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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1932-10-27, Page 6Le PAGE SIX. THE SEAFORTH NEWS, 'THURSDAY, OOTO'BER 27, 1932:' T9 E HAVEN t d Johnson. CHAPTER I. The worlg of the day being ever, 'I sat dont upon my doorstep,pipe in hand, to rest awhile in the cool of the evening. ;Death is not more still than is 'this Virginian land in the honer when the sun .has sunk away, and it is 'bled beneath the trees, and the stars brighten slowly and softly, one by one. :,The birds that sing all day have hushed, and the horned owls, the monster frogs, and that strange and ominous fowl (if fowl it be, and not, as some assert, a spirit .damned) which we English call the whippoor- will, are yet silent. iLater the wolf will howl and the panther scream, Ib'ut now there is no sound. The winds are laid, and the restless leaves droop and are quiet. The low lap of the water among the reeds is like the 'breathing of one who sleeps in his watch beside the dead. I` marked the Iight die from the broad bosom of the river, leaving it a dead man's hue. Awhile ago, and for many evenings, it had been crim- son: a river of blood. 'A week before a great meteor had, shot through the night, blood -red an.d bearded, drawing a slow -fading fiery trail across the heavens; and the moon had risen that same night blood -.red, and upon its disk there was drawn in shadow a thing most marvelously like a scalping knife. Wherefore, the following day being Sunday, good Mr, Stockham, our minis'ter at Weyanoke, exhorted US to be on our guard, and in his prayer besought that no sedition or rebellion might raise its head amongst the Indian subjects of the Lord's an- ointed. 'Afterward, in the church- yard, between the services, the more. timorous began to tell -of divers por- tents which they had observed, and to recount old tales of how the sav- ages distressed us in the S'tarvin'g Time. The bolder spirits laughed .then: to scorn, but the wonnien began to weep and cower, and 1, though I laughed toe thought of Sanith and how the ever held the savages, and more especially that ,0'pechancanaugh who was now their emperor, in a most ,deep distrust; telling us that the red men 'watched while we slept, that they might teach wiliness to a Jesuit, and how' to bide its time to a cat .crouched before a mousehole. I thought of the terms we now kept with .these heath- en; of haw many were employed as hunters to bring down • deer for lazy masters; of how, breaking the law and that not secretly, we gave them +knives -and arms, a soldier's bread, in exchange for pelts and pearls; of 'how their emperor was forever sending us smooth messages; of how their lips 'smiled and their eyes frowned. 'That afternoon as I rode home through the length.e:ning shadows, a 'hunter, red 'brown and naked rose from 'behind a sfailen, tree that sprawled across my path, and made Offer to bri'n'g me my. meat Frain the noon of corn t0 the moon of stags in exchange for a gun. 'Where was scant love 'between the savages and myself. I deft 'tile dark figure standing, still as a carved stone, in the heavy s'h'adow of the trees, and, spurring my horse (sent nine from home, the year before, by .my cousin Percy), was soonat my •house set upon a slope of green turf, and girt wilah maize and the , bread leaves of tobacco. When I called from had had' m su e r.Iom Y PP , their . hot the two Paspahegh lads'. bought by me from thei, :ri'be the Mi oheim'as before, and soundly flog- ged thein both, having in my mind a sayingof nay annlcien•t 'cap'tain's, "He 'wlho strikes first oftinies' strikes. lash." flIpon the afternoon of which I .naw speak, as iI sat upon ' my door- step, my long pipe between my teeth and my eyes upon the pallid stream below, 'ray thoughts were !busy with these matters,—so busy that I diel not see a horse and rider 'emerge from the . direness of the 'for- est into. the clearer] space before nay iously into the lineage of `those. ,to :whom a nation owes its birth. What we -in :these 'plantation's, steed is a loos- ening' of the bonds- .which tie us to ;home, to .England, anti a 'tightening a.f those 'which bind us to this land in which we have cast our lot, We puit our 'hand to the 'plough, hut Ave 'turn our head'sand look to our !Egypt and its fleshpots 'Tis .children ,and wif e— lbe that wife princess or peasant—that make home of a desert, that !bind ' a man ,with chains of gold to the .coun- try where 'they, ,abide. 