SAILORS' LIFE
AND
SAILORS' YARNS,
B Y
CAPTAIN RINGBOLT.
Jo/in ,
NEW-YORK:
. S. FRANCIS & CO. 252 BROADWAY.
BOSTON :
J. H. FRANCIS, 128 WASHINGTON STREET.
1847.
IOAN STACK
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the yea-r 1846,
BY C. S. FRANCIS & CO.,
lu the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of the
State of New York.
;
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
DEDICATION --------- v
PREFACE v "
A SAILOR'S LIFE 13
NATHAN SMITH 23
CAPTAIN DODGE .--81
THE PRETTY MISSIONARY 110
TOM BROWN, OR SUPERSTITION ----- 149
HARRY SPANKER'S LOVE STORY - - .- ; - 160
CHARLEY BRAIL'S TRUE STORY 173
DAVID WILLIAMS, THE STEWARD .... 182
A BARGAIN 's A BARGAIN 194
THE OLD SAILOR 208
VESSELS IN DISTRESS ------- 226
MISSING VESSELS ------- 231
SAILORS' RIGHTS AND SAILORS' WRONGS - - - 237
020
TO
CAPT. E. WHEELWRIGHT,
OF NEWBURYPORT.
THESE pages are inscribed to you, ray dear grandfather,
upon whose knee, in childhood, I have listened to those
tales of the sea, which perhaps have influenced me in the
choice of an occupation that I regard as the more honour-
able because it has been yours. Your numerous descend-
ants, whatever their avocations, can ask no greater blessing
than such consciousness of rectitude as is enjoyed by you.
May you long remain with us, to witness that an active
life of virtue is rewarded by a respected and happy old age.
DORCHESTER, Mass., Dec. 1, 1846.
A PREFACE
GENERALLY amounts to an apology, so here you
have it :
Most of the contents of this book, are contributions
for the Boston Journal, written for my own amuse-
ment in leisure hours, at sea, when I had no passen-
gers, and the tedious hours of a long India voyage
hung heavily upon me. Such is my excuse for writ-
ing them, and my excuse for publishing them is the
desire that they may amuse others. Most of the
" yarns " are founded upon fact ; some are strictly true,
with the exception of names of persons. Indeed, the
only one which cannot be included in either of these
classes, is the one for which its soi-disant narrator
claims implicit credence.
I have one more reason for intruding them upon
the public, which is, the hope that the sentiments
which some of them contain, may commend themselves
to sailors, and to those interested in the sailor's wel-
fare.
These are all my apologies, and now, if you please,
you may turn over the leaf.
A SAILOR'S LIFE.
" A SAILOR'S life is the life of a dog." So says
every old salt, and still he persists in being
canine. The truth is, that contentment is a
jewel much sought after, but seldom found : for
it matters not what may be the profession, trade
or occupation of any individual, he always con-
siders it as more onerous than that of his neigh-
bour. The three learned' professions are as
subject to these remarks as any other business
of the world may be. When the M.D., snugly
ensconced with his wife and children in bed,
feeling as little disposition to turn out as did the
man of the parable when importuned for a loaf
of bread, hears the alarum sound of his night
bell, and knows that he must leave his comfort-
able quarters, light his lantern, harness his
horse, and ride through rain and darkness for
miles, to help some one into, or some one out of
the world, O, how he envies his legal friend, as
he passes his closed shutters, and reflects upon
2
14 ,
the domestic quiet that reigns within ! And with
what feelings, on the morrow, does this same
quiet lawyer, while poring over musty papers
and perplexing his brain to link together a chain
of evidence, supplying a shackle here and there
from his own imagination, look out upon the
bright sun-lighted street, and behold the doctor
riding along so comfortably and go leisurely in
his sulky, looked up to by all as the arbitrator
.of their lives and then he thinks how much
better had it been, had he studied medicine !
Now both these gentlemen look with more in-
vidious eyes upon the parson than upon each
other : " 6," say they, " what a delightful
profession ! so quiet, so free from care, almost a
'little heaven below' so loved and respected
by every one his salary annually paid enough
to support him, which is all he needs like
Goldsmith's hero :
' A man he was to all the country dear,
And passing rich with forty pounds a year.' "
The poor parson says nothing, for he dares not;
but he could say, " Go on with your quotation,
and you'll find it as far from applicable as that
you have already uttered :
' Unskilful he to fawn, or seek for power,
By doctrines fashion'd to the varying hour.' "
All perhaps true in the poet's time, and even in
England, now, where the establishment allows
a man more liberty of conscience than he can
exercise in this free and happy land. "No,
15
no!" cries the poor parson, " there are few of
ns. in these days, that can afford to be consci-
entious and independent. We must do as we
are told to do. or starve ! "
So much for what are termed the learned pro-
fessions ; and in every state of life, the like
discontent and envy is more or less apparent.
Still all seem to be aware that "rolling stones
gather no moss," and mankind generally, not-
withstanding their complaints, have the good
sense left -them to persevere in the occupation
which Providence has assigned them, solacing
themselves with occasional murmurs of discon-
tent, till the close of existence, when, if not be-
fore, they come to the sage conclusion, that the
world, arid every thing it contains, is one general
assortment of vanity and vexation of spirit.
Then why should not sailors call their life " the
life of a dog," and growl accordingly? and yet
why should not we be happy too, as other
complaining spirits are? So we are, and so we
will be. " Away with melancholy !" over-
board with the foul fiend ! Launch ! and as
the gurgling waves of returning blithsomeness
close over him, three cheers for the gay goddess
that floats so lightly upon them !
A sailor's life a dull life ? Who so constantly
employed as he? What a mistaken idea is en-
tertained of this on shore ! People imagine that,
once clear of port, there is little or nothing to be
done, but quietly to watch the course of the
16 A SAILOR'S LIFE.
vessel to saunter about the decks, and do what
each one lists, or do nothing at all, which latter
is looked upon as a very happy state of exist-
ence. Nothing to do ? Idleness ? The devil's
own darn ! It has ruined many on shore, but,
depend upon it, it will never ruin sailors in the
merchant service. There is always enough to
be done refitting, setting-up, turning-in, splic-
ing, rattling down and tarring rigging, strapping
blocks, keeping chafing gear in order, sail-
making, scraping, scrubbing, painting all these
are some of the constant and numerous employ-
ments on board of a ship. These may be made
onerous by useless work, but still there is
enough to keep all hands usefully employed on
the longest voyages. And then on board of all
well-regulated ships, there is time given, and
books furnished, for reading, and improving the
mind ; and more knowledge is often acquired in
these precious moments than if abundance of
time were at disposal. They are sweet, like
stolen fruit. Good appetites and sound sleep
follow ; and though day after day has its usual*
round in these respects, the young, seaman feels
that he is improving in his calling, and qualify-
ing himself for a higher station, while all look
forward with pleasing anticipations to their ar-
rival abroad, and with anticipations tenfold
more pleasing, to their return 'to their homes.
Tyrannical officers and quarrelsome shipmates
often mar these sources of enjoyment, but not
17
as they did once : for the former are beginning
to discover that the law of love is more powerful
than the " cat," and the latter are fast escaping
from the thraldom of intemperance, which has
been a more cruel despot over them than was
ever tyrant of flesh and blood.
The sailor's fare is often hard ? Well, so it
is, and shame to some of his employers for it ;
but let good be returned for evil, and let us wish
them no greater ill than to be obliged to feed
upon the like and at the same time, wish them
the ability to digest it, which can only be derived
from health, and which in its turn is a conse-
quent of exercise and cheerfulness. " A con-
tented mind is a continual feast." Their minds
might be somewhat more contented, if their dis-
positions were more liberal. Be that as it may,
we have determined to be contented, come what
will ! It is hard to be roused from a snug berth,
after having accomplished a good day's work,
and already stood a four hours' watch ; for but
just now we had turned in, after shifting our
jvet clothes, and putting on the last dry flannels
in our chests. We had resolved upon one good
four hours' watch below, and had already begun
to carry out this resolution. Who sleeps so
sound as the sailor, for who has earned a
sounder sleep ? Nor is it sleep alone a cheer-
ful smile rests on his weather-beaten face his
happy spirit has left it there, and then taken
wings and flown away for a time, leaving its
18
easily disordered companion to be retimed by
repose. Now travels the mind upon the wings
of imagination, to which fleet messenger thous-
ands of leagues are as nothing, arid distance is
a thing unknown. In an instant the spirit is at
home. Home ! who ever speak or think that
word without emotions of pleasure? But to the
sailor, it is invested with charms such as no one
else can feel, or can scarcely imagine.
Yes, dearest home ! they only know
How sweet thy joys to wand'rers are,
Who distant from thy portals go !
Our morning sun our evening star
Still shine upon our rugged way,
And cheer our oft desponding hearts !
There's joy in every peaceful ray
Thy living light on us imparts !
In the midst of these sweet dreams, while yet
in the embraces of parents, brothers and sisters,
arid perhaps of some one else, three heavy
stamps, and an unwelcome voice "All hands
ahoy ! bear a hand up and reef topsails ! " call
back the truant spirit to its deserted dwelling,
and mind and body are obliged to combine their
energies the former gradually being made con-
scious of the stern 'reality which the latter
speedily is acquainted with, by the cold sleet,
penetrating the skin. This is hard ; but to
youth, health and strength, even this is not
unmixed with pleasure. The excitement is
pleasure and who talks of the entire monotony
of a life upon the ocean, and says there is no
19
excitement in it? He knows nothing: for there
is excitement enough in watching the angry"
sky, the combing sea sparkling in the dark
nig^t as every drop of the briny deep teems
with bright existence the vivid lightning shoot-
ing madly through the threatening heavens,
while the tempest now whistles among the
creaking spars and rigging; and now bellows in
unison with the foaming surges. No excitement
in this ? O, there is ! such as even the prince
of poets could not feel when he stood in view
of the "majestic mountains of Switzerland,"
and exclaimed
" The sky is changed ! and such a change ! O night,
And storm, and darkness, ye are wondrous strong,
Yet lovely in your strength, as is the light
Of a dark eye in woman ! Far along,
From peak to peak, the rattling crags among,
Leaps the live thunder ! Not from one lone cloud,
But every mountain now hath found a tongue,
And Jura answers, through his misty shroud,
Back to the joyous Alps, who call to her aloud ! "
There he stood, safe upon the solid land, and
paid to nature this immortal tribute of a death-
less song yet standing, as it were
" Amid the wreck of matter and the crush of worlds ! "
a mere looker-on, how conscious he must have
felt of his own weakness and insignificance.
