PS 3531 .fl67 S7 1911 Dopy 1 Stories of Bird Island o CO z < < I -J H ^ Q UJ Q X q: 12 — z Stories of Bird Island BY MATILDA ALLEN PARSHLEY Author of " Leaves from Sippican " "Letters to Father" COPYRIGHTED APRIL, 191I M. A. Parshley a\\ a GL A 2 02 174 TO AUNT SUE AND UNCLE CHARLES This Little Book is Lovingly Dedicated INDEX A Siren 7 Introduction 9 The Bird Island Pirate .... 11 The Old Belle 13 Hidden Treasure 15 A Rescue 17 The Celebrity 18 A Race With The Tab 20 Music Hath Charms 22 An Encounter With A Shark ... 23 An Island Tragedy 25 When The Light Failed .... 27 A SIREN. A dainty siren nodding to the breeze, Her tiller tugging for its gay release; Were ever golden summer days like these? . A silver winged gull sweeps to the blue, A sigh, half rosemary, half rue; Ah, me! Was ever joy of brighter hue? I hear the rush of waters 'gainst her keel The tiller pushing 'gainst my side I feel; Ah, me! My siren sings: What matters woe or weal? CHARLES A. CLARK BIRD ISLAND 1871 TRANSFERRED FOR MERIT TO PALMERS ISLAND 1891 VOLUNTARY RESIGNATION 1908 INTRODUCTION. The Three Braids were comfortably seated in the old boathouse, their laps full of molasses cookies. The rain was swishing on the tiny windows and outside they could hear the waves beating and breaking against the sea wall. Far out beyond the lighthouse wicked little whitecaps were cresting each angry, thunderous wave. Uncle Charles was busy on one of those tiny models of racing catboats that were the chief decoration of the little lighthouse. The Three Braids were using their most en- ticing arts to get a story and it was not long before Uncle Charles launched into the story of The Bird Island Pirate. THE BIRD ISLAND PIRATE. The first light keeper took charge of the Island about the time of the War of 1812. The townspeople whispered that he was a pirate and an outlaw, and certainly his wife lived a sad and lonely life enough. His wife was a Boston beauty of prominent family, who eloped with her pirate cavalier one dark and stormy night and after various changes of fortune they came in charge of this lonely little island, set like a beautiful emerald in the circle of the land-locked harbor. By this time Mrs. Moore's beauty and her hopes had faded and she would have had a cruel enough time if the kindly townspeople had not practiced all kinds of devices to smuggle her solaces, snuff and tobacco to her. For as she was wasting with consumption these were only relief. Once, with the aid of these same kind friends, she made her escape to Ruggles' Point, where old Capt. Blankinship was prepared to defend her with his life, but her husband followed her and pleaded eloquently that she abandon her plan of returning to her own people. Her pirate husband took her back to that emerald prison which she never was to leave again until the dark angel came to her rescue. Not long afterward the townspeople heard of her death and it was whispered that he killed her. There was a lonely burial on the Island. 11 When the quaint old stone house with its | tiny windows was pulled down to make room for a frame building a secret cupboard was discovered containing some ore with glittering veins, a bag of i snuff and a paper calling down the curses of heaven j on those people who had aided and abetted Moore's \ wife. Soon after his wife's death Moore and his | son disappeared and were never heard of after, < 12 THE OLD BELLE. The Three Braids had gone out in the tender with Uncle Charles to see if the Belle was secure for bad weather. They plied him with questions while he busied himself about the cabin. We found the Old Belle here when your Aunt Sue and I were down to Bird Island. She was a trusty friend and won me many a race. I remem- ber one in particular when I had a challenge from the Beverly Yacht Club to race at Onset. Tab and I reefed her down well, the wind was blowing free, and we started a little behind the others. Well, we were gaining on them every tack when suddenly one of the boats with a big sail took our wind and tried to crowd us onto a lee ghore. I said I know another game worth two of that so I luffed up, let the other get ahead, crossed her stern and crowded her on the inside as I knew that boat drew more water than mine. In a minute I heard a bump and a curse and I knew that man was safe for half an hour at least. Well, we sailed in ahead of all comers. The next day some of the yachters brought us $15 in gold and said that they had never seen a boat go like the Old Belle. Once she took it into her head to sail off alone with two little skiffs, and she was half way to Onset before I could catch her. 13 She surely was a faithful old boat, both in sickness and in health. Many a time when Aunt Sue was sick and I made a trip for the doctor I never expected to see her come out of those seas, and I never hated to leave a live animal as much as I hated to leave her. 14 HIDDEN TREASURE. The Three Braids sailed down to the island to make a little visit. One Braid was fair and flaxen with a curl on the end, one was auburn and full of heavy waves, and one was brown, turning toward chestnut. Well, the three arrived toward dusk, and after a hearty supper they soon tumbled into bed and went fast asleep. In the morning after dishes were done they decided to hunt for Hidden Treasure. Somewhere, they were convinced, on this island was a spot where the first keeper had buried pirate gold. All night long, the night before, they had dreamed of chests of gold. Uncle Charles gave them much advice and a witch hazel stick; Aunt Sue gave them a substan- tial lunch and a bottle of coffee. Thus armed and provided they started off. The flaxen Braid carried a hoe and a clam basket, the auburn Braid, who was tall and slender, carried a pail and a fire shovel, and the chestnut Braid, who was round and roily, carried a tin spoon and a dish pan. Now the Three Braids started off in the best of spirits. Uncle Charles had bidden them look on the shore as well as in the rocky nooks. But, alas for good spirits. The flaxen Braid tumbled into a mud hole for which she loudly blamed the auburn Braid. 