1Wlherefore, when at midday a met ,gdoid ,Master Wioklram, rowing down, from `Henri''- cus to Jamestown, .to offerhis aid to Mester IBwc'ke in his press ,of business. to -morrow, I gave the good gran God- speed, and.thought his a dnuitful er- rand end''one pleasing to the, Lord,". "Amen," u yawned. "I love ,the land and call it home.'wi'thens are uhn-: wrung." He rose to his feet, •and, began to pace the greensward 'before the dear, hfy eyes 'followed his tri'm.+figure, incl!.. ly though sombrely 'clad, then ;fell with a s'udd'en, dissatisfaction upon my owns stained and frayed apparel. "Ralph," he said presently, conning to a stand 'before uric, 'have you 'ever an hundred and twenty pounds of 'to- bac.co in' hand' ?If not, lI"— 'I have the weed," II re'plie,d. "What then?" "Then at dawn drop down with the tide to the city, ,and ,secure dor your- self one ,of these same errant dam- sels." I stared at shim, and tlhen broke dnito iau'ghter, in which, ,after a 'space and unwillingly, he himself joined. When at length I swiped 'the w;at er from any eyes it was quite dark, the whippoor- wills had begun to scall, and Rolfe must needs hasten on. I went with him down to Ithe gate. 4""Take any advice,—it is that of your friend," he said, as he swung himself into the saddle. He ,g'ath'ered up the reins and struck spurs into ,his horse, then turned to call back to me: "Sleep upon my words, 'Ralph, and the, next time S come I look to see a farthing- ale behind youl" "You are as :like to see one upon me," I answered, :Nevertheless, when he had gone, and I clmbed the bank .and re-entered' the 'house, it was with a strange pang at the ,cheerlessness of my hearth, and an angry and unreasoning im- patience at the lack of _weic'aming face or voice, In G'od's name, who was there to welcome nae? None but my 'hounds, and the flying squirrel I had caught and tamed. Groping ` my way to the corner, I took from my store two torches, lit them, and stuck them into the holes pierced in the mantel shelf; then stood beneath the clear flame, and looked with a sudden stick distaste upon the disorder which the 'light betrayed. The fire was dead, and ashes and embers were scattered upon the hearth; fragments of my last meal 'littered the table, and upon the unwashed floor' lay the bones 1 had thrown my dogs. Dint and confusion reigned; only upon my armor, my sword and gun, my hunting knife and dagger, there was no spot or stain. I turned to gaze upon them where they hung against the wall, and in my soul I hated rthe piping times of peace, and 'longed for the camp fire and the call to arms. 'Wiith an impatient sigh, I swept the litter from the table, and, taking from the shelf that held my meagre library a bundle of :\taster Shakespeare's plays (gathered 'for me' by Rolfe when he was last in L'on'don), I began to read; but my thoughts wandered, and. the tale seemed dull and oft told. T tossed it aside, ,and, taking dice from my pocket, began to throw. As I cast ,the 'bits of 'bone, idly, and scarce caring, to observe what numbers came uppermost, I had a vision of the for- ester's hut at 'home, 'where, when I was a boy, in the days before I ran away bo the wars in the 1Low Coun- tries, I had spent 'many a -happy hour,, Again I saw the 'bright light of the fire reflected in each well-s'orubb.e'd crock and pannikin; again I heard the cheeiiful hum of the wheel; again the face of the forester's daughter smiled upon me. The old gray manor house, where ray mother, a stately dame, sat ever at her tapestry, and an imperious elder brother strode to and fro a- mong his hounds, seemed 'less of home to me than did that tiny, friendly,hut: To -morrow would be my thirty-sixth birtlIday, All the numbers that -I cast were high. "Ilf I throw am'bs-ace," 'I said, with a smile for my o'w'n' cap- rice, 'curse ,me if I do not takelRolfe''s advice!" I shook the box ,and clapped it down upon the table, then lifted it, and stared with a lengthening 'face ;at what it had hidden,; ,whioh Sons, I diced no more, but put out my lights, and went soberly to !bed. friend, Mester John Rolfe, was with- out and would speak to me. I went down to the gate, and. un- barring it, gave him my hand and led the horse within' the enclosure. ,"You careful man! he, said, with a laugh, as he dismounted. "Who else, in this or any other hundred, now bars his gate v,then the sun goes down?" "It is my sunset gun,". I answered .briefly, fastening his horse as - I spoke. IHe put his arm about my shoulder, for we were old friends, and together we went up the green bank to the house, and, when I had brought hirer a pipe, sat down side by side upon the doorstep. "Of what were you dreaming?" Ise asked presently, when we had. made ourselves a great cloud of smoke. "I called you twice." "I was wishing for Dale' s times, alnd. Dale's laws.." 