[Illustration: CHARLIE SURPRISED.--Page 158.]
ELM ISLAND STORIES.
CHARLIE BELL,
THE WAIF OF ELM ISLAND.
BY
REV. ELIJAH KELLOGG,
AUTHOR OF “SPARTACUS TO THE GLADIATORS,” “LION BEN,” “THE BOY
FARMERS,” “THE YOUNG SHIP-BUILDERS,” “THE HARD-SCRABBLE,”
THE “PLEASANT COVE STORIES,” THE “WHISPERING
PINE SERIES,” ETC.
_ILLUSTRATED._
BOSTON
LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by
LEE AND SHEPARD
In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the District of
Massachusetts.
COPYRIGHT, 1896, BY ELIJAH KELLOGG.
All rights reserved.
CHARLIE BELL.
INTRODUCTION.
There is a period in the life of all boys, when, in the homely phrase
of Uncle Isaac, “they stand up edgeways.” At this critical period, as
streams are tinged by the soils through which they filter, so their
character for life is in a great measure shaped by their playmates, the
examples set before them, and the associations amid which they grow up.
Lion Ben, the principal character in the first volume of the series,
with nothing but his hands, narrow axe, and a true-hearted, loving
woman,--his equal in enterprise,--goes on to an island, an unbroken
forest in the midst of breakers, that, by reason of the peril of living
on it, can be bought cheap, thus coming within their scanty means,
there to struggle for a homestead and acres of their own.
Though bred a seaman, yet cherishing a love for the soil, with
qualities of mind and heart commensurate with his great physical power,
he appreciates the beauty of the spot.
His reluctance to devote it to axe and firebrand excites him to efforts
equally daring and original, in order that he may so husband his
resources as to pay for the land without stripping it of its majestic
coronal of timber and forests, any farther than is necessary to render
it available for cultivation.
In this he is aided by the counsels of an old friend of himself
and his family,--a most original and sagacious man,--Isaac Murch.
In their sayings and doings is represented the subsoil of American
character--the home life and modes of thought of those who made the
culture and progress; thus endeavoring, in a pleasing manner, to teach
those great truths which lie at the foundation of thrift, progress, and
morality.
Charlie Bell, the hero of the second volume of the series, is an
English orphan, flung at a tender age upon the stormy sea of life, to
sink or swim, as it should please Heaven. Friendless, starving on a
wharf at Halifax, he ships in a vessel with men, who, under the guise
of fishermen, are little better than pirates. Landing at Elm Island,
they insult the wife of Lion Ben, who inflicts upon them a merited
chastisement, and adopts the orphan.
In his boy life, and that of his young associates, their daily
employments, and those exciting adventures which a new country, rude
state of society, and a ragged reach of sea-coast afford to boys full
of blue veins and vitriol, are seen the germs of qualities that ripen
into characters of the greatest usefulness.
As the volumes are closely connected, it is hoped this sketch may
render the second volume readable to those who take it up without
having read the first.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER PAGE
I. ROUSING THE LION 9
II. CHARLIE BELL 17
III. JOHN GOES TO SEE THE NEW BOY 33
IV. GRIT AND GRATITUDE 45
V. CHARLES RETURNS JOHN’S VISIT 58
VI. CHARLIE IN A SNOW SQUALL 70
VII. CHARLIE PLANS A SURPRISE FOR SALLY 85
VIII. CHARLIE’S HOME LIFE AND EMPLOYMENTS 97
IX. BEN FINDS A PRIZE 111
X. HOW THEY PASSED THE WINTER EVENINGS 123
XI. BEN REVEALS HIS LONG-CHERISHED PLAN TO
HIS FATHER 139
XII. THE MYSTERIOUS PIG 151
XIII. A NOVEL CRAFT 171
XIV. THE BURN 183
XV. FITTING AWAY 203
XVI. A WELL-DESERVED HOLIDAY 215
XVII. UNCLE ISAAC’S PLEDGE 250
XVIII. GENEROSITY AND PLUCK 264
XIX. FRED’S SAND-BIRD PIE 285
XX. A HAIR-BREADTH ESCAPE 296
XXI. THE BOYS AND THE WIDOW 315
CHARLIE BELL OF ELM ISLAND.
CHAPTER I.
ROUSING THE LION.
When the English army, during the war of the Revolution, were driven
out of Boston by the batteries of Washington, erected upon Dorchester
Heights, those traitors to the liberties of their country (called in
those days Tories), who had taken part with the British, accompanied
them to Halifax, being more than a thousand in number, as they were
fearful of the vengeance of their countrymen if they remained behind.
During the war that followed, they, with their British friends, were
accustomed to come along the coast and islands of Maine in vessels and
armed boats, and maltreat and plunder the unarmed inhabitants. These
vessels were called “shaving mills,” and they were wont to shave very
close.
In Eaton’s History of Thomaston and Rockland, it is said that a Tory
by the name of Pomeroy, who was captain of one of these mills, took
Robert Jameson from his mowing field, carried him on board his vessel,
and put him in irons, while his men killed a yoke of oxen and three fat
hogs, and put them on board the vessel, together with three firkins of
butter and two guns. Jameson vowed revenge.
As is usual in such cases, Pomeroy’s ill-gotten gains did not thrive
with him. After the war he became poor, and finally shipped before the
mast in a coaster, commanded by Paul Jameson, Robert’s brother, who
told him that if they met his brother he would protect him, as he was
the stouter of the two. But Robert got on board the vessel in Paul’s
absence, and gave Pomeroy his choice to fight or take a whipping.
But he refused, endeavoring to excuse his conduct by the usages of
war, saying that, now the war was over, all ought to be forgotten and
forgiven.
