The Project Gutenberg eBook, Elsie at Nantucket, by Martha Finley

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Title: Elsie at Nantucket

Author: Martha Finley

Release Date: December 19, 2004 [eBook #14379]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ELSIE AT NANTUCKET***

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ELSIE AT NANTUCKET

A Sequel to _Elsie's New Relations_

by

MARTHA FINLEY

1884

PREFACE.

Three years ago I spent some six weeks on Nantucket Island, making the
town of the same name my headquarters, but visiting other points of
interest, to which I take the characters of my story; so that in
describing the pleasures of a sojourn there during our heated term, I
write from experience; though, in addition to my own notes, I have made
use of Northrup's "'Sconset Cottage Life" to refresh my memory and
assist me in giving a correct idea of the life led by summer visitors
who take up their abode for the season in one of those odd little
dwellings which form the "original 'Sconset."

Should my account of the delights of Nantucket as a summer resort lead
any of my readers to try it for themselves, I trust they will not meet
with disappointment or find my picture overdrawn.

M.F.

CHAPTER I.

"How happy they,
Who from the toil and tumult of their lives
Steal to look down where naught but ocean strives."

--_Byron._

"Well, captain, for how long have you Uncle Sam's permission to stay on
shore this time?" asked Mr. Dinsmore, as the family at Ion sat about the
breakfast-table on the morning after Captain Raymond's arrival.

"Just one month certain, sir, with the possibility that the leave of
absence may be extended," was the reply, in a cheery tone; "and as I
want to make the very most of it, I propose that our plans for a summer
outing be at once discussed, decided upon, and carried out."

"I second the motion," said Mr. Dinsmore. "Are all the grown people
agreed? The consent of the younger ones may safely be taken for
granted," he added, with a smiling glance from one to another.

"I a