fishermen's memoeial akd record book. 151 



Then commenced the trials and vexations which always accompany 

 the struggles of genius. An old fiddler, named John Chandler, gave 

 him lessons, and every spare moment was devoted to practice. He 

 got consent to stay at home one trip, and his time was mostly spent 

 sawing away with his bow in his father's barn ; and on "Wednesday and 

 Saturday afternoons, followed by a score or more of admiring compan- 

 ions, he would stroll up into " Judy Millet's parlor," or in " Stacy's 

 Pines," where he would give free concerts. "When he went on his 

 next fishing-trip, it was with the express understanding that he 

 should carry his violin and play when there was no work to do. 

 Many a fisherman who reads this will well remember how nicely 

 Watson could play those popular airs, " Roll on. Silver Moon," 

 " Dearest May," and " O Susannah." Then those charming little 

 waltzes which followed. "We've heard them all, time and again, and 

 can verj' readily recall the peculiar flourish with which John, even 

 in those da3's, handled his bow. 



In 1850, his health, which had been impaired by a long fit of sick- 

 ness, rendered it necessary for him to take a fishing cruise. He 

 shipped with Captain David Brown, and, while lying in N. E. Har- 

 bor, Mt. Desert, during a storm, availed himself of a few hours of 

 fair weather to give the fishermen, who were lying there together, a 

 little music. He had, during the previous winter, taken lessons of 

 Prof. Fenollossa, at Salem, and made the most rapid progress. He 

 now played some of the most difficult airs, and gave his listeners a 

 touch of all kinds, from the simple to the more artistic productions. 



After he had concluded his playing, a boat put off from one of the 

 vessels, and there came on board Capt. O. R. Gross, master and 

 owner of schooner Rival, of Truro. He introduced himself to Capt. 

 Brown, and inquired who it was who had shown such proficiency in 

 playing on the violin. 



" There's the young man," replied Capt. B. 



"We will give the account of this first interview in Capt. Gross's 

 own language : — 



" I looked toward the companion-way, and there sat a young man, 

 as pale as a ghost, his form emaciated to a painful degree, the 

 results, as I afterwards learned, of his sickness. On his head was 

 an old tarpaulin hat, and his whole make-up was rather unattractive. 

 As soon as I shook his hand and heard him talk about music, his 

 appearance was forgotten. All that I knew, saw or cared for was 

 the man, and not his apparel. We talked of music, and "Watson 

 charmed me with his enthusiasm. At my request, he took up his 



