When anchored beside the Perseverance, she looked so much like her that he christened her Perseverance, Jr. As soon as the spars and sails were made, Charlie and the whole family, except Sally Merrithew and the baby, went over to meeting. People then came great distances to meeting, taking a luncheon of “turnovers,” or doughnuts and cheese, and going out to walk in the burying-ground to eat it, the intermission between services being short.
The boat was anchored in the cove, right in front of the church, and many were the curious eyes that scanned her proportions during the intermission.
Henry Griffin had enjoyed his boat but three weeks, when he came on to the island, and wanted to buy the Perseverance, Jr.
“What do you want of two boats?”
“There’s a man in Wiscasset wants mine for a pleasure-boat. I think yours would be a great deal better boat for fishing in the winter, in rough weather. I will sell mine, and buy yours.”
“I won’t sell this boat, for we want just such a boat to go over to meeting in. We can go in her dry, by carrying short sail, any time, almost; but I’ll build you one just like her.”
“When?”
“I’ll begin to-morrow.”
“Then build her, and I’ll sell this.”
In the course of a fortnight he had three orders more; all wanted them as soon as possible, they said. The boats were rather large, but just the thing for two men.