Nantucket

           Nothingmorehappenedonthepassageworthythementioning;so,afterafinerun,wesafelyarrivedinNantucket.

           Nantucket!Takeoutyourmapandlookatit.Seewhatarealcorneroftheworlditoccupies;howitstandsthere,awayoffshore,morelonelythantheEddystonelighthouse.Lookatitamerehillock,andelbowofsand;allbeach,withoutabackground.Thereismoresandtherethanyouwoulduseintwentyyearsasasubstituteforblottingpaper.Somegamesomewightswilltellyouthattheyhavetoplantweedsthere,theydon’tgrownaturally;thattheyimportCanadathistles;thattheyhavetosendbeyondseasforaspiletostopaleakinanoilcask;thatpiecesofwoodinNantucketarecarriedaboutlikebitsofthetruecrossinRome;thatpeoplethereplanttoadstoolsbeforetheirhouses,togetundertheshadeinsummertime;thatonebladeofgrassmakesanoasis,threebladesinaday’swalkaprairie;thattheywearquicksandshoes,somethinglikeLaplandersnow-shoes;thattheyaresoshutup,beltedabout,everywayinclosed,surrounded,andmadeanutterislandofbytheocean,thattotheverychairsandtablessmallclamswillsometimesbefoundadheringastothebacksofseaturtles.ButtheseextravaganzasonlyshowthatNantucketisnoIllinois.

           Looknowatthewondroustraditionalstoryofhowthisislandwassettledbythered-men.Thusgoesthelegend.InoldentimesaneagleswoopeddownupontheNewEnglandcoastandcarriedoffaninfantIndianinhistalons.Withloudlamenttheparentssawtheirchildborneoutofsightoverthewidewaters.Theyresolvedtofollowinthesamedirection.Settingoutintheircanoes,afteraperilouspassagetheydiscoveredtheisland,andtheretheyfoundanemptyivorycasketthepoorlittleIndian’sskeleton.

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