15 The auburn Braid got wet to her knees in a vain attempt to catch a fast swimming fish, while the brown Braid stumbled over a stone and scolded the other two for trying to run away from her. After that all three quarreled violently and fell to in sullen silence on their lunch, though it was only ten o'clock. When the lunch was gone they sulked and separated and went hunting Hidden Treasure on the shore. Soon the maid with the auburn hair found clams and the other two dug furiously until they too began to fill their receptacles. Well, the tide crept up and found three busy, happy girls, for the last sulk had flowed out on the ebbing waters. When the tide got too high for further digging three tired, hungry girls turned toward the house with their receptacles full of Hidden Treasure. For what is more hidden than a clam or more to be treasured than the results of hard work? 16 A RESCUE. The Three Braids were comfortably seated around Uncle Charles in the boathouse waiting for that story that was sure to come. "One cold, snappy evening when I was a little shaver a coal schooner anchored off the island and got frozen in. The ice was too thin for us to get to her or for her crew to get ashore. But finally made desperate by lack of provisions three of the men put forth on the ice and tried to make their way to shore. "Father was watching them with the spyglass, when all at once he saw one of them break through. He hurried to the boathouse, found a heavy coil of rope, spliced on a smaller piece, made a loop for Lion, the dog, with fish cord and a stick for a bit and sent him out to the little boat. He trotted faithfully out to the rescue. "A strong northeaster was forcing the boat along even with the ice to interfere, so everything depended on Lion. He made straight for the flound- ering men and soon father and I had them safe on shore. Nothing would do after that but they must take Lion back in the boat of provisions and show him to the rest of the crew. "He was a very conceited dog whenever any- one said rescue." 17 THE CELEBRITY. The Three Braids were seated about the even- ing lamp, each with her bit of mending, for though they loved not to sew they loved less to offend that stern priestess of the needle. Aunt Sue. Uncle Charles, after several imploring words from the brown Braid, cleared his throat and began: "One day Brother Joe and I sighted something huge and queer off the southeast rocks. "Joe got down the spyglass, but we could neither one make anything of it. We watched and waited until we saw it slip into the water with a great splash, and only a wide ripple and a huge black head was to be seen. "After that we hurried down to the boat- house and set forth in the Old Belle's tender on a voyage of discovery. When we got out there we found that it was a huge sea tortoise. I caught him with the boat hook and before we knew what had happened the boat was whirling round and round in ever widening circles. "He was more than going, but after a long struggle we managed to make him fast to a rope and towed him ashore. We lashed to the old float stage and went into dinner. I happened to look out of the window and there was float, stage and all, high and dry in the salt meadow, traveling along with a strange steed. 18 "Well, we towed him to the Point and started him off for the Cattle Show. We weighed him before he went. He weighed eight hundred and fifty pounds, and his mouth was big enough to take in a man's head. "He died on the way to the fair and his shell is now on exhibition in the Boston Museum." 19 A RACE WITH THE TAB. The Three Braids were seated comfortably on the boathouse platform drying their hair after a salt bath when Uncle Charles came and seated himself comfortably with his jackknife and a hand- ful of sticks to make kindlings. The little Tab was bowing and scraping to every passing breeze. Did I ever tell you of the time that we were summoned to Mattapoisett to race the Tab. It was blowing a good southeaster, and, as you know, Mattapoisett harbor is much more open than ours. Well, when Charlie and I got over there all the boats of our class refused to put out. "Well," said I, "I have come and I am going to race." So Charlie shook out the sail and reefed it down pretty well and I took the helm. We were half way round the triangle when a gust hit us, the tiller knocked me in the side and over we went. Well, the rest all sailed away, laughing, while Charlie and I swam out from under her, straight- ened her up and we started again. No one paid much heed to us as they thought that we had given up, but not a bit. I said, "Now, Charlie, you take that old keg and get out what you can and when we get on the course so that the wind is fair you can finish bailing." Well, we crept up and crept up, and Charlie bailed and bailed, and before the others 20 were round the course for the second time we were well onto their heels. Then they began to realize that we meant business, and when we got to the third time round the course the old Tab sailed in two boat lengths ahead of the rest. And didn't they cheer. They clapped and shouted and swung their hats till I didn't know which way to look. 21 MUSIC HATH CHARMS. The Three Braids had been gathered at the little organ playing chopsticks with a swing and vigor peculiarly their own when Uncle Charles gave a premonitory hem and the music ceased. The Fall before Charlie went away from home he used often to go down to the boathouse with his violin and practice by himself. Well, one night he was watching the water and playing "Home, Sweet Home," when he saw a black furry head appear above the water, and then another, and finally two smaller ones. There were four seals that used to come up each night and listen. They would crawl out on the rocks and keep as still while he was playing, and as soon as he stopped there would be a splash and they would disappear until the next night. Well, this went on until one night some fel- lows went by in a rowboat. One of them took a chance shot at the seals, and after that they never appeared again. 