the rum was to be had with- 
 out going to the main. A drunken debauch 
 or carousal lasted until the weir was com- 
 pleted. 
 
 When they started to go home they were 
 all more or less intoxicated. One of them
 
 <!KKKT1X(S HKK HUSBAND WITH AKMS AKIMI5O.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 257 
 
 had a shrew for a wife and there would be no 
 quiet in the house with her when he had been 
 drinking. He dreaded to go home and face 
 the music. Before he got to the house he 
 saw her standing in the cottage door with her 
 arms akimbo, ready to greet him. 
 
 With a vehement voice she said, "Where 
 have you been?" He answered, " My dear, 
 I have been helping Mr. Holiday build " 
 She interrupted him, "Yes, helping Mr. Holi- 
 day get drunk. You are full of rum- and hot 
 now. I wish the ship had sunk that brought 
 that Scotchman over. You are covered in 
 mud from your head to your heels." "My 
 dear, how could I help that working in the 
 mud flats?" She replied, "You could not 
 help getting drunk either. The next time 
 you come home hot I will fasten the doors, 
 and you can sleep in the barn. He then with 
 low murmuring said, " I will never sleep in 
 the barn but once." She caught the words 
 that were hardly intended for her ears and
 
 258 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 replied with vehemency of anger, "What is 
 the reason you won't?" "Cause I won't get 
 drund again." She then took him by the arm 
 with a griping press which made him cringe, 
 and led him into, the house. 
 
 An exuberant abundance of salmon in 
 early days frequented the waters of Penob- 
 scot bay during the spring months. In the 
 primitive nets of David and Smith they were 
 caught in abundance. The Scotchman for 
 this reason was envious of David's success, 
 and openly manifested his emulous malice in 
 the presence of the fishermen, who took of- 
 fence at hearing the Scotchman deride David 
 and said to him, " You are the most ungrate- 
 ful man that ever lived. If it had not been 
 for the instigation of David we would not 
 have rebuilt your weir, now stop your slan- 
 derous tongue or we will get our bait some- 
 where else." This threat of menace stopped 
 the ungrateful Scotchman's mouth. Some of 
 the fishermen reported to David the magnil-
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 259 
 
 oquent talk. David replied, " I have always 
 thought that Mr. Holiday did not always have 
 a due sense of benefits received." David en- 
 tertained no enmity and had no enemies in 
 return. 
 
 The mackerel had arrived in the bay. The 
 fishermen reported they were fat and good 
 size. The salmon had done running so David 
 and Smith took up their nets, The fishermen 
 now wanted David to fit the Rover for mack- 
 ereling. She had excellent sailing qualities, 
 and the success in many instances depends on 
 the vessel getting where the fish have been 
 discovered before others that are cruising in 
 the near vicinity. When cruising they are 
 incessently watching with a spy-glass. If one 
 of the fleet succeed in raising a school, every 
 vessel in sight within ten miles will be mind- 
 ful of the facl: in less than five minutes. Then 
 every effort is made by the crew by spread- 
 ing every available sail bowsed taut by- 
 willing hands as quickly as possible, then the
 
 260 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON'. 
 
 trial of speed commences, the best helmsman 
 takes the helm, and the sails are trimmed to 
 an accuracy. It now becomes one of the 
 most exciting scenes of a mackerel catcher. 
 The first vessel generally heaves to under the 
 lee-bow of the vessel that is taking mackerel 
 and throws bait and often takes the school 
 while the vessel on the weather their fish 
 have ceased to bite and an end has come to 
 their excitement. With slang maledictions 
 they frequently greet the vessel that has taken 
 their fish. Perhaps before the lee vessel takes 
 a half dozen wash barrels some other vessel 
 has hove to and to leeward, and got the school 
 along side while they in turn denounce woe 
 against the offender. 
 
 When the request was made by the fisher- 
 men to David to fit the Rover for mackerel- 
 ing he shook his head. He could not endure 
 being in the company of the fishermen and be 
 obliged to listen to their frivolous talk for two 
 months at least. In sympathy however with
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 261 
 
 their disappointment he would charter the 
 Rover to them on a share if they would 
 return her on or before the twentieth of Sep- 
 tember before the equinox, with Skipper 
 Thomas in charge, who was an old and ex- 
 perienced fisherman who could keep the 
 reckoning, and in whose confidence he could 
 confide. These terms were satisfactory and 
 now they were off for a cruise, and as 
 jolly a set of old fish-killers as ever sailed 
 over Neptune' dominion. In the Rover they 
 were to roam on the ocean in search of mack- 
 erel and take their chances as to what fortune 
 might bring. 
 
