urprised at being accompanied in her next walk
along the beach by quite a little party of wreckers, who, joyfully
seizing every chip which the waves tossed within their reach,
accumulated at last a very respectable pile of drift-wood.

"It would be a good thing for you, if the schooner "Mary Ann" should go
to pieces off here," remarked Mysie to Clara, who had become her
constant attendant.

"Why?" inquired she, expectantly.

"On account of her cargo. When hailed by another ship, and asked his
name, the captain replied,--

'I'm Jonathan Homer, master and owner
Of the schooner Mary Ann;
She comes from Pank-a-tank, laden with oak plank,
And bound to Surinam.'"

"Did he _really_ say so?" asked Clara, sharply.

"I don't know," said Mysie, laughing; "but that's what I heard about it
when I was a little girl."

While the storm continued too violent for out-of-door exercise, Mysie
cultivated an acquaintance with a remarkably pleasant and intelligent
lady who fortunately was making a visit at the light-house. She had been
for many years a resident of the Vineyard, and had taken great interest
in its history, both past and present. From her Mysie derived much
curious and interesting information.

It seems that the island was first discovered by a certain Thomas
Mayhew, who, voyaging with others to settle in the Plymouth Colony
during its early days, was driven by stress of weather into a safe and
commodious bay, now Edgartown harbor, but then seen and used for the
first time by white men. The storm over, his companions prepared to
resume their voyage; but Mayhew, seeing the land fair and pleasant to
look upon, decided to remain there, and landed with whoever in the ship
belonged to him.

He, of course, found the land in the hands of its original possessors, a
small and peaceful tribe of Indians, living quietly upon their own
island, and having very little communication with their neighbors. With
them Thomas Mayhew bargained for what land he wanted, selecting it in
what is now the town of Chilmark, and paying for it, to the satisfaction
of all parties, with an old soldier's coat which happened to be among
his possessions.

In process of time, one of his sons, named Experience, having been
educated for the purpose in England, returned to his father's home as a
missionary to the kind and hospitable savages among whom he dwelt. So
prosperous were the labors of himself, and afterward of his son
Z