Fain would he have been
" A sharer in the fierce and far delight,
A portion of the tempest and of thee."
But taking part in this elemental warfare as
the sailor does, knowing that he is contending
20
against the rage of nature, and trusting to come
off victorious, as he has done before, from the
fearful strife can this but complete an excite-
ment never to be felt but by those
" Whose march is on the mountain wave,
Whose home is on the deep !"
Such is a sailor's life, or rather, such, you will
say, is the poetry of his life ; but sad is the real-
ity of the sailor's death.
To die upon the ocean, far, far from home and
friends, with none of the soothing accompani-
ments that smooth the rough passage through
the valley of the shadow of death these soft
alleviations are a mother's tenderness and a sis-
ter's care ! Oh, these are wanting to the poor
sailor, as he writhes in agony upon his hard
berth-boards, in the damp, pent-up forecastle,
with no one to cheer his fainting spirit and his
dying groans, sometimes responded to with blas-
phemy, to stop his cries. This is no exaggera-
tion. They tell you of the nobleness and gene-
rosity of the sailor : but go among them in the
forecastle to learn of their depravity. Believe
not the plausible stories of those whose little ex-
perience, strong prejudices, and interested mo-
tives, would lead you to believe that all the sail-
or's misery at sea is the consequence of brutal
treatment of their officers. Such things are not
so, nor would the captain of the Pilgrim have
been thus abused, had not death rendered him
powerless in his own defence. No, there is de-
A SAILOR'S LIFE. 21
pravity in the sailor's heart as well as in that
of the landsman. Thank God such scenes as I
was describing do not often occur ; but, alas, I
have seen them, nevertheless. Still often will
the sympathizing tear be dropped, and the ready
hand of assistance be extended, to the dying
sailor; but what is this, when exercised to the
utmost extent that the rough nature of his ship-
mates is capable of? What is it to one pressure
of the hand, one glimpse of his mother? "Oh,"
he exclaims, "she knows not what I suffer now,
for if she did, she would be surely here. Thou-
sands of miles of fathomless depths between us
would not keep her away. By some means she
would come to the side of her dying son. And
then I should die happier. Oh ! mother !" And
he dies with that blessed name upon his lips,
which will be a passport for his soul through the
realms of space, and to the throne of God!
What a charm is there in that word !
It brings me again to infancy's pleasures,
Sweet home, with its sweetest allurement I see,
Oh, I ask not of earth aught else of its treasures,
Such thoughts of my home are riches to me.
" My mother !" Dear mother, I'll never forget thee,
Whenever, wherever, on earth I may roam ;
Cares my encircle, temptations beset me,
Their power shall all vanish at thoughts of my home.
From infancy's dawn to manhood's progression,
The object I've been of thine unceasing care,
And often for me what blest intercession,
Has risen to heaven in my mother's fond prayer.
2*
22
If the prayer of tVie fervent is more than another,
In the ear of the High and Infinite One,
May he listen to thine, my own dearest mother,
As often poured forth for thy wandering son !
Need I offer excuses. for this simple tribute to
her? 'T is because my pea would follow my
thoughts, that I have thus written. And many
a brother sailor's thoughts, I well know, are the
same. It is in indulging such feelings as these,
that often a middle watch is spent at sea. And
if death should overtake us in such a frame of
mind, he will find our last thoughts on earth
worthy of beins^ those nearest to heaven.
I
NATHAN SMITH;
OR, THE MAN THAT WAS LAUGHED AT.
u UNCLE Jonas, I can't stand it any longer;
and what's more, I won't ! " This exclamation
proceedsd from the mouth of Nathan Smith.
The there and then was under the roof of his
uncle, in the interior of Vermont, on the second
day of November, 1830.
"Can't stand what, you impudent rascal ?"
demanded his affectionate relation.
1 Can't stand what ?" was re-echoed in a shrill
tone by his indulgent aunt.
" Why, I can't stand like a docked colt tied
up in a stall, as I am here. Now here I am
seventeen years old, and you keep me drudging
and digging, and give me no chance to learn
anything, so that every body laughs at me."
"Who laughs at you?" asked Mr. Jonas
Smith.
" Why, amongst others, J J Jane Beaton !
1 won't stand it, I say, I'm going to sea ! "
24 NATHAN SMITH.
Having given vent to the thoughts which had
been long working in his inner man, Nathan
stood resolutely, fully expecting torrents of
wrath and floods of tears but he found that
Jane was not the only one who laughed at him,
for his worthy relatives, at this speech, indulged
in the most obstreperous merriment, and said,
they " would like to see him do it." They soon
left the kitchen, however, much to his relief,
telling him to finish boiling the potatoes, and to
feed the pigs, before he went to sea.
" They'd like to see me do it, would they ? "
soliloquized the youth, when left alone. " Well,
I'll be an obedient boy ; I'll boil the potatoes
and feed the pigs, and then I'll go to sea."
Now old Mr. Smith was a good farmer; he
could bring up com and potatoes better than he
could bring up children ; and the knowledge and
breeding of his nephew was, as he has hinted,
much too confined ; but it is probable that the
young man would not have discovered it had it
not been that Jane Beaton laughed at him.
Good gracious, what things are women ! You
can't stand their laughing, you can't stand their
crying you can't stand any thing they do !
They just heave their grappling irons, and you
are fast. A Saccarapper might just as well try
to get away from a Baltimore clipper. That's
the way they do before marriage. If they keep
it up after they are spliced 3 matrimony must be
an awful thing very !
NATHAN SMITH. 25
It was nearly dark when Nathan had boiled
the potatoes and fed the pigs for the last time.
He then proceeded to his garret, and dressed
himself in his " Sunday- go- to-meetings," made
a bundle of his remaining effects, and bade
adieu to home. But it was not easily done.
Notwithstanding the joy of escaping from his
uncle's petty tyranny, the remembrance of some
sunshiny spot's in his childhood stole over him,
and it was his home after all. He had no other.
As he looked back upon the black walls of the
building, he half repented; but just then his
uncle's voice reached his ear: " He go to sea!
What sort of a sailor would he make? He's
good for nothing any where ! "
Nathan turned his back and walked rapidly
away, but not as yet to the main road. There
was a house near by, where lived a certain
'Squire Beaton, and it seems that Nathan had
some business there yet to transact. He ap-
proached it with a very awkward feeling, and
proceeded to reconnoitre through the windows
before attempting an entry. A crackling fire
burned on the hearth. The old 'Squire sat read-
ing the newspaper aloud to Mrs. Beaton, who
was busily employed at her knitting, and to
another lady, who engrossed all the attention of
our spying visitor. If you had been looking in
that window, you'd have called her " sweet
sixteen," and acknowledged that you never saw
more rosy cheeks and luxuriant hair, and you'd
26 NATHAN SMITH.
have wondered what made those roguish eyes
dance so with seeming delight. '
" Laughing at me now ! I'll bet," thought
Nathan ; " but I will say good-bye to her." So
he laid his bundle down by the fence, and
knocked at the door.
" Come in ! " cried the. full voice of the old
'Squire, and at the same instant his blooming
daughter jumped to open the door for the visitor.
"Why, Nathan Smith!" exclaimed she;
"Why need you knock? I was just thinking
about you !" but a blush came over her face
as she added, "at least mother was saying
something about you."
"I thought so," replied the young man : "I
thought you were laughing at me."
"You did, sir?" answered Jane, becoming
suddenly sedate, "and how did you know I
was laughing at all ? "
" Jane, Jane!" cried Mrs. Beaton, " do come
in ; who in the world are you talking with so
long in the entry?"
The young lady speedily obeyed this sum-
mons, followed by Nathan, assuring her mama
that she "wasn't saying any thing to any body,
only that the door-handle is so hard to turn."
"Yes, very!" said her father; "Jane, I
wasn't born yesterday" and, without raising
his eyes from the newspaper, he added, " Good
evening, Nathan; walk in and sit down."
He accepted the invitation, and after answer-
NATHAN SMITH. 27
ing the old people's questions in regard to the
welfare of his uncle and aunt, then came a pause
which no one saw fit to interrupt. In the mean
time his eyes wandered toward Jane, who was
amusing herself with rolling up a bright ribbon
which she seemed so anxious to exhibit that she
at length asked, " Well, Mr. Nathan, what do
you think of this, and who do you think gave it
tome?"
"Ned Saunders, I think likely," replied
Nathan.
" So it was how good you are at guessing !
what a nice fellow Ned is !"
Poor Nathan ! he knew no more about a wo-
man then than he did about a ship, or he would
have interpreted this as "I don't care a bit for
Ned, but only say so to make you jealous."
Nathan certainly was jealous of the young shop-
keeper, nor was this the first instance of his be-
ing troubled with the green-eyed monster.
" But what makes you so dull this evening?"
cried the gay girl, bursting into a merry laugh
as she saw the effect the ribbon had produced,
" has anybody stolen your heart ?"
He might have said "yes," and have laid his
hands as he did his eyes upon the thief, but he
fetched a long sigh, and said, "Miss Jane, I've
come to say ' Good-bye,' for I am going to sea."
The newspaper and the knitting- work dropped
simultaneously, and the gay laugh ceased for an
instant. If Nathan's eyes had not been this mo-
28 NATHAN SMITH.
ment upon the old people, who were uttering
various exclamations-oT surprise, he might have
seen the colour forsake those blooming cheeks,
and leave them paler than if all the shopkeepers
in Vermont were at the bottom of the ocean.
But for an instant only- then her laugh redoub-
led, and poor Nathan thought, " how little she
cares for me !"
"You may laugh," he said, at length fairly
aroused, " but good-bye you won't see me
again till I am Captain of a ship I'm sorry I
can't stay to Mrs. Saunders' t wedding."