'He laughed, and touched my knee with his hand, white and smooth as a woman's, and with a green jewel upon the forefinger. "You Mars incarnate!" he cried: ""Yott're first, last, and in the mean- time soldier! (Why. what will you do when you get to heaven Make it too hot to 'hold you? Or take out letters of marque against the Enemy?" "I am not there yet," .I said dryly. "In 'Inc'meantime I would like a commission against—your relatives. Iia laughed, then sighed, and, sinking his chin into his 'hand and softly tapping his foot a'gains't the ground, fell into a reverie. "I would your princess were alive, I said presently. "So do 1," he ans'wered softly. ",So do I," Locking his hands behindhis head, he raised his 'quiet face to the evening star, "Brave and wise and gentle," he mused. "I4 I did not think to 'meet her again, 'b'eyon'd that star, T could not smile and speak calmly, Ralph, as I do now." "Tis a strange thing," !I said, as I refilled my pipe "Love for your brother -in -arms, love for your com- mander, if he be a commander worth having, love for your horse and dog, I understand. :But wedded lovel to tie a burden around ones neck be- cause 'tis pink and white, or clear bronze, and shaped with elegance!. IF'augh l" "Yet I came with half a mind to persuade you to that very burden!" he cried with another laugh. "Thanks for your pains," I said, blowing blue rings into the air. "I have ridden to -day from :Jamestown," he went on. "I was the only man, in faith, that 'cared to leave its gates; and I met the world, the bachelor world, flocking to them. Not a mile of the way but I encoun- tered Tom Dick, and Harry, dressed in their Sunday bravery and makin g full tilt for the city. Abd the boats upon the river! 'I have seen the T'ha'mes less crowded." "There was something more pas- sing than usual," I said; 'but I was busy in the fields, and did' not attend. what's the lodestar ?" "The star that draws us all,—soiree to ruin, some to bliss ineffable,- n.wonnan." ""Hum'p'h! 'The ,maid's have come,, then?" Il -le nodded. "There's a goodly ship down there, with a goodly' l'adin'g. "Videlicet, some fourscore waiting damsels and millerhaids, warranted honest by my Lord Warwick," I mut- tered. "This business has been df Edwyn Sandy's management, as you very well know" he rejoined, with some heat. "'His word is good: 'therefore I hold them chaste. That they are fair, I .can testify, having seen, them leave the ship." "Fair and chaste," 'I said, "but meanly thorn." "I grant you that," he answered "TRU after all, what of 11? 'Beggars must not be ,dhoo'sers, IThe land is 'pallisade, nor knew, until his voice new and 'must be peopled, nor will Icam'e tip the ''banilc, 'than, 'my good those who coln'ne'after us +looik,too cur mail Dimon, at, the servant's huts, strode down .the ban'k and thorough the gate of the palisade to the wharf, Where I loosed my boat, put up: her sail, and turned her head :down the broad stream. The wind was 'fresh and favorable, and we went swiftly down the river through the silver hist towand the sunrise, The slcy grew pale pinilc to the zenith; then the sun rose and drank up the m'isit. The river sparkled and s'h'one; £roan: the fresh green banks came the smell of the w'oods' and 'tlhe ;ong of h'irds; above the sky, bright :blue, with a few fleecy clouds drifting 'across it. 1 thought of the day, thirteen years. 'before, when for the first .time white men sailed up this same river, and of how liable its width, how enchanting its shores, how gay amid ciw:eet their blooms and °d'o'ns, how va's't their trees, h'o'w strange the painted savages, 'dead se'utned to us stormbdssed` adventurers, who thought we INad found a very paradise, the ;Fortunate Ihsles at least, 'How quickly were we 'un'd'eceived I As I lay 'back in the stern with half -shut eyes and tiller idle in my hand, our many bribu- latioln5. and our few joys passed in re- viewIbefore me. 