“Then,” said Fred, “I’ll go to Portland in her, and get a few things. I can salt the fish in our barn till I get the fish-house built, and put any dry fish I may make in the mill.”
“I don’t believe but I can coax Joe Griffin to go in, and Flour; he’s got money in Captain Rhines’s hands; I know father will.”
It now being well towards morning, they went to sleep. The next day, Charlie not only persuaded Joe Griffin, but Uncle Isaac and his father, to help Fred.
“I’ll tell you,” said Captain Rhines, “what you had better do. It’s a poor calculation for Fred to take what he has got and go buy a small quantity—he can’t make anything. I’ll take him and Charlie in the Perseverance, and we’ll go right to Boston and get the whole. I’ll get Mr. Welch to buy for me; he will do it better than I can.”
“But we’ve not heard from John,” said Charlie.
“Well, I’ve got the money, and I’ll take it with me. We’ll run into Portland and ask him. I’ll get Flour to put his in. I’ll put in the tea and tobacco, because I expect to trade with Fred, and I want to be sure that they’re good.”
The company now prepared to depart; but Ben persuaded Parson Goodhue to stay, telling him that the vessel was going to Boston the next day, and they would set him ashore at the mill wharf as they went along.
While Ben and Charlie were gone to the main land with their friends, the minister was left with Sally and Mrs. Hadlock. He amused himself by taking a walk over the island, admiring its beauty, and looking at the crops. Charlie had told him he had a wild goose and gander, and also some goslings, the progeny of a tame goose and the wild gander. After returning to the house and resting a while, he expressed a strong desire to see them.
“I can find them, Mrs. Rhines, if you will tell me in what direction to go.”
“I don’t think you had better go alone, sir, for the gander is in the pen, and is quite cross.”