This rather increasing the young lady's mer-
riment, he seized his hat and opening the door,
bolted into the road, followed by peals of laugh-
ter, and "Good-bye, Captain Smith!"
"I wonder why Nathan should take such a
fancy into his head," said Mrs. Beaton when the
door was closed, and they were again drawn
around their pleasant fire-side.
11 It is not at all surprising," said the 'Squire ;
''ever since his parents died, and Jonas Smith
took charge of him in his infancy, he has had a
hard time of it. You shouldn't have laughed at
him so, Jane, it was unkind."
His daughter drew her chair nearer, and grasp-
ing her father's knees, she looked into his face
with those full eyes so lately sparkling with mer-
riment, but now dimmed with starting tears.
"Do you really think he will go, father?"
she asked, in a low and almost trembling voice.
NATHAN SMITH. 29
"Yes, my child, I do."
" Then," she exclaimed, falling upon his neck
giving full vent to her feelings, " Heaven
protect him, and forgive me !"
The thoughts of the wanderer would have
been far different as he pursued his lonely way
that night, had he known that his wakefulness
was shared by another, and that her pillow was
bedewed with weeping on his account.
Not many days after this, a country bumpkin
had wended his way down State-street and come
into view of the shipping in Boston harbor. He
had some idea of what a vessel was, from hav-
ing seen pictures of them, so that he could distin-
guish one from a brick building nor, when he
approached nearer, was he so ignorant as one of
his verdant predecessors is said to have been,
who, when he first examined a vessel, exclaim-
ed, "I snum, Zeek, she's holler!" But all rigs
were alike to Nathan, and he made a bold push
for the first craft in his way, which happened to
be a New York packet schooner.
"Capting," said he, addressing one of the
crew, "you don't want any green hands for this
ship, do you?"
This query was answered by a roar of laugh-
ter, and the advice of the Captain, who stood on
the wharf, for him to make application to yonder
schooner, which happened to be a full-rigged
ship.
30 NATHAN SMITH.
" Laugh away," thought our hero, " it ain't
so bad as Jane's ;" and nothing daunted / on he
went to the ship. " I'll be careful," thought he,
" this time, and find out who the captain is, be-
fore I ask." He therefore took a fair survey of
the lumpers and loafers about the wharf and the
vessel, and came to the conclusion that no one of
these could be the captain. But at length he es-
pied a gentleman upon the quarter deck, whose
back was turned to him. He was dressed some-
what fantastically, as he thought, wearing a
cocked hat, and having a flaming red collar to
his overcoat, but very likely that might be his
uniform. "Ah, that must be he," said Nathan
to himself, "however, I'll ask him."
He accordingly passed over the gangway, and
walking towards the supposed captain, he said,
" Capting of this schooner, ain't you?"
But he made a hasty retreat when the big ba-
boon turned sharply round upon him, chattering
and grimacing, arid but for the shortness of his
chain, ready to give him a grip far from affec-
tionate.
" Laugh away," cried Nathan, as the lumpers
joined the baboon, " you're a set of monkeys,
the whole of ye !"
"And is't me for one, ye spalpeen, that ye're
after calling a monkey ?" said one.
"Shouldn't wonder a mite if you was," said
our unsuccessful and somewhat angry applicant.
"Take that then, for want of a shillaleh !"
NATHAN SMITH. 31
said the lumper, giving him a side-winder with
his fist.
"Don't want it," replied Nathan; "take it
back again !" and down went the fellow, into
the hold.
Upon this, a dozen comrades of the fallen
champion rushed upon our hero, seeking revenge,
when a voice came from the companion-way :
"Stop this, you rascals a dozen upon one ! Let
me see one of you lay your hands upon that
young man, if you dare, and I'll throw the
whole pack of you into the dock ! You'll find
that it's ABEL COFFIN, and not the monkey, that's
captain here.
" Let 'em come, let 'em come !" cried Nathan ;
"so you're Capting, and on my side there ain't
more than a dozen of 'em, and we'll lick 'em all
into sawdust. Here goes !" and he was about to
make a dive into the midst of the fellows, who
had stood silently by, the instant they were re-
buked, but his headway was stopped by the grasp
of a powerful right hand, which before then, had
held a larger man than him, at arm's length,
while another was as firmly held by the left, and
their heads knocked together till mutiny was
knocked out of them,
"I like your spirit, youngster," said he, "but
you are in a passion. Never get angry keep
cool you've punished them quite enough, and
you need not fear their troubling *y u again.
32 NATHAN SMITH.
But what do you want here, and who sent
you?"
" Why," replied Nathan, " the Capting of that
ship, there, said he didn't -know but you might
want me aboard the schooner, here."
Captain Coffin smiled, for he saw how the lad
had been imposed upon. "What a fine sailor
you'd be," he said, " not knowing the difference
between a ship and a schooner !"
"Well, Capting," rejoined Nathan, "you
know there's a beginning to every thing, creation
and all, and I suppose there must be to sailors."
" There, Mr. S ," said the captain to the
owner, who stood by his side, "hear what that
lad says : he's green enough, but I wish Con-
gress had as good an idea in their heads as that.
Government knows nothing, or cares nothing,
about commerce or seamen. I believe there's no
patriotism in Washington. They all look to par-
ties. No one dares propose a measure of real
utility, for fear it should take up too much time,
and offend some one of the same party that
wants all day to 'define his position.' Now, if
they had the good of a pretty extensive portion
of their country at heart, they would enact some
law that would make American seniors. See
how our ships are manned : not one-seventh
of the crews of foreign traders are American.
'Tis true, we are obliged to have two-thirds of
our crews protected. But what are these pro-
tections? The great majority are false, or
NATHAN SMITH. 33
transferred from one man to another, as suits a
landlord's convenience. All shipmasters are
obliged to connive at this, for otherwise how
could we get our crews? Many of these foreign
sailors are good ones, too ready made to our
hand. A good Dutch or English sailor comes
to me with an American protection he eats no
more than a green-horn, and is a sailor for the
whole voyage. Economy is the order of the
day I must do as others do, and I ship the for-
eigner, knowing him to be a liar, his,landloi$-
kriowing it too, and the custom-house conniving
at it, while there are hundreds of young men,
sons of our own countrymen, comirig down to
the wharves and willing to go for nothing. I'd
take my share with pleasure, if others would
but they won't, and nothing but a law made
and enforced, can oblige any one to do it."
"Ay, there's a great deal of truth in what
you say," said Mr. S.. himself an'old shipmaster,
"but what would you have Cgrigress do?"
"What would I have them $o, sir?" said Cap-
tain Coffin; "I'd soon teli tnem ; why, in five
minutes; yes, in five minutes, they might confer
a lasting benefit on their country ; and then, for
aught I care, they might have the rest of the ses-
sion to make speeches and squabble about noth-
ing. Here's the law I'd make I've had it in
my head these twenty years. Every vessel for
every hundred tons shall carry one native born ap-
prentice. That, sir, would make us all equal ;
34 NATHAN SMITH.
would soon man our ships with young men of so-
briety and some education, instead of the miser-
able offscourings of the earth ; with men who,
when we are threatened with war, will have an
interest in the flag under which they fight, and
will not see it hauled down so long as they can
raise an arm in its defence !"
u Yes, yes," said Mr. S., "I have long been
sensible, too, that some such law was necessary ;
and until there is one, improvement in the char-
acter of seamen in our merchant service will be
much retarded. It is of little use for one or two
ship-owners to furnish examples to others. Eco-
nomy is a stronger principle with most men than
patriotism or benevolence. We must have a
law, and one too that shall not be so easily evad-
ed as the present one in regard to protections.
However, I'll furnish one example in this in-
stance, and I rather fancy this lad, too. You
can ship him, if you like."
"Very well, sir,," replied Captain Coffin, and
turning to Nathan, he continued : " Youngster,
you're fortunate. It's not every greenhorn gets
a berth aboard of an Indiaman with so little
trouble as you have done, especially after con-
founding the Captain and a monkey together,
which is not very complimentary to rne. As to
your wages, they must be small, for you'll be
but an encumbrance for at least the passage out."
'Now. Capting," interrupted Nathan, "you've
giv'n it back to me ! I'd rather be called a mon-
NATHAN SMITH. 35
key than that I know I'm green, and I thank
you for your k'indness. I don't want any wages,
being that this is the first time, but if I aint
riper before I get back, serve me as I did that
fellow, and call me anything else but Nathan
Smith."
" You shall have wages, my lad, if you be-
have as well as I trust you will," said Mr. S.
" If I have boys at all on board my vessel, I pay
them for their work. The ship has not yet dis-
charged her homeward cargo, and will not be
ready for sea in less than ten days. You may
then join her."
Nathan explained his circumstances in a few
words to the kind merchant, asking liberty to
come on board at once, and endeavour to make
himself useful, assuring him that he would be
of no expense, having yet nine shillings left,
which would find him in doughnuts and cheese
for a fortnight.
This consent was readily given, and he was
moreover advised to invest his funds in some
other way, for his board would be paid. Highly
elated with his success, he was thereupon turned
over to the mate, to be formed and fashioned
into a sailor.
" Upon my word, you are quite a politician,
Captain Coffin," said Mr. S., as they walked up
the wharf together.
' Politician, sir !" exclaimed Captain Coffin,
" worse and worse : first a monkey is mistaken
36 NATHAN SMITH.
for .me, and then I'm mistaken for a politician.
No, sir, I trust I'm too honest for that ! But
I should like to speak to those lawyers in Wash-
ington once, if I could clap a stopper on their
nonsense as neatly as you did upon their Latin
up there in the State House ; ' Ja smokit tanka,'
&c. ; that Nor- west Indian quotation did them
a deal of good, and I wish I could do them as
much in Congress."
" O, we'll send you there yet," replied Mr.
S., acknowledging the compliment: '-'and after
you've carried your favourite project, what will
you do next? " .
"I really don't know," answered he ; "there's
so much overhauling and repairing to be done,
I shouldn't know where to begin. There is the
matter of those foolish treaties with the Dutch-
men and the Danes and the Swedes, which play
mischief with our trade ; and then there is an
everlasting row about slavery and State rights.
