by
Martha Finley

Preface

Three years ago I spent some six weeks on Nantucket Island, making the town of the same name my headquarters, but visiting other points of interest, to which I take the characters of my story; so that in describing the pleasures of a sojourn there during our heated term, I write from experience; though, in addition to my own notes, I have made use of Northrup’s “’Sconset Cottage Life” to refresh my memory and assist me in giving a correct idea of the life led by summer visitors who take up their abode for the season in one of those odd little dwellings which form the “original ’Sconset.”

Should my account of the delights of Nantucket as a summer resort lead any of my readers to try it for themselves, I trust they will not meet with disappointment or find my picture overdrawn.

M.F.

Chapter I

“How happy they,
Who from the toil and tumult of their lives
Steal to look down where naught but ocean strives.”
— Byron.

“Well, captain, for how long have you Uncle Sam’s permission to stay on shore this time?” asked Mr. Dinsmore, as the family at Ion sat about the breakfast-table on the morning after Captain Raymond’s arrival.

“Just one month certain, sir, with the possibility that the leave of absence may be extended,” was the reply, in a cheery tone; “and as I want to make the very most of it, I propose that our plans for a summer outing be at once discussed, decided upon, and carried out.”

“I second the motion,” said Mr. Dinsmore. “Are all the grown people agreed? The consent of the younger ones may safely be taken for granted,” he added, with a smiling glance from one to another.

“I am agreed and ready for suggestions,” replied his wife.

“And I,” said his daughter.

“Vi is, of course, since the proposition comes from her husband,” Edward remarked, with a sportive look at her; then glancing at his own little wife: “and as I approve, Zoe will be equally ready with her consent.”

“Have you any suggestion to offer, captain?” asked Mr. Dinsmore.

“I have, sir; and it is that we make the island of Nantucket our summer resort for this year, dividing the time, if you like, between Nantucket Town and the quaint little fishing village Siasconset, or ’Sconset, as they call it for short. There is an odd little box of a cottage there belonging to a friend of mine, a Captain Coffin, which I have partially engaged until the first of September. It wouldn’t hold nearly all of us, but we may be able to rent another for the season, or we can pitch a tent or two, and those who prefer it can take rooms, with or without board, at the hotels or boarding-houses. What do you all say?” glancing from his mother-in-law to his wife.

“It sounds very pleasant, captain,” Elsie said; “but please tell us more about it; I’m afraid I must acknowledge shameful ignorance of that portion of my native land.”

“A very small corner of the same, yet a decidedly interesting one,” returned the captain; then went on to give a slight sketch of its geography and history.

“It is about fifteen miles long, and averages four in width. Nantucket Town is a beautiful, quaint old place; has some fine wide streets and handsome residences, a great many narrow lanes running in all directions, and many very odd-looking old houses, some of them inhabited, but not a few empty; for of the ten thousand former residents only about three thousand now remain.”

“How does that happen, Levis?” asked Violet, as he paused for a moment.

“It used to be a great seat of the whale-fishery,” he answered; “indeed, that was the occupation of the vast majority of the men of the island; but, as I presume you know, the whale-fishery has, for a number of years, been declining, partly owing to the scarcity of whales, partly to the discovery of coal-oil, which has been largely substituted for whale-oil as an illuminant (as has gas also, by the way), and to substitutes being found or invented for whale-bone also.

“So the Nantucketers lost their principal employment, and wandered off to different parts of the country or the world in search of another; and the wharves that once presented a scene full of life and bustle are now lonely and deserted. Property there was wonderfully depreciated for a time, but is rising in value now with the influx of summer visitors. It is becoming quite a popular resort — not sea-side exactly, for there you are right out in the sea.”

“Let us go there,” said Mrs. Dinsmore; “I think it would be a pleasant variety to get fairly out into the sea for once, instead of merely alongside of it.”

“Oh, yes, do let us go!”

“I’m in favor of it!”

“And I!”

“And I!” cried one and another, while Mr. Dinsmore replied, laughingly, to his wife, “Provided you don’t find the waves actually rolling over you, I suppose, my dear. Well, the captain’s description is very appetizing so far, but let us hear what more he has to say on the subject.”