Jameson replied, “Strip and defend yourself! fight! only fight! I shall
be satisfied.”
But the other refusing, he began beating, kicking, and bruising the
passive Pomeroy, still trying to induce him to defend himself, but in
vain. At last he took a bayonet, and pricking him a little, to see
if life remained, left him with the assurance that this was only the
payment for his butter; and that wherever and whenever he found him, he
should, in the same manner, take pay,--first for his hogs, and then for
his oxen.
After peace was concluded, both the ports of Maine and Nova Scotia were
full of old privateersmen, returned soldiers of low character, and
vagabonds of all sorts, who, having become accustomed to plunder, and
unwilling to labor, would get hold of some vessel or large boat, go
along shore, fish a little to keep up appearances, and when they came
to an island or lonely point, where the men were timid, would take fish
off the flakes, a lamb out of the flock, dig potatoes, or gather corn;
sometimes enforcing submissiveness with knives or pistols. When the men
were away fishing, they would compel the women to get them food and
liquor (which every family in those days kept in the house), and abuse
and frighten them most outrageously.
A crew of such fellows, running the shore along to see what they could
find, and being rather short both of liquor and provisions, made Elm
Island at daylight, and seeing there was but a single house on it, and
a good harbor, while the occupant was too far from neighbors to obtain
help in case of need, thought it a most excellent opportunity to
obtain all they wanted.
Sally knew something, and had heard more, of her husband’s vast
strength; she knew that when he took her up, to carry her from the boat
to the shore, she was a feather in his hands; she knew, also, that John
Strout and Uncle Isaac, who were both strong men,--especially Uncle
Isaac, who was celebrated for his strength,--had as much as they could
do to haul up the great log canoe, but Ben would haul it up, with her
in it, apparently without an effort. Sally had also heard the young
folks say that he had an awful temper when he did get started, and that
when he rose he was the devil all over; but she didn’t believe it, for
she had known him ever since they were children, and had never seen
anything of it.
Ben had gone into the woods to hew a stick of timber. Sally had just
washed up her breakfast dishes, and was singing at her wheel, when
suddenly six savage-looking fellows appeared at the door, and ordered
her, with curses, to get them some victuals, and be quick about it,
too. Sally’s heart was in her throat. She told the leader, who, like
his companions, was armed with pistols, and a sailor’s knife in his
belt, that she was willing to give them breakfast, but they must
give her better language, or she should call her husband; upon which,
drawing a sheath-knife from his belt, he flourished it in her face, and
told her she might call him as soon as she pleased, and he would cut
his throat for him.
Her first impulse was to run for Ben; but she was afraid they might
kill her before she could accomplish her purpose; or, as they were so
many, and fully armed, kill him. She instantly put the best she had in
the house before them. They soon called for liquor, when she took a
gallon jug of rum, which they kept in the house for special occasions,
and placed it on the table.
Beginning to feel at home, they took their pistols from their belts
and laid them on the table, as they were drinking and singing vulgar
songs. Sally contrived, while waiting upon them, to shake the priming
from their pistols. They were now become so abusive, that, watching her
opportunity, she ran for the woods, and urged Ben to take the canoe
and flee, and leave the house to them. At her news, Ben’s face assumed
an expression like that of a wild beast; all the grosser elements of
his tremendous animal power came uppermost. Hissing out the words
between his teeth, he asked her to describe the leader, and where he
sat. So absolute was his self-confidence, that he never even took the
broad-axe with him, but, striking it into the timber with a force that
split through the eight inch stick, left it quivering. Sally, afraid to
stay behind, followed, running to keep up with the long strides of her
husband, who, kicking off his shoes, crept in at the eastern door, like
a lion upon his prey. His face was livid with passion; his lips covered
with foam and drawn apart, showing his great white teeth and square
jaws; his bare arms and breast covered with hair; and his immense
frame, increased by the swelling of the muscles, gave him a terrible
appearance.
As he entered the door, he came face to face with the leader of the
gang, who, sobered by fright, grasped a pistol; but, before he could
cock it, Ben caught him by the nape of his neck, lifted him over the
table, and catching the slack of his breeches with the other hand,
raised him to the ceiling, and smashed him down upon the stone hearth
with such violence that the blood gushed from his mouth and nostrils,
and he lay quivering and moaning in helpless agony. Seizing the one on
his right hand, he flung him against the walls of the house, from which
he dropped senseless upon the bed that stood in that part of the room.
The one on his left hand succeeded in getting his head and shoulders
out at the door, which Ben noticing, he clapped his foot against it and
held him as in a vise, while he reached after another, who was running
for the front door, and, catching him by the leg, dragged him back,
and slapping him first upon one side of his head and then the other,
completely disabled him. Catching up the one imprisoned in the door,
who had been screaming murder with all his might, he shook him as a cat
would a mouse, till his rum and his breakfast ran out of his mouth,
then flung him into the fireplace among the ashes, telling him if he or
one of them moved till he came back, he would finish him.
The other two, escaping at the front of the house, ran for the vessel,
cut the cable, and were hoisting the foresail. Before they could
accomplish their object, Ben was alongside in his canoe. The cook, whom
they had left to take care of the vessel, catching sight of Ben first,
instantly leaped overboard, and swam for the shore. He caught the other
two as they were mounting the rail to follow, and taking them to the
windlass, flung them across it, on their bellies, and bringing their
necks and heels together, fastened them with a rope, then flogged them
till the blood ran. One of them, hoping to find mercy, cried out, “I am
an American.”
“Then you shall have double,” said Ben.
He then ordered them to run the vessel on to the beach, where, as it
was ebb tide, she stuck fast; and thus they were completely in his
power, and needed no watching, at least for six hours, till the tide
made.