Cousin David Corps was anxious to do some fall fishing at a place called
Scott's Point, where many families had come from Canada, Lake Huron and
other parts. Fish were very near the shore in the fall of the year and a
high price was paid for fish, so we were to tarry at this place until
time to go to Manistique.
Sailors were superstitious about moving cats from place to place, so
father concluded to take the family in our own little boat, the
"Abbigal". We had cats, dogs, rabbits and sea gulls for pets, and father
would not leave any of them behind us. Our goods were all loaded on the
"Nancy" and "Abbigal." I remember our neighbors coming to the beach to
see us off. Aunt Abbie took me in her arms; the tears fell fast on my
face. I thought it was raining and held out my hand, as I had seen
father do to catch the drops, but no, it was not raining, it was tears
falling from our dear friend's eyes. When father called out "all
aboard", I was clasped in another tight pressure of her arms. Then
father took me and placed me in the boat, where brother Charley and I
were wrapped up in warm blankets. Our boat was pushed off by the men
with a "God bless you, Whitney," and the waving of hats and
handkerchiefs and with our sails spread to the breeze we sailed away
from the shore out upon the blue waters of Lake Michigan.
As our little boat glided along we could see the forms growing dimmer
until the Island itself looked like a small speck upon the water. Off
the south-east of us were other islands looming up out of the sea.
Father told us afterward how afraid the two older brothers were,
thinking it was whales coming after us, as they had heard about whales
in the ocean. Little Charley and I were fast asleep in our warm little
nest of bedding. Life for us had no cares or sorrows. Our baby eyes saw
nothing but beauty in all things. All I remember of our landing was
seeing many strange faces of men, women and children. Mother said
afterward I looked everywhere calling "Aunt Abbie", and cried when I
could not find her and Baby Margarette. There were two sweet little
babies among the people, which satisfied me as I was so very fond of
them. While on our way we had landed at Mentopayma, where we ate our
lunch and fed our pets. Father climbed to the tops of the high hills and
could see vessels and many steamboats passing up and down the straits.
While there we found a large cat which we took with us, he being quite
content to be taken with our other pets. Father gave us animals as pets
to care for and we were taught to be kind to them.
The time had now come when the people of this little settlement were to
pack and go to their winter homes. They were to leave all their fishing
outfits locked in their buildings until they came again another year.
The vessel "Nancy", which made her weekly trips along the north shore to
Mackinac Island and St. Helena, lay at anchor waiting for her precious
human freight. The women and children were taken first, then the men
with their dogs were put on board. Our family, with one more, stood upon
the shore to wave them adieu; white sails were spread to the breeze and
they sailed away to their far-away homes for the winter.