 To make a success in catching mackerel it 
 requires activity and energy. The mackerel 
 is a capricious fish and continuously changing 
 its haunts. At times the fishermen will seek 
 in vain for them; at other times they are 
 plenty and voracious, and will often bite a red 
 or white rag. The mackerel essentially dif- 
 fer. Some seasons they are fat and large,
 
 262 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 and found in great plentitude on the New 
 England coast, while at others they are lean, 
 small and scarce. 
 
 More than one young expert fisherman 
 claims with undoubting assurance that they 
 have caught sixty mackerel in a minute with 
 two lines. If this rapid work is kept up the 
 crew of a fisherman say fifteen hands, would 
 catch a whole fare in less than half a day.* 
 
 The Elysian days of mackerel fishermen 
 with their lines, jigs and beautiful sharp 
 schooners have gone by. In their place the 
 destructive steam seiners have nearly annihi- 
 liated the tinker mackerel that abounded in 
 every cove, harbor and bay along the entire 
 coast of Maine. 
 
 *This statement was published in the government report of fisher- 
 ies, 1853.
 
 ANClENTjFISHERMAN Of THE OLD SCHOOL.
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 IT happened in the early days of the nine- 
 teenth century that a sudden appearance 
 of a school of fat mackerel came among the 
 islands in Penobscot bay and environs in 
 large quantities. They were scooped up with 
 pans and speared with pitchforks, and women 
 and children joined in the excitement pro- 
 puced by the remarkable and unusual appear- 
 ance of mackerel. 
 
 The old fisherman in the corner by the fire 
 or on pleasant days on a rustic bench where 
 the view is unobstructed, nursing his infirm- 
 ity, now past labor, is more sensitive to 
 unkind words that are uttered by his children 
 or his children's wives than in the days of 
 yore, but yields to them on account of his 
 feebleness. 
 
 In early summer at the close of the day,
 
 266 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 when the lightening bugs first made their ap- 
 pearance his sluggish blood quickens in his 
 veins, and on the morrow he will try to get 
 the boys to go with him to try once more to 
 catch mackerel. 
 
 The singular dialed of the grizzley old fisher- 
 men a half a century or more which he con- 
 sidered so appropriate has not found its 
 way as yet in the comprehensive dictionary. 
 Their manners are coarse and harsh, their 
 habits of life are without rule or order, but 
 nevertheless their a6ts of kindness and hospi- 
 tality are not exceeded by any and equalled 
 by few; their opportunities are few to im- 
 prove and their temptations are many to 
 deviate from the true course, consequently 
 they err through ignorance. 
 
 Chebacco boats, pinkies, jiggers were the 
 names applied to their fishing crafts. Their 
 provision which they called grub, when served 
 up they defined as smother, (a pot pie) dnjj', 
 ( a pudding) , joe /loggers, (pancakes) , dunde-
 
 TItE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 267 
 
 funk (fried pork, molasss and bread). When 
 talking about oil clothes they say He skins, 
 their hat is soif-wester, their boots stampers, 
 their knife is generally secured with a lan- 
 yard, (a short line), their fishing knives they 
 term throaters and splitters, their aprons 
 of leather or canvass, is called a batvel, their 
 wives are invariably called our ivimen. 
 They will tell you how many shots are neces- 
 sary on different fishing grounds. By a shot 
 they mean thirty fathom. 
 
 They use a substitute for mittens which 
 they call nippers, their boats are divided into 
 compartments called kits, where they throw 
 their fish. Their fish stories are without end, 
 narrating their own experience and the tradi- 
 tions of their sires. They firmly believe in 
 witches and dreams and will not enter on an 
 undertaking on Friday. They will prove this 
 belief by signs and omens that have come 
 under their own observation. If occasion 
 requires they will make use of their neighbor's
 
 268 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 fields to spread their bait nets caring nothing 
 for the pre-emptive rights of the proprietors. 
 If a remonstrance is made they will brow- 
 beat in an arrogant manner any who dare to 
 remind them of their trespass. 
 
