CH. IX.] A Rough Old Fish-Wife. i6i 



Point as she came in, and not a man saved, 

 and me left with them boys to keep. God 

 only knows how I did it, and now they are 

 that masterful they won't pay no attention to 

 me." And then, as a hurricane of wind dashed 

 at the door and windows and sent the smoke 

 from the wood fire far out into the room, the 

 poor old thing started and turned to the 

 night outside with a look of terror ; and, as 

 the storm rushed on, and then there was a 

 lull, she threw her apron over her head and 

 sobbed for fear and deep anxiety for her 

 grandsons. 



The rector comforted her with gentle 

 words and praise of her pluck and nerves ; 

 and as he and I returned to the beach, he 

 told me that the old woman had once been 

 the prettiest girl for many miles round, that 

 when her boys were far too young to help 

 her the father had been drowned by the 

 upsetting of his boat on the Point, and from 