They seem to think that we 'are so far off in the
corner, that \ve are nobody. I wonder if we
would be considered nobody if any fighting
was to be done? I should like to vote (if I
could get a majority it would be done, because
a majority, like the Pope, is infallibly right) for
a young earthquake that should crack the dirt all
round the boundary lines of New JGn gland, and
shove us off the other side of the Gulf Stream,
and then see how the rest of them would work
ship without us. Well, sir, these are some of
NATHAN SMITH. 37
my politics ; I shouldn't have mentioned them
if you hadn't asked me."
" They savor a little too much of nullification,"
said Mr. S., smiling; " however, I think you'll
be able to carry that vote, nearly as soon as you
will that really good and necessary law in re-
gard to seamen. As to that young man who
has been the means of extorting your politics, I
hope he may turn out welL; and don't forget to
let me know how he succeeds."
With this, our worthy friends parted, each on
his separate business.
How many poets have written of the ocean,
yet how few have done their subject justice !
Byron and Pollok, only have approached it.
But it is not now our purpose to contemplate it
in its magnificence and glory, but rather in the
contrast with which it is regarded by the
luxurious slave,
Whose soul would sicken on the heaving waye."
Where, among ancient or modern poets, is a
worthy ode to sea-sickness? Andre Chenier,
who wrote toward the close of the last century,
was a Frenchman, and as such, admirably quali-
fied for the task, filled, as we may suppose his
stomach to have been, with soup bouilli, frica-
sees, ragouts, pates des fois gras, and the hun-
dred entremets which emanate from a French
kitchen, and which constitute so great a part of
the national glory at the present day. But let
3
38 NATHAN SMITH.
not his ghost arise to haunt me, because of an
imperfect translation :
Who can forget the passing over
From Calais 'cross the Straits of Dover !
Prostrate upon the cabin floor
The trav'ller lies with stomach sore,
And utters many groans pathetic
While undergoing his emetic ;
His head is swimming, eyesight is obscured,
He thinks no one the like has e'er endured.
He's like one drunk beneath the table-
He tries to rise, but is unable ;
The ship's now rolling now she's jumping
His liver 'gainst his heart is thumping,
The carpet gets the emptied cargo,
He must discharge, spite of embargo ;
His mind is full of fancies drear
Shipwrecks he sees death hov'ring near
But still by fear he's not opprest:
He looks on death, expecting rest ;
Though dying friends require his care,
Their woes he will no longer share ;
He faintly opes his glassy eye,
And prays that he may likewise die !
Poor Nathan did not exactly wish to die, but
he felt, as no one can imagine, unless they have
been precisely in his situation, when the ' ( Gen-
too," with Boston light twenty miles astern, was
pitching into an ugly south-east sea, which still
rolled into Massachusetts Bay, although the east-
erly storm had given place to the fresh nor-
wester, which was fast driving them off the coast.
Confused thoughts of Jane Beaton, of the com-
fortable fireside of the good old 'Squire, even of
Uncle Jonas and his aunt, and a half-uttered
NATHAN SMITH. 39
wish that he was hoiling potatoes for the pigs,
flitted through his distempered brain.
The passenger, if sea-sick, can retire to his
cabin, throw himself into his berth, and lie on his
back till he gets well again. But it was not 4 so
with Nathan. None have any sympathy for a
youngster that is sea-sick. They forget all about
having been so themselves ; or if they remember
it, it is only to prompt them to play the same
jokes on others, which they themselves once
had to bear.
"I say, Chips," said an old tar to the carpen-
ter, "don't you want some chalk? 'cause if you
do, just knock off a piece from that boy's face."
"Johnny Raw," said another, "does your
mother know you are out?"
" Now knock off plaguing the boy, will you ?"
said one more " How do you feel, Nathan ?
can't you take anything that would do you
good?"
The soft tone in which this was uttered, cheer-
ed his heart, as he exclaimed, " Oh, if you could
tell me of any thing !"
" Well, I can," said his sympathizing friend ;
"just you bend a ropey arn onto a piece of salt
pork, and swallow it ; so keep hauling it up and
down, till your insides are well swabbed out ! "
This was the unkindest cut of all, and did
not fail to produce its intended effect.
"Come, come, boy, what are you doing there,
looking over the side?" bawled the second mate,
40 NATHAN SMITH.
" get a broom and sweep down the quarter
deck."
As Nathan was employed in executing this
order, the captain accosted him in a really kind
voice. " Well, Smith, my lad ; I know you feel
badly, but don't be discouraged. Remember,
if you do your best, I'm your friend, and that's
a good deal on board of a ship ; and Mr. S. is
your friend, and that's a fgood deal in Boston.
Just remember what I say, and keep these two
words in your mind Go ahead ! "
What an effect has a word of encouragement
from the mouth of one who has the power to
give it ! Captain Coffin had, (to use a cant
phrase,) " worked his own way up." He had
undergone many buffetings, and had met with
little kindness from others : and now, instead of
retaliating upon his inferiors, he knew the value
of sympathy, by having himself been deprived
of it, too well not to bestow it upon those under
his command. Still, he used little familiarity
with his men. His discipline was strict even
severe. He never unnecessarily over- worked
his crew, but never allowed watch and watch
observing that it gave men so much time that
they did not set a just value upon the article.
But the forenoon watch below was always al-
lowed, and so was the afternoon of Saturday,
that there might be no excuse for neglect of
cleanliness upon the Sunday. On that day no
work not absolutely required by necessity was
NATHAN SMITH. 41
done. The Church prayers were read, and
books were furnished from the cabin to all who
wished to read. Nor did that strict disciplina-
rian find that his authority was the less respect-
ed for this course.
There are a class of men, who imagine that
they must always dress their countenances with
a frown when speaking to a sailor ; and that
obedience is more readily ensured if their orders
are accompanied with a few oaths, and some
spicy blackguardism, illustrations of which
would disgrace the press. But one of the most
common, most disgraceful to themselves, and
annoying to the person addressed, is a curse,
coupled with the insinuation that his maternal
ancestor was a quadruped. The phrase will be
readily called to mind by those who use it, and
have heard it used. No wonder a sailor's life
is called "a dog's life !" Such officers are gen-
erally detested and despised seldom feared,
and never respected. They may occasionally
keep up an appearance of discipline by brute
force, but work is not done " with a will," and
of course is not done so quick or so well.
We would not be understood to say that se-
verity, and sometimes great severity, is never to
be used : for there are men so stupid, so brutish,
that they cannot be reached by kindness, and to
whom irons and the cat must be applied. And
this must be the case so long as our merchant
service is allowed to consist chiefly of foreigners.
42 *' NATHAN SMITH.
Democracy may perhaps succeed on shore ; but
at sea, nothing short of absolute authority will
preserve order. There is a disposition in juries
to think otherwise, and too readily to believe the
forged or exaggerated tales of a crew which are
incited by a landlord, and dovetailed together
by some ingenious scoundrels who disgrace the
name of lawyers men whom I could point out
as having become rich, solely by getting up these
complaints, and dividing the profits wrung from
defendant and plaintiff, with the sailor landlords !
Cases are brought forward by these men, that
never would have been dreamed of by the sai-
lors. Men are told what to testify to, by having
the desired testimony repeated over to them ver-
batim, till it is committed to memory ; and they
are, as far as possible, put on their guard against
cross questioning. Now, gentlemen of the jury,
just recollect, for I state it, believing it as fully
as I do that the sun will rise to-morrow morning,
in more than one-half of these cases, the dama-
ges you render to the plaintiffs, do not benefit
those plain tiffs one dollar, but are the hard-earned
wages of a captain or officer, gone to feed the
hungry maws of two greedy cormorants ajaw-
yer and a landlord. And even these are but a
small part of their unrighteous gains. A far
greater proportion consists of sums their victims
are generally willing to pay them outright, to
avoid the vexations and expense of lawsuits.
I make no apology to the "gentle reader" for
NATHAN SMITH. 43
this digression. If it does not interest him, he is
not the reader whose attention I wish to obtain,
and he may turn over to the advertising columns
and read about Oak Hall or Sands' Sarsaparilla,
for aught I care. I don't write for money. I
write partly for my own amusement, partly for
yours, partly to fill up the spare room in my
friend Hawser Martingale's paper, and partly
with the hope of pleasing and benefiting that
class of men to which I am proud to belong.
Nor will it be a waste of ink and paper, if I can
point out to them their enemies, and induce
them to place confidence in their friends. There
are many who imagine themselves to be the
sailor's friends, who really do him harm, by giv-
ing him a deal of their sympathy for the tyran-
nical treatment they imagine him to experience
at sea. Their sympathy runs ahead of their
knowledge.
I was speaking of discipline. Many, from the
natural benevolence of their own hearts, think it
is too hard ; that too much power is given to the
master, and that, at any rate, flogging should be
dispensed with by law. Do that, and it is at
once the subversion of all order. God forbid
that it should be often resorted to, but it must re-
main in the statute books, that the fear of it may
deter from evil. Will not irons do as well in all
cases ? No, men do not always feel the disgrace
of this punishment; besides, it cannot be always
resorted to, because often the loss of one man
44 NATHAN SMITH.
taken off from active duty is seriously felt in a
small crew. Moreover, the experiment has been
tried in the English merchant service, and the
result is known to every nautical man. There
is no such thing as good order and discipline on
board of their ships, while those of our nation
are generally remarked all the world over, for the
comparative quietness that exists among the men-
True it is, that the laws favouring good order
may be abused, and made an excuse for tyran-
ny, yet we can but think that such cases occur
much less frequently than many imagine. If
officers would be careful to "order their own
conversation aright," they would seldom be called
upon to enforce severe penalty, and often no
punishment at all.
"Now, Mr. Davenport," continued Captain
Coffin, "call all hands aft and divide the
watches."
" Ay, ay, sir," said the mate; " lay aft here,
every body."
They were accordingly mustered, and after
the division had been made, they looked up to
the captain, expecting the customary speech.