 If you visit them in their cottages you will 
 undoubtedly receive a hearty welcome, the 
 best they have will be none too good for you. 
 When sickness or trouble comes to their 
 neighbors none are so ready or willing to aid 
 and assist by night or day as they, without a 
 thought of recompense. No matter how 
 dark and stormy the night, they are willing to 
 risk their lives and go to the main for the 
 doctor.* 
 
 *See report on American Fisheries, 1853, Lorenzo Sabine of Mass- 
 achusetts. 
 
 NOTE. When the United States Government wanted men to man 
 their warships and gun boats in the Rebellion of 1861 to 1864, the 
 Maine fishermen were ready and willing to serve in the Navy, volun- 
 teered and passed examination and did their country service in all the 
 grades from able seamen to commanders. These men knew nothing 
 about the red tape of the old school navy and cared less. Many a 
 valiant volunteer officer and man spent their boyhood on board a fish- 
 ing boat.
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 DAVID and Smith passed the summer 
 in their respective boats, catching 
 mackerel among the group of islands that are 
 thickly scattered in the waters of the Penob- 
 scot. 
 
 On Saturdays they invariably went home to 
 store their fish and pack and prepare them for 
 shipment. Smith yet remained a tenant at 
 will of Mr. Lane's, and still merited the 
 honest confidence which David reposed in 
 him. 
 
 David spent the Sabbath reading and de- 
 liberating with intellectual enjoyment, alone 
 with his Bible. He was not like the world a 
 willing slave to custom and fashion. 
 
 " Slave to no sect, who takes no private road, 
 And looks through nature, up to nature's God." 
 
 It happened on a pleasant Sunday afternoon 
 as David sat on a rustic bench under the
 
 270 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 spreading branches of a birch tree in medita- 
 tion. The view from here the skillful artist 
 would fail to depict within the limits of a 
 single canvass. The famous painter of 
 scenery would be defective but the deserning 
 eye would preceive at a sweeping glance the 
 beautiful, perfect and complete whole A 
 quiet stillness prevades. The maple trees 
 were changing their summer verdure to a 
 variety of shades of vermilion. 
 
 His agreeable musing was interrupted by a 
 strange schooner that came to anchor off Mr. 
 Lane's fish house, then landing a noisy set of 
 clamorous people ashore. David with his 
 spy glass observed the demon rum had full 
 sway, in the place of sense. 
 
 With an uneasy apprehension of danger for 
 Smith he went in the wherry after him and 
 brought him back to his cabin. Ten months 
 had gone by since Smith had drank or tasted 
 spirituous liquors, in the mean time the shame- 
 ful drunken revilers ran riot pillaging and des-
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 271 
 
 troying without hinderance. The fish hawks 
 David had watched build their nest year after 
 year on the tall spruce tree with a right prior 
 to his own, the ruthful marauder's shot. 
 
 The next morning the marauding schooner 
 got under way and undertook to go between 
 the islands where there is a rocky bar extend- 
 ing from one to the other, not being ac- 
 quainted they run the schooner ashore where 
 she remained hard and fast. David and 
 Smith were watching her when she struck. 
 Smith said, "There! I am glad of it!" "No,' 
 David replied, " You ought not to rejoice over 
 any one's misfortune caused by rum." He 
 said no more but his countenance was a token 
 of his feelings. The schooner was ashore on 
 large bowlder rocks and the tide was making 
 ebb. When the tide left her she in all proba- 
 bilities would heel off, and fill with water be- 
 fore she would right. David and Smith, with 
 a few scantlings went to the schooner in the
 
 272 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 wherry with all possible haste, as " time and 
 tide waits for no man." They had done 
 nothing on board and did not know what to 
 do. There was no time for talk. David a6l- 
 ing without a medium or any intervention, 
 with the scantling shored the vessel up, he 
 then had the anchors let go on each side the 
 throat halyards, made fast to the cables and 
 hauled taut. By this means, David, with 
 Smith's assistance saved the schooner. 
 
 The men on board the schooner were now 
 sober (when not under the influence of ardent 
 spirits were not corrupt beyond recovery) 
 and now wanted to recompense David, who 
 said to them, "You are welcome to our 
 services in saving the schooner, should any of 
 you in after life meet others in distress do to 
 them as you would like to be done by, but 
 your duty seems plain to me, your people 
 restore to Mr. Lane the value of what he has 
 lost, and do so no more.
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 273 
 
 Skipper Thomas was a man of mark among 
 the fishermen, and as true to his trust as the 
 magnetic needle of his compass to the north 
 pole. At the specified time he dropped the 
 anchor of the Rover off Mr. Lane's house and 
 delivered her up to David with twenty barrels 
 of mackerel. 
 
