Part 3 (2/2)
_A Doer of the Word_
Noank is a little played-out fishi+ng town on the southeastern coast of Connecticut, lying half-way between New London and Stonington Once it was a profitable port forToday its wharves are deserted of all save a few lobster s three hundred and fiftyestablishment, with two or three hired hands; a sail-loft, and some dozen or so shops or sheds, where the odds and ends of fishi+ng life areis peaceful The sound of the shi+pyard axes and hammers can be heard for miles over the quiet waters of the bay In the sunny lane which follows the line of the shore, and along which a few shops struggle in happy-go-lucky disorder, may be heard the voices and noises of the workers at their work Water gurgling about the stanchions of the docks, the whistle of some fisherman as he dawdles over his nets, or puts his fish ashore, the whirr of the single high-power sewing le in a pleasant harmony, and invite the mind to repose and speculation
I was in ainto the nature and significance ofone day in the shed of the maker of sailboats, where a half-dozen characters of the village were gathered, when soht up the nature of man He is queer, he is restless; life is not so very much when you come to look upon many phases of it
”Did any of you ever know a contentedto say
There was silence for a lance with a thoughtful, self-involved and retrospective eye
Old Mr Main was the first to answer
”Yes, I did One”
”So did I,” put in the sailboat maker, as he stopped in his work to think about it
”Yes, and I did,” said a dark, squat, sunny, little old fisherman, who sold cunners for bait in a little hut next door
”Maybe you andof the sa inquisitively at the boat-builder
”I think we've all got the same man in mind, likely,” returned the builder
”Who is he?” I asked
”Charlie Potter,” said the builder
”That's the man!” exclaimed Mr Main
”Yes, I reckon Charlie Potter is contented, if anybody be,” said an old fisherman who had hitherto been silent
Such unanimity of opinion struck me forcibly Charlie Potter--what a humble name; not very remarkable, to say the least And to hear hi co
”So you really think he is contented, do you?” I asked
”Yes, sir! Charlie Potter is a contentede What sort of a man is he?”
”Oh, he's just an ordinary man, not much of anybody Fishes and builds boats occasionally,” put in the boat-builder
”Is that all? Nothing else?”
”He preaches now and then--not regularly,” said Mr Main
A-ha! I thought A religionist!
”A preacher is expected to set a good exaular preacher,” said Mr Main, rather quickly ”He's just kind of around in religious work”