PENIKESE ISLAND 167 
having come by some mistake three days in advance. 
She lived at a distance and had not received the last 
circular. We told her she’ might not have where to 
lay her head, but should share what we had. The 
two hours’ voyage was rough and rainy, and we were 
glad to land at the little wharf. Con [Felton] and 
Mr. Tilden were there to meet us. They looked like 
shipwrecked mariners and I rather think no two 
mortals were ever more glad to see their rescuers 
than they were to see the “Helen Augusta,” which 
was to restore them to the bosom of society. They 
had worked like beavers the evening before and had 
got all the furniture under cover and well sheltered, 
which was a great matter. 
They had done all they could, but for want of 
boats and money had not had much means at their 
disposal; then the Fourth of July intervened, and 
the men could not be kept by any seductions what- 
ever. They left by the boat which brought us, and 
I suppose have returned to Nahant by this. As 
soon as they had gone and we had had some ham and 
fried eggs, I went to work with Flanders (the man 
in charge here — a capital man as Con will tell you, — 
intelligent, active, hopeful, —he’s a great help). To- 
gether we got the greater part of the old Anderson 
house, in which the carpenters had been living, 
cleaned and arranged for our habitation and were 
really, all of us, very comfortably settled for the night 
with a bed or two for a friend. This house in which we 
are, is, you know, the old farmhouse occupied by 
Mr. Anderson. 