'Lnd'ian attacks; dis- sension and strife amongst our rulers; true siren peise'cuted,*false knaves ele- vated; the weary search for gold` and the Smith Sea.; the horror of 'pestil- errce and the blackhorror df the Starving Time; the arrival df the Pa- tience and' Deliv'erance, whereat we wept like children; that .most joyful ISuntday mo'rninlg when we •fol'lowed my Lord de la 'Warre to church; the coming of Dale with that stern but Wholesome martial .code which was 'stranger to me who had fought un- der 'Maurice of Nassau; 'the good times that ,followed, when bowl -play- ing gallants: were put down,cities founded, forts 'built, and; the gospel preached; Inc+marriage of Rolfe and his dusky. prin'ces's; Argald's expedi- tion, in wihich I played a part, and Argal'l's iniquitious rule; the return of Yeardiey . as Sir George, and the priceless .gift he brought us,—all this and much else, old friend's, old ene- mies. old toils and strifes and pleas- ure, ran, bitter-sweet, through my ho'at carrying a' great white sail oyer-+ took me, and I` was hailed by' young. Hatnor. "The maids are eon -ter he cried. "I-larra'hd" and. 'stood 'up to wave his ‘`I-Itttnphl" I said. "'I guess tthy,des- tinatiotn by the Ease. Are they not `those that ,were thy peach -colored ogre's'?' •"Oohsl yell" he answered, l'ookin'g down' with complacency upon Iris taan'ished "finery. "VW'e'cldimig garments, Captain Percy, weddiinig garment's!" PROFESSIOONAL CARDS Medical DR. H. H'UGIIi ROSIS, Physician and Surgeon. Late of London Hos- pital, London, England. Special attention to diseases of the eye, ens, nose and throat. " Office the, reai- dence behind Dominion Bank, Office Phone No. 5; Residence, Phone 104. 1 laughed, "Thou art a tardy ;bride groom. I 'thought that the bac'helors of th'i's quarter -od the .globe sle'pt last night in Jamestown." ,His face fell. "I know it," Ire said ruefully; "but nny .doublet hadmore; rents than slashes in it, and Mal'.tin Tailor leept it until cockcrow, That fellow rolls nn tolbaoco; .he hath grown rich off our impoverished wardrobes since the ship down yonder pas's'ed the capes. Ater all," he' 'brightened, "the 'bargaining takes mot place until toward mid'day, after solemn service and thanksgiving, 'There's time en- ough!" n-oughI" • DR.' F. J. BURROWS, Seaforth,. Office and residence, Goderich street, east of the United Church. Coroner. fat /the County of Huron. Telephone No. 46, 'DR. C. M'AOKIA'Y.-C. Mack y. honor graduate of Trini'tp University and gold medallist of Trinity Medina` Colle'ge; member of the College e4' Physicians, and Surgeons of. Ontario. I looked at the snnn, which truly Was not very high, with a 'secret d'i'squ'iet- u'de;; ' for I had had a scurvy hope that after all I shou'l'd be too l'a'te, and so the noose which iI felt tightening about my neck !night un'knolt itself. Wind and tide were aga'i'nst nae, and an hour later sew the nearing the peninsula and 'marveling at the ship- ping wh'i'ch .cnotw'ded its waters, It was as if every sloop, 'barge, canoe, and dugout between . Point Comfort and Henricu'g were anchored off its shores, :while above !helm towered the masts of Inc.'eIa'rniaduke and' Furth- erance, then in port, and o'f the tall ship which had brought in 'those doves for sale. The river with its dancing freight, the blue heavens and sr -shine, the green trees wav- wind, the stir and bustle and market place throng- , . dressed gallants, made pl-zaant scene. As I drove r -aa in between the sloop of the memory, as the wind and flood bore commander' of Sit 'irley !Hundred and me 011. of what what was before me II -sl'i'd the canoe of the Nan'selnbndwero- not choose to think,sufficient unto the wance, the two bells then newly hung hour being the evil thereof. in the church began to peal and the IThe river seemed deserted: no drum to beat, Stepping ashore, I had horsemen spurred Mottg the bridle a rear view only of the folk who had p'at'h on the 'shore; the •boats were few and far 'between, and !held only serv- ants or Indians or very old men. It was as Rolfe had said, ,and the free and able-bodied of the pl'a'ntations had +put out, posthaste, for • matri- mony. Chap'lain's Choice appeared unpeapled; Piersey's Hundred, slept in the sunshine, its wha'r'f deserted, and' but few, slow-moving figures in the tobacco : `fields; even the Indian villages looked scant of all but sgaws and children, for the braves were gone 'to see the palefa'ces buy their wives. Below 'Paspahegh a co'cicleslhcll of a clustered along .the banks and in the street, their faces and footsteps 'be- ing with °'one accord directed toward the market place. I 'went with the throng, jostled alike by velvet and dawlas, by youth's ,with their estates upon their backs and naked fantastic- ally painted savages, and tram'pl'ing the tobacco with which the greedy citizens 'had • plantedthe very street. In the square I brought up before the !Governor's house, and found myself cheek by jowl with Master Pory,. onr Secretary, and