A Child of the Sea; and Life Among the MormonsWilliams, Elizabeth Whitney
History
A Child of the Sea; and Life Among the Mormons
Williams, Elizabeth Whitney
Beaver Island (Mich.); Latter Day Saints -- Michigan; Strang, James Jesse, 1813-1856
St. Helena--dear little drop in the sea. How can I describe it as I saw
it in after years? I called there on a trip down the lakes, on the
steamer "Galena," with Captain Steele as master. We steamed into a
pretty little basin of a harbor almost surrounded by green trees. The
sun was just rising out from the water in the far distance, the sky was
purple orange and pink. As I looked out of my stateroom window and saw
before me the beautiful little Isle of St. Helena, I cannot describe my
feelings; a few of the memories of my childhood days came back to me. My
little brothers, with myself, playing along the shore, but now all was
quiet and still. I had heard father and mother speak about it so many
times, it seemed as though I saw it all through their eyes. It now
looked to me like a lovely little toy. The water so clear and sparkling
in the morning sunlight. The dock was in good repair, everything seemed
clean, quiet and still. Mr. Newton's house I recognized at once, it
being the largest. The little harbor seemed almost a perfect horseshoe
in shape, the shore all around was covered with clean white gravel, the
trees were mixed with birch, balsam, cedar, pine and poplar. The island
is much greater in length than breadth. At the extreme eastern point a
lighthouse is now erected. The red beams from its tower shine far out to
guide the mariner on his way.
Sweet, dear, little Isle of the sea!
The grand old waves shall dash upon thy shore,
When we who once have trod thy lovely beach
Shall be known to earth no more.
LAUNCHING OF THE SHIP ELIZA CAROLINE.
Time was drawing near to the finishing of the good ship Eliza Caroline.
The hammers could be heard from early dawn till dark. Seams were being
calked, there was painting and oiling going on from day to day. Many
were gathering from near and far to watch the process of launching the
ship. The little village was bustling with people. Every home was full,
for friends had come to stay a week. My parents told me afterwards the
launching was a grand success. The sails and all ropes and rigging had
come from Buffalo, N. Y. The trial trip was to Mackinac Island and
return and nearly all the people in the little town took passage.
The time had come for partings and sad farewells of old neighbors, for
now nearly all must scatter to other parts. My father was sent for from
Manistique. A Mr. Frankle had settled there and put in a mill. He was an
old friend of my father's, coming from Chegrin Falls, Ohio. Offering
good pay, father concluded to accept, and we prepared to move at once.
The schooner Nancy, also owned by the Newton Brothers, was to take us to
our destination.
FAREWELL TO ST. HELENA.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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