"I'm not used to preaching long sermons,"
said he, in a low, but distinct voice. " All is
Do your duty and you'll fare well ; but if you
don't/' he added in a voice of thunder, and
struck his brawny fist upon the companion way,
" Remember ', / am ABEL COFFIN."
Our friend Nathan went forward with the rest.
NATHAN SMITH. 45
Various were the opinions expressed in the fore-
castle, as to the character of the "Old Man,''
and various were the plans proposed for getting
round him. Nathan had a plan of his own, and
it was, to "Go ahead!" It was this that anima-
ted him, and though sea-sickness for a time held
on, the desponding thoughts which he had be-
gun to indulge, vanished like morning mists be-
fore the sunshine the sunshine of Hope. He
resolved to cast no lingering look behind, but to
leave all care and regrets astern, as readily as the
good ship, aided by the freshening breeze, sunk
the dim land in the distance.
In a surprisingly short time his greenness wore
off. We will not follow him step by step, for it is
enough to say, that before the outward passage
was completed, he had not only gone through
the elementary branches of making spun-yarn
and seanet, but could reef, hand and steer, and
cross or send down a royal-yard as quickly, and
in as seaman-like manner, as any man in the
forecastle. He received indeed his share of ini-
tiation, for his shipmates would play a few
pranks upon him ; but then they were always
ready to show him how to do his work. He
never forgot " Go ahead !"
But occasionally when Nathan I 1 , ad the look-
out at night, he would pace the topgallant fore-
castle, and turn his thoughts towards home.
Poor fellow ! it had few attractions for him. His
parents had died before his recollection, and
3*
46 NATHAN SMITH.
there were none whom he could regard as hav-
ing supplied their care. Still in every heart
there is a sacred spot consecrated by nature, and
set apart for filial love ; and when the memory
of parents cannot dwell there, the memory of
such as are most dear, must occupy its place.
These were to him, the hills, the brooks, the
trees, for these were the companions of his
childhood. Little as such things would dwell
in the minds of those blessed with father and
mother, brothers and sisters, they were some-
thing more than inanimate objects in the eyes
of the orphan. He had delighted to wander
among them in the days of his boyhood. To
them he had given names, and with them he
would sit for hours engaged in childish prattle.
All this came to his recollection, and so he
thought of them as of absent friends. But the
smile thus brought upon his countenance would
be dispelled when he thought of Jane. He
was not one of your sentimental lovers. Yet he
had been in love, and though he had tried to
persuade himself to the contrary, he was still
in love. But little thinking how ardently his
affection was returned, from the time he left her
father's door, pained beyond endurance by her
conduct, he had fancied her the future bride of
his rival, and had, therefore, tacitly resigned all
his claims. And now ho endeavoured to forget
her, and by devoting all his energies to his oc-* 1
cupation, to drive every reminiscence of her from
NATHAN SMITH. 47
his mind. At length he fancied that he had ac-
complished this, and he began to consider his
heart as his own. Ah, Nathan ! You did not
know it, but there was a line well fast to it, that
led all the way to Vermont, and sometimes it
would taughten and fetch such a strain !
Perhaps it was well that he was so ignorant
of himself; for if we may believe concurrent tes-
timony, love is not favourable to diligence in the
various pursuits of life. Nay, young ladies, don't
frown so. I don't mean all love. I mean the
sentimental, sighing, sickening, dying love, that
takes possession of the brain to the exclusion of
reason and common sense; but then again I
don't mean to advocate its exact extreme. "Will
you say yes or no ? Speak quick, because I'm
in a hurry ! "
The learned Dr. Buchan classes love among
diseases, and Campbell gives us to understand,
in hisV' Pleasures of Hope," that all mankind
are inoculated with it in youth. In some pa-
tients it takes mildly, and has a good effect on
the constitution, while in others it is attended
with painful and febrile symptoms. The learn-
ed medical author above quoted, clearly conveys
this idea, but lie neglects some important distinc-
tions. The disease is evidently acute and chro-
nic, sometimes both. The acute, it must be ac-
knowledged, is more common in males, and
1 easily cured, while the chronic prevails more
among the female sex, and some times -proves
48 NATHAN SMITH.
fatal. But when a patient is attacked with
acute and chronic together, there is the greatest
danger, and no medicine has yet been found suf-
ficiently powerful to effect a cure. Then there
is the inflammatory kind, and lastly the periodical,
and that comes on in severe twinges patient
starts convulsively, rolls up his eyes at the stars,
puts his hands in his pockets, and then whistles,
and so the fit goes off.
That was the way it troubled Nathan. Now,
then, " gentle " readers, by which I mean here of
course the ladies, I have inserted this episode for
you, instead of following the hero of the story,
through what, to you, might seem the monotony
of a long voyage. Love and poetry for the
ladies ! You've had a dose of the former, and
now we'll consider that Nathan is on his return.
Let us imagine him keeping his look-out on a
splendid night, off Bermuda, singing singing*
what 1 Come, I'll find the words if you will
find the tune :
Thus lightly o'er the moon-lit sea,
O'er ripples whispering with glee,
Homeward bound, as blithe and gay,
We cheerily pursue our way.
No clouds above th' horizon lower
To mar the beauty of the hour,
Nature around, beneath, above,
Breathes but the atmosphere of love.
What though the stormy winds may sweep,
And rouse the fury of the deep ?
And forked lightnings too may play
Where Cynthia shed? her placid ray ?
NATHAN SMITH. 49
When Nature frowns we'll humbly bow,
But we'll enjoy her smiling now.
Oh! could we life but thus enjoy,
Nor let our coming ills annoy,
By searching through the future drear
T' anticipate its woes full near,
Then life were like the ocean's breast,
Though ruffled oft, yet oft at rest !
One day, after an absence of a year, and
Nathan was aloft, being sent to loose the main
royal, " Take a look round, Smith," said the
captain; "see if there is any thing that looks
like land."
"Ay, ay," sir; 1 ' and in an instant he cried,
"Land, ho!"
"Where away?"
" Right ahead, sir."
"Keep her off W. N. W.," said Capt. Coffin
to the man at the wheel, for it was the high
land of Cape Cod.
As the after yards were squared in, the good
ship seemed to participate in the joyful alacrity
of her crew. Out went the stun' sail booms,
and in a few moments she was "shingled down
on fore and main," and spanking away with a
quartering easterly wind at the rate of ten knots
an hour, for Boston light.
Landsmen, you do not know, you cannot ima-
gine, the thrill of pleasure which the sailor feels,
when, after a long absence, he catches the first
glimpse of Boston light! It is the subject of
conversation and of anticipated joy, during the
50 NATHAN SMITH.
whole voyage. Often, when a rising or a setting
star appears on the verge of the horizon, comes
the exclamation, "Oh, if that was Boston light!"
It may be said of it, as the poet said of home,
" Through cloud and sunshine, calm and storm,
Across life's devious way,
A light to brighten and to warm
Each dark and cheerless day ! "
Onward flew the "Gentoo," and in a little
less than three hours, this long-desired sight,
Boston light, was greeted by a general shout of
joy as it hove up at the distance of fifteen miles.
The wind had by this time increased to a gale.
the light sails having been taken in and furled
soon after they were set. Capt. Coffin well
knew that they would serve but for a short time
so suddenly do these snow storms come on in
the bay but he hoped, by straining every nerve,
to gain the anchorage before it should come
on in its thickness and fury. All he asked no \v
was an hour or two of clear weather and then
let it snow for a month. But the light was just
discerned, as already mentioned, and he had
scarcely time to get its exact bearing, when the
full blast of the gale came" upon them, from the
eastward, accompanied with rattling hail and
blinding snow.
"Tell old Bill to take the helm," said the
captain; "and now, Bill, keep her steady for
your life !"
"Ay, ay, sir," said the old tar; and taking
NATHAN SMITH. 5i
a fresh mouthful of the weed, he handled the
spokes as composedly as if he was running down
the trades.
She was now under double reefs, and sail was
soon reduced to two topsails, close reefed. On
she flew, with her headway but little diminish-
ed. The Captain took his station on the jib-
boom end. No noise but that of the whistling
gale was heard, fore and aft. All knew what
a fearful risk they were running, and all eyes
were fixed on the steady old helmsman, in whose
hands were their lives. There he stood, unmind-
ful of the storm, which beat upon him ; although
conscious of the responsibility which was his, he
had thrown down his hat, and taken off his jack-
et. Often, when scudding a ship in a gale,
another man will be sent by an officer, or comes
voluntarily, to render assistance at the "lee
wheel." One such came now. It was Nathan
but he had scarcely touched the wheel, when
old Bill, without turning his eyes from the com-
pass, shoved him with one arm to leeward, say-
ing, " Well meant, my lad ; but this is no time
for boy's play out of my way."
"Look in the binnacle, one of you, and ,see
what time it is," cried the captain, from his
place of look-out.
The word was passed aft, arid our hero, hav-
ing just had his services refused by Bill, cast his
eye upon the time-piece, and ran forward to
communicate the information, "It lacks five
52 NATHAN SMITH.
minutes of ten, sir," he shouted from the night-
heads.
" Come out here, Nathan," answered the
captain ; " what time did you say it was ?"
" He repeated his answer, and was about to
return inboard, when he was told to remain.
" What, my lad, can't you keep a look-out as
well as the 'old man?' "
" I should have been glad to, long ago, sir,
only I was afraid of interfering."
" Very well," replied the captain; " don't be
afraid of that any longer, but stay here with
me, and keep your eyes open. We are not up
with the light yet, by eight miles but a good
look-out is never amiss. Mr. Davenport ! "
"Sir!"
"Put the close reef in the mizen topsail, and
reef both the courses. Then roll up the sails,
and let them hang by the bunt gaskets, with one
man aloft to each, ready to drop at the word.
Then station all the rest at tacks, sheets and
braces, on both sides,"
The mate sought no explanation of this order,
but answered with a cheerful "Ay, ay, sir;"
and the work was soon accomplished the men
at stations, and silence again reigned, fore and aft.
The captain kept his place, unmoved, and
Nathan tried to pierce the gloom of night, but
could see scarcely the ship's length, except at
rare intervals, when there would be a short
respite to the thickness of the air.