22 AN ENCOUNTER WITH A SHARK. The Three Braids were comfortably seated around the little what-not admiring its foreign birds and other trophies. The auburn Braid picked up a shark's tusk and demanded a story. Uncle Charles immediately launched forth. I got that one winter when I went swordfishing, he replied. My two brothers and I were in a little fishing smack at the mouth of the bay and we were getting plenty and plenty of swordfish. There was a trail of blood behind us, for we were cleaning the fish as we went along. Well, I put off in a little dory to spear an extra fine swordfish when all at once I noticed a quiet eye watching my labors. When I looked again I saw that it was a fifteen foot man-eating shark, and he was lying lazily along the side of the boat watching every move I made. Well, I was frightened, and the men on the boat were all busy catching or cleaning. I had just landed the swordfish when he made a lunge and struck the keel of the boat until I thought that it would float off in splinters. But just as he lunged I struck him with the spear right between the eyes and killed him. The other men heard the noise and rushed to the rescue. 23 They pulled me in pretty short order, for his death struggles were something awful. It took j all the crew to land him, he was so heavy. He j weighed nine hundred pounds. j I decided to go below, for I had had all the ; swordfishing that I wanted for that day. ■ 24 AN ISLAND TRAGEDY. The Three Braids were out in the boatshop with Uncle Charles while he washed and made ready for the clam car, those clams which they had just dug. "What is this funny old gun. Uncle Charles?" "Oh, that's the gun that my brother William shot himself with. "William and my sister Emily, who was just married, and her husband, were all alone on the island. Father had gone ashore for provisions. Frank, as we called him, who was a great gunner, took his gun and sauntered down to the boathouse to look for sea fowl. "It was the Fall of the year and the little water witches were plentiful. "Frank stood leaning his elbow on that jamb that you see there. Somehow his elbow slipped and that knocked the hammer of the gun and the grape shot into his side and came out of his shoulder. "He walked up to the house smiling, but sad, said that he could hear the bells off shore. "Sister Emily saw that his shoes were full of blood and that his ear was gone. "She sent Warren to lower the flag at half mast for father. "Father saw it right away and started for Dr. Ellis, but as it was blowing a heavy southeaster, no one would take him back. 25 "Finally the captain of the Pomponet told father that he would set him ashore at any cost. So they provided themselves with a doctor and started in a whale boat. "By the time that they got there Frank was pretty well spent, but as he was only eighteen at this time, life was strong in him and he got better. "He only lived two years after that happened, and father never got over it." 26 WHEN THE LIGHT FAILED. The Three Braids were seated on the steps watching the light flash and wink and flash again through the gloom of dusk. Uncle Charles descended the lighthouse and seated himself near. He cleared his throat and the Three Braids sat up very straight, for they knew a story was coming. There was a man here once by the name of Mowry who was transferred to the lighthouse as a reward for some work of his. He and his wife and little girl moved here one cold, ice-bound winter. He didn't know the first thing about a boat, and during one cold snap his provisions got low and his little girl was taken sick, so he set to work to signal for help. Well, the first day he rigged a flag and it floated all day long, and the child got sicker and sicker. No help came. The second day he tried lanterns and adjusting the light so its action was different. The child grew worse so fast that his heart grew faint with fear. He tried to put off in a row- boat, but only succeeded in breaking an oar, so that he just managed to get back to the island. The third day the little girl grew steadily worse, and he and his wife were nearly insane from grief and anxiety. 27 There was only one thing to attract attention now. If he let the light go out his career was ruined, but his child was dying. At six o'clock that night no light gleamed over the black waves. A woman who climbed to her look-out attic in search of something found that the light wasn't burning. Instantly she hurried to her husband and he went to the keeper's assistance with some seamen tried and true, but the light and the young life had gone out together and these brave men found only a broken hearted mother and a despair- ing father. The mother left the Lighthouse with her dead baby wrapped in an old shawl and she never saw Bird Island again. 28 JUN 22 mi One copy del. to Cat. Div. nn f 1811