Volume I Part 13 (2/2)

Then up arose the oysterman, and to himself said he, ”I guess I'll leave the skiff at home, for fear that folks should see; I read it in the story-book, that, for to kiss his dear, Leander swam the h.e.l.lespont, and I will swim this here.”

And he has leaped into the waves, and crossed the s.h.i.+ning stream, And he has clambered up the bank, all in the moonlight gleam; Oh, there are kisses sweet as dew, and words as soft as rain---- But they have heard her father's step, and in he leaps again!

Out spoke the ancient fisherman: ”Oh, what was that, my daughter?”

”'Twas nothing but a pebble, sir, I threw into the water.”

”And what is that, pray tell me, love, that paddles off so fast?”

”It's nothing but a porpoise, sir, that's been a-swimming past.”

Out spoke the ancient fisherman: ”Now, bring me my harpoon!

I'll get into my fis.h.i.+ng-boat, and fix the fellow soon.”

Down fell that pretty innocent, as falls a snow-white lamb; Her hair drooped round her pallid cheeks, like seaweed on a clam.

Alas! for those two loving ones! she waked not from her swound, And he was taken with the cramp, and in the waves was drowned; But Fate has metamorphosed them, in pity of their woe, And now they keep an oyster shop for mermaids down below.

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.

MARIETTA HOLLEY

A PLEASURE EXERTION

Wal, the very next mornin' Josiah got up with a new idee in his head.

And he broached it to me to the breakfast table. They have been havin'

sights of pleasure exertions here to Jonesville lately. Every week a'most they would go off on a exertion after pleasure, and Josiah was all up on end to go, too.

That man is a well-principled man as I ever see, but if he had his head he would be worse than any young man I ever see to foller up picnics and 4th of Julys and camp-meetin's and all pleasure exertions. But I don't encourage him in it. I have said to him time and again: ”There is a time for everything, Josiah Allen, and after anybody has lost all their teeth and every mite of hair on the top of their head, it is time for 'em to stop goin' to pleasure exertions.”

But good land! I might jest as well talk to the wind! If that man should get to be as old as Mr. Methusler, and be goin' on a thousand years old, he would p.r.i.c.k up his ears if he should hear of a exertion. All summer long that man has beset me to go to 'em, for he wouldn't go without me.

Old Bunker Hill himself hain't any sounder in principle than Josiah Allen, and I have had to work head-work to make excuses and quell him down. But last week they was goin' to have one out on the lake, on a island, and that man sot his foot down that go he would.

We was to the breakfast table a-talkin' it over, and says I:

”I shan't go, for I am afraid of big water, anyway.”

Says Josiah: ”You are jest as liable to be killed in one place as another.”

Says I, with a almost frigid air as I pa.s.sed him his coffee, ”Mebee I shall be drounded on dry land, Josiah Allen, but I don't believe it.”

Says he, in a complainin' tone: ”I can't get you started onto a exertion for pleasure anyway.”

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