NATHAN SMITH. 53
" Do you see any thing, Nathan?" asked
Captain Coffin, observing that the lad was look-
ing earnestly on the starboard bow, where his
eyes were also intently fixed.
" Yes, sir, I think I do there !" answered
he, pointing with his finger in the direction
where a dark object was now rapidly becoming
visible "Yes, sir, it's a sail !*"
" Yes,'" replied the captain, " and a pilot boat,
or I'm much mistaken On deck there ! Mr.
Davenport !"
"Sir!"
" If that boat hails, make no reply ! "
"Ay, ay, sir," answered the officer, still not
questioning his superior's order. He knew not
the reason why he had been called upon to ex-
ecute the former ones, and he now wondered in
his own mind at the singularity of the last. Not
take a pilot, when, if ever, a pilot seemed need-
ed ? Strange, indeed ! but he knew how to
keep his thoughts to himself, for he was well
practised in his duty. In another moment a
hail came on the blast, all of which that could
be heard was "pilot!" but, unmindful of it,
the ship flew on, and in an instant the little boat
was shrouded in darkness astern.
The reason of the order in regard to the sails
will soon explain itself; but the pilot was thus
refused command, because the captain knew that
the boat must have been lying to, and drifting pro-
bably so long, that his knowledge of the bearing
54 NATHAN SMITH.
light was not equal to his own, for he had run
directly for it since first seen, and its present
bearing would be made more uncertain by the
loss of time and the evolution of rounding to,
in order to receive the pilot on board. Still it
was a fearful responsibility to take, for should
the ship be lost, every one would blame him for
having refused a pilot.
He pressed his hand upon his forehead for a
moment, with an intensity of feeling that no
reader who has not been placed in circumstances
somewhat similar, can imagine " You've good
eyes, my lad," he said, '-'to have seen that boat
before I did keep them wide open in at least
half an hour we'll see the light, or if the tide has
played us a trick, feel the Graves, or be on Nan-
tasket beach !"
"Oh, no, sir," answered Nathan, emboldened
by his superior's slight familiarity, " we shall get
in safe, I'm confident !"
" Confident !" replied the Captain, " the young
are always confident but why afe you so now ?"
" I trust in God, sir!"
The Captain grasped his hand, and said,
11 'Tis a good motto, boy better than the one I
gave you, when we left home, and which you
have nobly adhered to. Yes, trust in God ! who-
ever can do that on such a stormy night as this,
may safely trust him for deliverance in every
storm of life ay, and in the darkness of the
night of death!" '-*
NATHAN SMITH. 55
Now came the time of hazard. If not affected
by the tide, the light when seen again should ap-
pear directly ahead. Often, when the snow falls
thick as at this time, it is not visible till the re-
volving flash is thrown upon a vessel's deck.
The captain still maintained his place, but Na-
than had crawled out to the end of the flying jib-
boom, and was gazing earnestly around on both
bows.
" Light, ho !" shouted Nathan; " I see it, sir,
broad on the weather bow !"
" Down helm !" cried the captain, jumping in
on deck. " Let fall, aloft there! Brace up
sharp, and sheet home ! Down tacks and aft
sheets !"
Had the "Gentoo" been manned as scantily as
many vessels are, these orders could not have
been promptly executed, and she would have been
a wreck upon Nantasket beach, and the lives of
the crew would have been sacrificed to the cu-
pidity of her owners but she was well manned
and well disciplined. Every man knew his place,
and the orders were in execution as soon as ut-
tered. But on the instant she began to come to
the wind, a fearful rumbling sound was heard
under the main chains, which had the effect of
momentarily paralyzing all exertion.
"Oh, she's ashore!" exclaimed one whose
fright fairly overcame him.
" Take that for your information !" roared the
stentorian voice of Abel Coffin and as his fist,
56 NATHAN SMITH.
with the power of a sledge hammer, sent him
rolling into the lee scuppers, he added, " Obey
your orders, every man of you !"
At that moment she felt the full force of her
courses sails which no common circumstances
would have justified, being given to a ship in
such a gale and as this additional press of can-
vass laid her almost on her beam ends, her draft
of water was lessened and she crawled off from
the shelving beach. " Keep her close at it,
Bill," said the captain in his usual tone. " How
does she head, now?"
"N. by E. 5 sir."
" There's the light about three points under
our lee, sir," said Mr. Davenport.
" Ay, then it bears N. N. W., we've come
inside of the Hardings, and now must weather
the shoal off Point Alderton. Watch the light
by the compass, and let me know when it bears
N. W. Keep her close at it, Bill !"
"Close at it, sir!"
" Stand by the after braces."
" The light bears N. W., sir," said the mate,
in a few moments.
" Square the main yard, and haul up the main-
sail ! Keep her right for the light !"
" Keep her for the light, sir," responded Bill.
In a few moments the ship had approached
so near the light, that she was exactly in mid-
channel, and her course was again altered.
" Lay the yards square ! keep her W. by S.
NATHAN SMITH. 57
half S., haul up the foresail, and stand by to
clew up the topsails. Is your anchor all clear,
Mr. Davenport ?"
"All clear, sir!"
The ship once more flew on as it were through
a sea of milk, for the breakers on every side were
combing and hissing around her but in a few
moments these gave place to smooth water,
while the intervening land hushed the loud roar
of the blast, and the noble ship, so late the sport
of the elements, rode quietly at her anchor the
conqueror of her foes !
A day or two after the arrival of the "Gentoo,"
the crew were assembled, according to custom,
in the counting-room of Mr. S , to be paid
off. Their accounts were all made out, and on
the paper of each one, was placed the exact
amount of money due him. Outside the door
Stood their kind friends, the landlords for they
were not allowed to enter there, nor to receive'the
wages from orders signed by sailors, and signed
often too in a drunken fit. But they were all
ready the moment each man came out, to handle
his cash and take care of it for him I And they
do take care of it, so that it is but little the
sailor ever sees of it again.
Let me ask, not of sailors, (for full well do they
know, and yet they seem unable to awake from
their infatuation,) but of people on shore, have
you any idea of the system of robbery that is
carried on by these land-sharks? Often, gene-
58 NATHAN SMITH.
rally, seamen who have been absent twelve or
eighteen months, and those who have been paid
off from a three years' cruise in a man-o'-war to
the amount of three or four hundred dollars, go
to sea again in a fortnight so much in debt to
these landlords who have " kept their money "
for them, that they are obliged to pay them their
two months' advance ! Were examples wanting,
I could pile them up to the main-top. One is
enough just now.
Tfrree years ago a ship arrived from India, hav-
ing been absent eighteen months. Some three
weeks afterwards I was about to sail on a for-
eign trading voyage of uncertain duration, of
from ten months to two years. The captain of
the ship lately arrived, recommended his cook to
me, and I accordingly shipped him. We were
to sail on the morning of Saturday, and on Friday
evening, the cook, intoxicated, was brought
down by his landlord and another negro, with
his bed and chest in a handcart. I ordered the
cook and his "dunnage" to be passed on board,
and put below.
"Stop minute, sir," said the landlord, "jus
you put your name on dis paper first." Thus
it read :
" Captain and owners ship Please pay to the order
of s all the wages that may be due me on the arrival of
the , at port of discharge in the United States. Value re-
ceived, his
Signed, Henry ><! Jenkins.
mark.
NATHAN SMITH. 59
There ! The scoundrel had received all his
wages for eighteen months in the last ship, $14
per month, and would have, if I accepted that
order, a claim for all he might earn for two
years at the same rate. "Value received!" and
what was that, for all this money earned, and to
be earned by his hard toil 1 Three weeks' lodg-
ing in this landlord's house, during which he
was so continually drunk, that he told me after-
wards, he could scarce remember having been
in Boston, much less putting his mark to that
iniquitous paper. I will add, that the landlord
was so conscious of his ill deserts, that when I
tore the paper and threw it in his face, with a
threat of immediate prosecution, he passed up
Central wharf somewhat more rapidly than usu-
al, leaving his assistant to follow at leisure with
the handcart. The cook's chest contained two
shirts and a pair of duck trowsers !
As each man of the " Gentoo's " crew was
paid, his name was checked on the articles, and
he signed a receipt for the amount.
"Nathan Smith," called the clerk. No reply.
"Where's Smith ?" asked the captain.
" I believe he is on board the ship, sir," said
one of the men ; "I saw him there as we came
down the wharf."
"Go and call him."
In a few moments our hero made his appear-
ance in the counting room net the green lad
that a year before knew no difference between
60 NATHAN SMITH.
a ship and a schooner but so much improved
that Mr. S did not recognise him till the
captain pointed him out.
" Ah, young man," said he, " I'm glad very
glad to hear so good an account of you from
Captain Coffin. Why didn't you come up with
the rest to get your pay?"
" I didn't ship for any wages, sir, on the arti-
cles ; and though you were kind enough to say
I should have wages if I earned them, I didn't
like to claim any, for you and the captain have
been kind enough to me already."
" Nonsense, my lad, nonsense; there's your
money," replied Mr. S., pointing to a roll of bank
bills. " You have the highest ordinary's wages,
eleven dollars a month; there's your account for
twelve months and a half, $137 50; less, hospi-
tal money, $2 50 ; balance, $135 sign your
name."
Nathan was utterly astonished. " Are you in
earnest, sir?" he said, looking first at Mr. S.,
and then at the captain.
"To be sure I am," said Mr. S., smiling a*
the question.
" Well, sir, can I go in the ship again ?"
" You shall go in her till you get the command
of her, or of one as good, if you continue to im-
prove and conduct well !"
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Nathan could
scarce contain his feelings. He took up $35 of
his money in order to supply himself with clothes,
and begged Mr. S. to retain the remainder.
NATHAN SMITH. 61
"Open an account with Nathan Smith, Mr.
Thompson," said he to his book-keeper, "and
pass $ 100 to his credit. Now who comes next ?' '
Nathan opened the door and passed down the
stairs, declining the politeness of many kind
friends who were willing to keep his money for
him, nor did he stop until, in the forecastle of the
" Gen too," he could give loose to the gratitude of
the heart.
We have,, for the present, done with our hero.