“Haven’t I said enough, sir?” returned the captain, with a good-humored smile. “You will doubtless want to find some things out for yourselves when you get there.”

“Are there any mountains, papa?” asked little Grace. “I’d like to see some.”

“So you shall, daughter,” he said; “but we will have to go elsewhere than to Nantucket to find them.”

“No hills either?” she asked.

“Yes, several ranges of not very high hills; Saul’s Hills are the highest; then there are bluffs south of ’Sconset known as Sunset Heights; indeed, the village itself stands on a bluff high above the sandy beach, where the great waves come rolling in. And there is ‘Tom Never’s Head.’ Also Nantucket Town is on high ground sloping gradually up from the harbor; and just out of the town, to the north-west, are the Cliffs, where you go to find surf-bathing; in the town itself you must be satisfied with still-bathing. An excellent place, by the way, to teach the children how to swim.”

“Then you can teach me, Edward,” said Zoe; “I’d like to learn.”

“I shall be delighted,” he returned, gallantly.

“Papa,” asked Max, “are there any woods and streams where one may hunt and fish?”

“Hardly anything to be called woods,” the captain answered; “trees of any size are few on the island. Except the shade trees in the town, I think some ragged, stunted pines are all you will find; but there are streams and ponds to fish in, to say nothing of the great ocean. There is some hunting, too, for there are plover on the island.”

“Well, shall we go and see for ourselves, as the captain advises?” asked Mr. Dinsmore, addressing the company in general.

Every voice answered in the affirmative, though Elsie, looking doubtfully at Violet, remarked that she feared she was hardly strong enough for so long a journey.

“Ah, that brings me to my second proposition, mother,” said Captain Raymond; “that — seeing what a very large company we shall make, especially if we can persuade our friends from Fairview, the Oaks, and the Laurels to accompany us — we charter a yacht and go by sea.”

“Oh, captain, what a nice idea!” cried Zoe, clapping her hands. “I love the sea — love to be either beside it or on it.”

“I think it would be ever so nice!” Rosie exclaimed. “Oh, grandpa and mamma, do say yes!”

“I shall not oppose it, my dear,” Elsie said; “indeed, I think it may perhaps be our best plan. How does it strike you, father?”

“Favorably,” he replied, “if we can get the yacht. Do you know of one that might be hired, captain?”

“I do, sir; a very fine one. I have done with it as with the cottage — partially engaged it — feeling pretty sure you would all fall in with my views.”

“Captain,” cried Zoe, “you’re just a splendid man! I know of only one that’s more so,” with a laughing look at her husband.

The captain bowed his acknowledgments. “As high praise as I could possibly ask, my dear sister. I trust that one may always stand first in your esteem.”

“He always will,” said Zoe; “but,” with another glance, arch and smiling, into Edward’s eyes, “don’t tell him, lest he should grow conceited and vain.”

“Don’t tell him, because it would be no news,” laughed Edward, gazing with fondness and admiration at the blooming face of the loved flatterer.

The talk went on about the yacht, and before they left the table the captain was empowered to engage her for their use. Also the ’Sconset cottage he had spoken of, and one or two more, if they were to be had.

“You will command the vessel, of course, captain?” several voices said, inquiringly, all speaking at once.

“If chosen commander by a unanimous vote,” he said.

“Of course, of course; we’ll be only too glad to secure your services,” said Mr. Dinsmore, everybody else adding a word of glad assent.

“How soon do we sail, captain?” asked Zoe. “Must we wait for an answer from Nantucket?”

“No; I shall send word by this morning’s mail, to Captain Coffin, that we will take his cottage and two others, if he can engage them for us. But there is no time to wait for a reply.”

“Can’t we telegraph?” asked Violet.

“No; because there is no telegraph from the mainland to the island.

“Now, ladies all, please make your preparations as rapidly as possible. We ought to be off by the first of next week. I can telegraph for the yacht, and she will be ready for us, lying at anchor in our own harbor.

“But, little wife,” turning to Violet, with a tenderly affectionate air, “you are not to exert yourself in the least with shopping, sewing, or packing. I positively forbid it,” he added, with playful authority.