Chapter 26: Girl's Help and Man's Work

⁠​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌⁠We know the tricks of wind and tide

 That make and mean disaster,

And balk 'em, too, the Wren and me,

 Off on the Old Man's Pastur'.

Day out and in the blackfish there

⁠​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌⁠ Go wabbling out and under,

And nights we watch the coasters creep

 From light to light in yonder.

 —The Skipper.

It was the period of January calms—that lull between the tempest ravings of the equinoxes, and the Eth