He is on the high road to promotion, for the word
of Mr. S. is his bond.
And now, reader, if you please, we '11 take a
trip into the country. It's very pleasant to do so
after a long voyage ; to ramble in the fields, and
scent the flowers and new-mown grass. Sailors
take a pleasure in such enjoyments, that those
to whom they are every-day familiarities, do not
appreciate. But we cannot stop thus to luxuriate
just now. Besides, it is too late in the season.
We must transfer ourselves to Vermont, and re-
collect that it is the middle of October, 1838.
Old 'Squire Beaton was sitting in his arm chair
good Mrs. Beaton at her usual employment of
knitting and do you expect me to say that ano-
ther chair is occupied by the blooming Jane? Then
you are disappointed. She is too ill to remain so
long below, and has retired. The other chair is
occupied by the doctor, who is just now speaking.
4
62 NATHAN SMITH.
" I should be sorry to alarm you, sir, but Miss
Beaton seems no better, and every year she seems
to grow more ill. She appears to have decided
symptoms of melancholy, a disease which, when
once it takes hold of the mind, is sure to affect
the whole system."
Poor Mrs. Beaton began to cry, but the old
'Squire replied calmly, "God's will be done!
I fear you are correct, doctor. If any thing
could be done for her. I'd sacrifice my own life
cheerfully."
" Well, sir," replied the physician, " something
may yet be done."
" What is it?" said the 'Squire, with a tone of
doubt, while the mother caught at the idea of
there yet being hope, with the fond enthusiasm
of maternal love.
"Oh, what is it, dear sir ; do mention it !" said
she.
" A change of scene a sea voyage," replied
the doctor, " is often successful in such cases,
and it might benefit her."
The old man sat a moment lost in thought,
when he suddenly rose from his chair, and seek-
ing his daughter's bed-room, communicated to
her the advice of the physician. "Would you
like to try it, Jane?" he said. "I will accom-
pany you myself."
A light of something like hope dawned on the
countenance of the invalid, as she cheerfully as-
sented, and seemed rejoiced at the proposal. The
new
NATHAN SMITH. | 63
old man knew her heart he knW that hope is
every thing, and he knew that the hope of find-
ing what she had lost, however vain it might be,
would take the place of despair, now rapidly un-
dermining her constitution, and would bring back
the glow of health upon her cheeks.
His neighbours were astonished at the thought
of an old man like him being about to " 'tempt
the briny deep." All allowed that it might be
a good thing for Miss Jane, " who, somehow or
other," as they expressed it, "had been going
down to heel for some time," although they
thought she had better marry Mr. Saunders,
who had been so very " attentive," and then
"family cares would occupy her mind, and she'd
be better." Everybody had their advice to
give.
Uncle Jonas was very much opposed to the
whole plan, remarking: "I calculate the sea
aint safe ; there's that are nephew o' mine, Na-
than, was never heard on ; to be sure he was a
kind o' fool, and it was nat'ral that he'd be
drowned ; but I don't think the ocean was ever
made to go to sea on. It's only for whales and
such like fishes as are too big to swim in a mill
pond. I look upon it, 'Squire, as an awful
tempting of Providence."
Poor Mrs. Beaton yielded a reluctant assent,
willing, however, to be deprived, for a time, of
husband and child, if, by such a sacrifice, there
could be a hope of her daughter's recovery. So,
64 M NATHAN SMITH.
notwithstanding the " unpopularity" of the mea-
sure, and the awful warnings of Uncle Jonas, a
few days afterwards the stage coach was seen
standing at the door of 'Squire Beaton, and after
an extra quantity of luggage was piled upon it,
the old man and his daughter, receiving a part-
ing salute of moans and portentous shaking of
heads from the gathered neighbourhood, stepped
in, and were rolled off in the direction of Boston.
Having arrived in the city, and located him-
self in one of the best hotels, it was the old
'Squire's first business to call for a newspaper,
and peruse the advertising columns. " Look,
Jane, dear ! " cried he, delighted, " here are
never so many vessels advertised for Charleston,
Savannah, New Orleans, Havana all of them
such splendid accommodations only think !
Elegantly fitted up for passengers superior fast
sailing vessels too regular packets. ' A. 1'
wonder what that, stands for ! " The old man
might well have wondered what all the other
lies stand for. Many of these "A. 1, superior,
fast sailing, copper and copper fastened packet
ships, with splendid accommodations," being no
more or no less than old tubs, with pine cabins,
delightfully scented with bilge water, and open
berths two on a side, and 'fast sailing,' a mis-
take for ' strong sailing.' There is a great deal
of humbug in the world, reader ; don't you
think so ?
NATHAN SMITH. 65
" Now, Jane," said the 'Squire, " where shall
we go?"
" Any where you please, my dear father."
"No, you shall choose between Charleston,
Havana, and New Orleans."
After mature deliberation, and a consultation,
in which the landlord and landlady were inclu-
ded, Havana was decided to be most promising
for the recovery of the invalid. The landlord
introduced the 'Squire, to a gentleman who
boarded at his house, and who was engaged in
commerce, and who kindly undertook to look
out for a suitable vessel, and to engage the pas-
sages.
In the mean time, our friends passed the time
very agreeably in viewing the city, and visiting
all the lions. They might have seen, had they
travelled, many places more populous and more
splendid, but neither they, rior you, nor I, ever
yet saw one more deservedly famous for its good
order, refinement, education, benevolence, and
religion, than this same good city of Boston.
And there are few of the cities, in the four quar-
ters of the globe, that some of us have not vis-
ited. Long may she retain her reputation, long
will she, if the hearts of her citizens are stamped
with the motto of her civic crest : " Sicut path-
bus sit Dens nobis." The cockney prides him-
self upon having been born within the sound of
the "Bow bells." We pride ourselves upon
having been bom within the sound of the bells
66 NATHAN SMITH.
that rung the first peal to the cause of freedom
in the New World. Firm has she thus far stood
to her sacred principles, amid all the jacobinism
and ultra democracy, that in other places have
threatened the fair fabric of our constitution
and in after ages, pilgrims will flock to her
shrine, and hail her distant spires as those of the
Holy City of Liberty ! Reader, if you are not
a Yankee, some excuse for this may be thought
necessary ; but, if you are, none, I am sure, is
needed.
The many varieties and novelties presented to
her view, had, already, a good effect upon the
health of Jane Beaton ; but only temporarily,
for her complaint was Love, chronic Love.
Therefore, her father was glad to change the
scene, and to embark, in a week, with her on
board the E. W. Capen, for Havana, which ship
was now ready for sea, and waiting but for her
passengers, of whom our friends constituted all.
In nothing is there greater improvement, or
perhaps change, than is continually going on in
ship-building. The great object of all this, is to
combine fast sailing with good carrying, the lat-
ter being the great desideratum, to which the
other is, if possible, made subservient. There
is, too, more finish and smoothness than former-
ly ; and after all, this, with great carrying, is
the principal improvement. For, at the risk of
being called an ignoramus, we must be allowed
to express an opinion, that there is no improve-
NATHAN SMITH. 67
ment upon the fast sailing, and real beauty of
former times. The latter is set totally at defi-
ance.
Instead of the former beautiful symmetry of
spars and hull, so gratifying to the seaman's
eye, barks (ugly, half formed things !) are the
order of the day the sticks of a three hundred
ton ship are stuck into one of five hundred, and
the deck?!, instead of exhibiting the clear and
flush appearance of former days, so convenient
for working ship, are now cluttered up with so
many houses and blocks of buildings, that one
can scarcely find his way fore and aft, without
a directory !
And this may be improvement perhaps it is.
It is quite amusing to see the newspaper de-
scriptions of every new ship that comes down
from Medford. The news collector is shown
all over the decks by the polite owner or master,
and the next morning out comes a flaming de-
scription of the dimensions and then he begins
aft at the round house, describes the cabin house
or passenger house, or whatever 'tis called then
the house for the mates, over the booby hatch
then the sailor house where the long boat ought
to be then the cook's and steward's sleeping
apartment, connected with the galley forward of
it then the pig house and cow house, and one
or two more buildings, till he gets among the
paint lockers under the topgallant forecastle
then he threads his way aft again to the pas-
68 NATHAN SMITH.
senger house, tastes the steward's champaign
and walks up the wharf, inditing an article in
which the vessel is styled the "ne plus ultra
of naval architecture," which high character
she will maintain until the next one is offered
for the critic's inspection.
These sort of vessels are regular eye-sores
besides, they must be losers in the long run,
being crank, requiring more ballast, and less
able to carry full cargoes ; in addition, being at
all times unhandy and inconvenient.
The E. W. Capen, in which the 'Squire em-
barked, was a vessel of this description; how-
ever, it was all the same to him. He and his
daughter were accommodated with the best
state rooms in the house; that is, in commodi-
ous closets, six feet by four, and being blessed
with contented dispositions, they resolved to be,
and they were, very comfortable. The E. W.
Capen was loaded principally with lumber,
shocked boxes, &c., so that she was apparently
in very good trim. Every thing seemed favour-
able for a speedy passage, and the old man en-
tertained the fond hope that by being soon waft-
ed into more genial climes, the health of his
beloved child might speedily be reinstated.
But the ship was scarcely clear of the harbour,
when that detestable fiend, sea-sickness, came to
annoy them. Often this is beneficial, rather
than otherwise, but to those already very ill,
its attack is frequently attended with injury.
NATHAN SMITH. 69
and in some instances has proved fatal. Thus
with Jane ; so long oppressed with ill health and
saddened spirits, it proved more than could be.
endured, and entirely overcome by it, she sank
into her berth with the weakness of a child, de-
spairing ever to rise from it again.
Her poor father forgot his own feelings in
tender compassion for hers. Despair now was
taking possession of him likewise, and complete
misery seemed to be their portion. Day after
day continued the strong southwest gales, during
which time, the ship being very crank, could
carry scarcely any sail, but still continued h^.*'
unceasing and uneasy motion. At length, hav-
ing crossed the gulf, the weather became mpre
steady, and the ship more easy. The old man
felt better, and would now crawl out upon deck
occasionally; still it afforded him no relief, for
thoughts of his darling daughter's sad condition,
were worse to him than all the pangs of mortal
disease. The captain tried to cheer them, but
in vain. The weather became milder, for there
was now scarcely any wind, and so day after
day passed on.
