Sometimes There Was A Single Lonely
Landing-Cabin; Near It The Colored Family That Had Hailed Us; Little And
Big,
Old and young, roosting on the scant pile of household goods; these
consisting of a rusty gun, some bed-ticks,
Chests, tinware, stools, a
crippled looking-glass, a venerable arm-chair, and six or eight base-
born and spiritless yellow curs, attached to the family by strings. They
must have their dogs; can't go without their dogs. Yet the dogs are
never willing; they always object; so, one after another, in ridiculous
procession, they are dragged aboard; all four feet braced and sliding
along the stage, head likely to be pulled off; but the tugger marching
determinedly forward, bending to his work, with the rope over his
shoulder for better purchase. Sometimes a child is forgotten and left on
the bank; but never a dog.
The usual river-gossip going on in the pilot-house. Island No. 63 - an
island with a lovely 'chute,' or passage, behind it in the former times.
They said Jesse Jamieson, in the 'Skylark,' had a visiting pilot with
him one trip - a poor old broken-down, superannuated fellow - left him at
the wheel, at the foot of 63, to run off the watch. The ancient mariner
went up through the chute, and down the river outside; and up the chute
and down the river again; and yet again and again; and handed the boat
over to the relieving pilot, at the end of three hours of honest
endeavor, at the same old foot of the island where he had originally
taken the wheel!
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 257 of 539
Words from 71015 to 71285
of 148123
