CONTRARY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue XXII, 28 May 1898, Page 687

CONTRARY.

Not all the residents of Cape Cod are eccentric, as those who are not familiar with the region might infer from the many stories which are told of queer characters there. But it is no doubt a fact that many Cape Cod people have strongly accentuated dispositions in one way or another. In Gotuit many years ago, a local legend runs. Captain Barnabas Z and his wife Abigail, who were both queer after their way, lived at pence for a good many years, in spite of the fact that Abigail was said to be the ‘ coutrariest woman on (’ape Cod.’ Whatever was said or proposed sue was almost sure to go against it. But Captain Barnabas was as patient as his wife was contrary ; ami by dint of always allowing for his wife’s disposition, and usually proposing the exact opposite of what he wished her to do, he got along very comfortably for many years. But. at last, on one evil day, when Mrs Abigail Z was down at the harbour visiting a relative on board a steamer then in the port, she fell overboard and sank in the water. Captain Barnabas was near by, and was called in haste. He reached the spot, and immediately went out in a boat to search for his wife. ‘ Look here !’ some one called out, frantically, seeing him push oil. ’ You’re going the wrong way of the tide ! You’re look ing up the tide, not down the tide.’ The captain kept on. * Mebbe,’ said he, calmly, • you wa n t acquainted with Abigail. If ! twas anybody else, they’d ’a’ gone with the tide, but bein' as it’s Abigail, I reckon if she liaint gone against the tide, it wa’n’t her that fell in !’ This time Barnabas’s philosophy was wrong. His wife’s laxly was found next day down the harbour. For once she had gone with the tide.