Speaker of the !As- sembly: l;Tg be Continued.) CHAPTER II. In Which ,I Meet Mas'te'r Sparrow. Jereny ,Mine ;are holt dicers' oaths. The stars were yet shining when I lett the 'house, ,and, after a word 'wrt'h my roma ONLY $3! One Wa, $6.50 ROUND TRIP between BUFFALO and CLEVELAND Autos, any size,earried for only03.75 44.75 July 1st to Sept. 141bbnlusive) " Why drive when you can put your car. v ' aboard for less than the cost of oil and gas? More restful.., cheaper...and saves a day. ", Steamers each way, every night, leaving at 9:00 P.M.,,MAY l5th to November 1st. Cleveland -Pt. Stanley, Canada,Division July 1st to Sept. 5 th incl. on Friday, day, Satur- day and Sunday only $3.00 one way; r y $5.00 Rd. Trip. Any ear only 83.'2'5. p,'a �'l' 4' •ii At your Local Tourist or Tidos Agent for { new C & B Line Polder, including Fres Auto , .. Map and details on our 411 Expense Trips. TELE CLEVELAND AND laUF1FALD TRANSIT. COMHANT Port Stanley, Canada, • Buffalo, N.Y., DiR. F. J. R. b1ORJSiT.ER--Eye, Ear Nose and Throat. Graduate in Medi- cine, University of Toronto 1397. Late Assistant New York Ophthal- mic and Aural Institute, Mooreffeld's Eye,. and Golden Square throat hospi- tals, London, England. At Oomm- ercial Hotel, Seaforth, .3rd Monday is each month, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. DR. W. C. SIPIRIOAT,—Graduate of Faculty of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London. Member of College of Physicians and Sur- geons of Ontario. Office in rear od•• Aberhart's drug store, Seaforth. Phone 90. Hours 1.30-4 p.m., 7.3C'• -9 p.m. Other hours by appointment. Dental DR. J. A. MUN'N, Successor to Dr. R. R. Ross, graduate of North- western University, Chicago, Ill. li- centiate Royal College of Dental Sur- geons,' Toronto. Office over Sills' hardware, Main St., Seaforth. Phone 151. D'R. F. J. BiECH'ELY, graduate Royal College of Dental Surgeoas, Toronto. Office over W. R. Smith's grocery, Main St., Seaforth. Phones, office 185W, residence 1853. A DOLLAR'S WORTH Clip this coupon and mail it with 11 for a six weeks' trial subscription to THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR,. - oubllehed by THg OxeksTlAN SntnweO Pu8LreH8Ot SoatenY Boston, Massachusetts, 0. S. A. In it you tgln nnd' the daily good news of the world from interests,1s e } 2 elluehi as well as departments devoted to women's and children's) finance, education, radio, etc You will be glad to welcome 'intyour home so fearless an advocate of peace and prohibition, And don't miss 'Snubs, Our Dog, and the Sundial and,the other features. Tae OliarettsN SOMME Mamma, Hack Bay Station, Boston, Mass. Please send me a six weeks' trial subscription.. I enclose one dollar ($1). P� tne .n n �, on ' .(Nomc; please print)' , (Address) (Town) (stnte) 111 Auctioneer. GEORGE E7LLI'OTT,r . Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huron. Arrangements can be made for Sale' Date at The Seaforth. News. Charges moderate and satisfaction guranteed. WATSON AND. EIDPki REAL ESTATE Alk AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Succssors, to James 'Watson) MAIN. ST., SEAFO'RTH, ONT. All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at 'lowest rates in. First-Claaa- Companies. THE lcKILLOP Mutual Fire Insurance Coe FIA'RM AND IISOLATED TOWN PROPERTY, 0 N L Y, INSURED Officers - John Bennewies, Brod. hagen, President; Jas. Connolly, God- erich, Vice -Pres.; D. F. McGregor,' Seaforth No. 4, Sec.-Treas. Directors -Geo, R. McCartney, Sea. forth No. 3 Alex, Broad'foot, Sea- forth No. 3; James Evans, :Seafortls^ No. 5; IRobt Ferris, 'B'lyth''No. 1; Jas. ' Shold�i ce, Walton No. 4; John PeppeT,, Bruccfield; William" Knox,- Loades- borough. Agents Jas. Watt,'Blyth No. 1; W. E, ilinchley, ,Seaforth; J. A. Murray; Seaforth No. 3; W. j, Yeo, Clinton No, .3; R. 'G. JJarmuth, Bornholm. Auditors — Jas. °Kerr, Seaforth;, Thos, Moylan, Seaforth No. 5. Parties desirous to effect insurance, or transact alter • business, will ' be' promptly attended to by applications to any df,the •above named officers ad- dressed to their respective poet offic'e's. Thie•,Man 'With Asthma, almost: longs for death ta' end his suffering. He 'sees ahead 'only years of endless. torment ;with intervals o'f rest which are themselves fraught with never ceasing fear of renewed 'attacks. Let. him -turn to Dr. J. D, ,Kellogg's Ass- -'tltma' Remedy and knionw what ocm plete relief it can give. Let him but• use it faith'lui'ly';antd he will find his. asthma a thing of, the past, ;Want 'and 'For Sale Ads; 3 times, 50c, '