 Skipper Thomas and the boys as he styled 
 them (the youngest amongst them were jog- 
 ing on to fifty) all hale and hearty, excepting 
 now and then afflicted by rheumatism, but the 
 never failing remedy in weal or woe was new 
 rum sure, for they had taken it for a preven- 
 tive and a cure times out of mind, and were 
 willing to bear testimony of the good results. 
 
 Their mackerel had been sold and they 
 shared each man from two to three hundred 
 dollars. They would winter now on the fat 
 of the land. With buoyant spirits they loaded 
 their wherries with their winter stores, and tak- 
 ing a jug of medicine to ward off an attack of the 
 dread disease, each went to his respective home.
 
 274 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 In O6lober, David, Smith and Mr. Holiday 
 put their fish on board the Rover for the 
 Boston market. His island neighbors brought 
 their produce and fish, and their wives sent 
 their knitting work for David to sell or 
 exchange. 
 
 After the Rover was loaded, for several 
 days the weather was thick and rainy. The 
 following Sunday morning the sun rose clear, 
 a pacific, fair wind was blowing from an 
 azure sky, yet David sat in contemplation on 
 sacred things, and let the Rover swing to her 
 anchors. The Scotchman remonstrated em- 
 phatically against losing so good a chance. 
 David in answer said, " I will not violate the 
 Sabbath. The Divine Book says that every 
 man's works shall be made manifest." 
 
 In due time the Rover arrived in Boston. 
 On the succeeding Sunday, David and Smith 
 dressed in new clothes, were going together to 
 the venerable Father Taylor's church. Smith, 
 no longer with a down-cast, menial look, and
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 275 
 
 a bloated face, as he walked by the side of 
 David, but with the self-respe6t and dignity of a 
 gentleman. The traces that mark the beastly 
 vice of intemperance were gone. 
 
 When David and Smith were ready to sail 
 Mr. Holiday was missing, and after waiting 
 for two days they were reluctantly obliged to 
 sail without him. The Scotchman was ad- 
 di6ted to drink more or less strong liquor, 
 and had probably fallen in bad company. 
 The trite maxim still remains true, "Evil 
 communications corrupt good manners." Mr. 
 Holiday was never afterward seen or heard 
 of by David or Smith. They returned 
 home and hauled up the Rover in her winter 
 quarters. Smith kept his good resolutions 
 and still remained a tenant at will of Mr. 
 Lane, and David spent the winter on an 
 adjacent island.
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 IN the near vicinity of David there lived 
 on an island, several families, and 
 among them an exceedingly old couple, now 
 unable to bear the burden and heat of the day. 
 Owing to the infirmities of age they had 
 become poor, notwithstanding their hundred 
 acres and more of land. They had two cows 
 that a kind neighbor took care of, and a flock 
 of sheep, part of the wool of which was used 
 by the old dame, and the residue was sold to 
 pay the town rates. They had raised three 
 sons and a daughter, all of whom were either 
 dead or scattered in far off lands. 
 
 Alas, how great the change since he, with 
 his bride, half a century ago came to the 
 island, cleared the land of the stately trees, 
 and built the primitive log cabin. 
 
 The aged couple often sat side by side on
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OP DAVID ROBERTSON. 277 
 
 pleasant days, upon a shaded seat where could 
 be seen the waters of the Penobscot bay, 
 which served to cheer their hearts by its 
 beauty. 
 
 The grass is as green, the rose as fragrant, 
 and the waters of the bubbling spring as clear 
 and cold as in days of yore. The swallow, 
 the robin and the bobolink still come after 
 the vernal equinox, and depart with the first 
 chilly breath of Boreas. The summers are as 
 hot, and the winters are as cold now, as when 
 he came a young man with his enchanting 
 dreams of blue skies and sunny days. 
 
 He had lived the fleeting years of youth 
 and manhood, all unconscious of his happi- 
 ness, and in his advanced age realizes with 
 sad regrets the joys that are past to return no 
 more. 
 
