Frank Richard Stockton

The Great Stone of Sardis Annotated Frank Richard Stockton

It was around noon one day in early summer when a westward Atlantic liner quickly approached the port of New York. Not long before the old lighthouse at Montauk Point had been sighted, and the company aboard the ship was animated by the knowledge that in a few hours they would be at the end of their voyage. The ship now sped along the south coast of Long Island, was the Euterpe Thalia from Southampton. On Wednesday morning she had left her English port and many of her passengers were naturally anxious to be ashore on the last day of the week in time to do their business. There were even some who expected to start their return journey on the Melpomene Thalia, which would leave New York next Monday. "Sammy," Sarah exclaimed, "I think you are old enough not to be one of those anymore to talk nonsense. Of course, there were many things on this trip to the Pole that I disagreed with. First, there were 13 people on board, which was the biggest mistake any human discovery party had ever made; and then, again, there was no precaution for whales poking the ship, and if you knew the number of hours I had awake on this Dipsey, what would happen if the frolicsome whale were determined not to be left alone and should follow when we each other staying in tight spaces you would understand how i feel on this matter, but to say the expedition brought no good - i think that's downright nasty. look at that fender. check out this andirons, the beautiful brass candlesticks and the shovel and tongs with handles that shine like gold! If we hadn't discovered the rod and could afford such good furniture, all these beautiful things would have been made out of similarities silver, as if they were pots and kittens or garden spades!