 These old folks entertained an enthusiastic 
 regard for David. The old lady had sent her 
 knitting by him to Boston to exchange it for 
 calico and groceries. His oft repeated visits
 
 278 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 were the greatest pleasure life had left for 
 them. When David got back one of the first 
 things he did was to go and deliver the pro- 
 ceeds of the knitting work, consisting of an 
 abundant supply for winter use. The aged 
 couple well knew that the knitting work 
 would not bring a price to pay a tenth part of 
 what he brought. 
 
 When the cheerless winter was ushered in 
 by driving snow storms, the feeble old man 
 was confined to his bed. The neighbors in 
 turn kept his wife supplied with fuel, but 
 most of the day she was alone with him. All 
 the long weary nights she watched alone. 
 
 David intended to live in his cabin, and had 
 made previous preparation to enjoy his soli- 
 tude, but the thoughts of his neighbors, whose 
 years of life were so far advanced, troubled 
 him. The caring for them seemed to be a 
 duty, but he was not obeying the dictates of 
 his conscience. The consequence was he let 
 the fire go out on his hearth, boarded up the
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 279 
 
 windows and loaded the wherry with provis- 
 ions. Then with his dog and gun he went to 
 care for the aged people. 
 
 Imagination can hardly conceive, nor pen 
 describe the gratitude of this lonely couple, 
 now so near the sunset of their lives. 
 
 A sage of old has said, "There is a divinity 
 that shapes our ends." Mary, hearing of the 
 distress of her old neighbors, with whom she 
 had spent many happy hours in her girlhood 
 days, with tender hearted compassion for 
 their infirmities, decided to go and do what 
 she could for them, never having a thought 
 that David was there. So, thus, David and 
 Mary meet again and all brought about by a 
 similar spirit of benevolence dwelling in 
 each of their hearts. Here they passed the 
 winter 
 
 By want not shaken, 
 Nor by wealth allured, 
 
 doing everything in their power to add to 
 the comfort of the aged couple. 
 
 The dreary winter gave place to welcome
 
 280 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 
 
 spring, the time for David to set his salmon 
 nets; yet neither he nor Mary would leave 
 the old couple to the care of strangers. 
 David's humanity and benevolence exceeded 
 his love for money, nor would he allow am- 
 bition to disturb his mind. 
 
 On a beautiful spring morning, the time 
 that animates and exhilarates youth and man- 
 hood, encourages old age with flattering 
 hopes, causes the trees to put forth their 
 branches, the wild pear and cherry to bud 
 and blossom, the mature old man passed 
 away and entered 
 
 That unseen celestial region, 
 Which admits of no return. 
 
 On a conspicuous headland, thickly covered 
 with deciduous and evergreen trees; project- 
 ing into a pacific harbor, where vessels pass 
 and repass, and where it was a contingent oc- 
 currence for them to lay at anchor near the bold 
 shore in heavy weather, the old man borne 
 on a bier by his neighbors to his last resting 
 place, was buried amidst the trees on the
 
 THE ROMANTIC STORY OF DAVID ROBERTSON. 283 
 
 brow of the hill. On this insular wild-wood 
 bluff profusely grows around its verge the 
 sweet eglantine and modest columbine. 
 
 David and Mary walked behind the coffin 
 as their was no lineal descendant present. 
 
 At this very time an outward bound 
 schooner* sailing to far distant lands was pass- 
 ing; and the old man's son, who fortuitously 
 happened to be on board, saw his father's re- 
 mains carried to the grave a sad sight that 
 he ever held in memory. 
 
 A venerable man of God* stricken in years 
 with hoary locks, his head uncovered, carried 
 the Bible, walking beside the procession to 
 the grave, and there from the Holy Bible, he 
 read the appropriate ninetieth psalm. 
 
 When a suitable time had passed after his 
 interment, the proclamation in the old church 
 on a neighboring island of an intended mar- 
 riage between David and Mary was made; 
 and this event was soon followed by a quiet 
 wedding, and thus the twain at last were one. 
 
 "Captain William Veazie. *Rev. William J. Durgin.
 
 ADDENDUM. 
 
 After an elapse of forty years, the author again visited 
 the sacred spot where the old couple lay at rest. The 
 trees formed a gloomy barrier on all sides of the neg- 
 lected graves; not a leaf fluttered, and deep solitude 
 and silence pervaded the lonely place. While medi- 
 tating on the past, the stillness was at length broken by 
 the placid notes of a songbird. Thoughtfully I lingered 
 there until the shades of evening settled on the insular 
 bluff and then I reluctantly left the fascinating place.
 
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