At length a breeze sprang up from the west-
ward. Anxious to improve it, the captain, un-
mindful of the crankness of his vessel, crowded
all sail ; and although she careened fearfully to
the breeze, he carried on long without danger,
and he began to imagine that she had inclined
to her bearings, and that the masts would go
O NATHAN SMITH.
out of her before she would go over any farther.
But it was a fatal mistake a mistake too often
committed.
The sky was dark for it was night, and thick
clouds hid the light of the stars. Prudence
would have dictated care at that season, but
anxiety to reach his port overcame every other
consideration, and still though the wind was in-
creasing, the E. W. Capen dragged along under
her topgallant sails, when suddenly a heavy
squall unexpectedly struck her, and in an in-
stant she was upon her beam ends !
"Ha-ard up your helm!" shouted the cap-
tain " Let go topgallant halyards ! let go every
thing! clew up!" orders that would have en-
sured safety a moment before, but orders that
were now, and forever, too late !
The halyards and sheets which led to leeward
could not now be reached but every rope that
could be reached was, in the consternation of the
moment, cut or let go but the yards of course
would not now come down. It was in vain to
jam the helm hard-a-weather its action was
now of no use in the present position of the ves-
sel. Worse than all, discipline was gone every
man ran shouting " we are lost ! " and all cried
for mercy from Heaven, while no one would ex-
ert themselves. Some were lost in the sea
and after the captain's startling orders were
heard, no mortal ever heard his voice again.
NATHAN SMITH. 71
" Where is the axe ?" was now the cry but
no axe was to be found.
" Cut ! cut with your knives !" shouted some
one and at length the first means were used
that reason dictated in their helpless condition
the lanyards of the topmast backstays were sev-
ered ; but procrastination, what hast thou not to
answer for ! The topmasts indeed went over
the side but too late for the water had been
pouring down the hatches all this time, and the
cargo had shifted. It was of no use still the
water poured in !
Now reason, reflection, order, everything was
gone. A moment's thought would have con-
vinced the infatuated crew that the vessel could
not immediately sink, and that their best chance
of safety was to remain by her. But none
thought of this.
" The boat ! the boat !" was now the cry, and
the only boat they had was got into the water.
Thinking only of self-preservation, all the re-
maining crew leaped into her, and were about
to shove oif, when one exclaimed, "The old man
and his daughter!"
Although deprived almost of reason by cow-
ardly fear, they were not wholly lost to the voice
of humanity " Stop for them !" cried several;
" pass them into the boat; bear a hand !"
One or two rushed into the house. The as-
tonished and terrified passengers were clinging
to the weather berths "Come! come!" cried
72 NATHAN SMITH.
the men. " there is no time to waste into the
boat!"
But they were regarded with a look of vacant
astonishment. One of the sailors put his hand
upon the old man's arm, saying as he endeavour-
ed to pull him away, " Come, sir, do bear a
hand !"
Then the 'Squire found his voice " Oh ! do
not tear me away from my daughter !"
" She shall go to !" said another, trying gently
to disengage her from the berth.
"No, no," cried the unhappy girl "leave
me but take my father !"
The cries of those in the boat were now long
and loud, threatening to leave them all, if they
did not hasten. The sailors endeavoured once
more to drag the wretched passengers from the
cabin, but they resisted their efforts with preter-
natural strength, till at last fearing that their
shipmates would put their threats in execution,
they unwillingly left them to their fate and,
miserable fools ! they shoved off without com-
pass, bread or water, in a little skiff, soon to be-
come the prey of famine or the storm !
A week after the events transpired which \ve
have just related, a homeward bound Indiaman
was slashing along under a press of canvass to
the north -westward. Every thing about her be-
spoke the presence of discipline and of seaman-
ship; the neat cut, set, and trim of her sails well
NATHAN SMITH. 73
tarred and rattlined rigging taut ropes clean-
liness and order throughout, showed that she
was handled by soni3 one who well understood
his profession.
"A fine breeze, Mr. Thompson!" said the
young captain to the supercargo, as eight bells
at noon were struck "and here Ave are in lat.
31, and well to the westward too ; seventy-eight
days from the Sand Heads ! Rather fortunate
for my first command, now, is it not 1 Well, Mr.
Thompson, I hope your first supercargoship
will yield more returns than book-keeping ; and
as for our good owner, God bless him ! Mr.
Churchill, the wind is getting a little free ; take
a pull of your weather braces, sir, and give her
the fore topmast stun' sail;" and the captain
paced the quarter deck in a very contented
mood.
In a few minutes the man who had gone aloft
to reeve the stun' sail halyards, sung out
"Sa-ilho!"
" Whereaway ?"
" Hereaway, sir," answered the man; "dead
to windward. She looks like a wreck, sir !"
" Give me the glass, steward ! " and in an in-
stant the Captain was in the maintopmast cross-
trees, eagerly followed by Mr. Thompson ; and
before the latter had sufficiently recovered his
breath from the exertion of climbing, the cap-
tain had taken a survey of the wreck, and sat
silently in a seeming fit of abstraction.
74 NATHAN SMITH.
Mr. Thompson took the glass, and after a good
look at her, said, " Yes, she's dismasted; what
are you thinking about, captain?"
"Why, my dear fellow, just this there's a
craft dismasted and water-logged, but I don't see
any signals of distress ; and I have not the least
idea that there is any body on board. If she was
a little under our lee, now, I would not mind
running down to have a clearer look at her ; I
don't like to lose this fair wind by beating about
to windward for no purpose but there may be
it's hardly possible still there may be somebo-
dy alive on board. I cannot pass on without a
nearer look. Never mind that stun' sail, Mr.
Churchill ; brace her up sharp. Keep her full
and by!"
The " Vermont" (for such was the name of
the Calcutta trader, and a fine new ship she was)
seemed to spring to her master's orders, as stand-
ing stiffly up under her topgallant sails and
throwing the spray over her bows, she dashed
along like a race-horse, and soon had the wreck
upon her weather quarter.
"Ready about ! Stations for stays !" was now
the order.
" Hard-a-lee;" and in a moment the beautiful
fabric swooped up to the wind.
" Tacks and sheets!" and as the weather
leeches of the sails caught aback, " Mainsail
haul !"
The after yards swung themselves round
NATHAN SMITH. 75
the slack of the braces was gathered in main-
tack down and sheet aft, and as the after sails
were beginning to fill, a strong and powerful
drag brought round the head yards. In a mo-
ment more every thing was trimmed on the star-
board tack, the beautiful curve of her wake now
under the lee, showing that during the evolution,
she had been walking to windward, and now
she sped on, on a course that would weather the
object of her search. Oh, give me a lively ship
and a lively crew !
Now rapidly she neared the wreck she could
be distinguished from deck soon the hull could
be seen, but there was no sign of life on board of
her. Sluggishly she rose and fell in the trough
of the sea, wallowing like one of its huge mon-
sters, dead. Now they approached nearer, so
that the swash of her broken spars could be heard
as the sea rolled between them and the deserted
hull. Other than this, the silence of death
reigned throughout.
A wreck is a sad object for the eye of a sailor
to rest upon. It is to him a glorious thing that
once had life but now, shorn of all her pride
and beauty, has become the prize of death ! " Ah
well, Thompson," said the Captain, "the crew
have all perished or been taken off let us hope
the latter and we have lost our time ; but there,
I won't have lost it all for nothing. Since we
are here, I'll go aboard and see if I can find out
76 NATHAN SMITH.
what she was. Back the mainyard and lower
away the starboard quarter boat !"
In a few moments he was alongside, and with
one or two of the crew had stepped upon the deck,
now washed by every sea, for she was com-
pletely water-logged, and had partly righted. He
viewed for a moment the havoc that was made,
and satisfied himself, from the appearances, that
the masts had been cut away by the crew ere
they had left her ; and while -some of the men
were exploring the other houses forward, he walk-
ed aft and pushed aside the half-opened door of
the passenger house. And oh, what a sight met
his gaze ! He stood spell-bound by the scene.
The door of one of the state rooms was open,
and his presence was unperceived and unheeded
by its occupants. They were an apparently
dying girl and a feeble old man, scarcely able to
support himself, but whose arms sustained his
child. "Yes, dearest," he said, "I fear that
we must die ! Oh, that I had one drop of water
to moisten those parched lips !"
"No, dear father, no; you will not die you
must not die. Oh, what will become of mother?
but for me, I know I cannot live long. When
you see her again, kiss her for me dear father
will you, father? And if you ever see Nathan
again, tell him I never forgot him no, never !"
''Nor has he forgotten you !" exclaimed Na-
than, whose astonishment and emotion had not
NATHAN SMITH. 77
*' ..
till now permitted him to move from where he
first discovered the distressing sight. "Do you
not know me, Jane?" he said, rushing forward
'and raising her from her father's arms 7
A smile of recognition gleamed upon her pale
features, and her head -fell upon his bosom.
He grasped tljg hand of the old man. " Tell
me," he asked, u oh tell me, how came you
here? but I forget;" and he ran upon deck.
"Back to the ship, men," he cried, "for God's
sake, quick, and bring some water here !"
They jumped into the boat and sprang to their
oars as if pulling for their own lives. As he
stood over the almost insensible sufferers, the
minutes they were absent, seemed hours. At
length they returned; a small draught of water
was administered to each, and they revived.
Hope already once more beamed in the eyes
of the daughter, while the father, scarce com-
prehending how he was rescued from death,
began to explain the cause of their present sit-
uation.
"Say nothing now, dear sir," said Nathan,
" say nothing. When we are on board of my
ship, we'll have plenty of time. Now we must
remove you there."
The transfer was soon made, and in a half
hour they were domesticated in Captain Smith's
cabin, where it is quite unnecessary to say, that
every attention that humanity or love could de-
vise, was rendered to them. The boat was
78 NATHAN SMITH.
hoisted up the ship wore round the weather
braces again checked in, foretopmost stun' sail
set, and every rope yarn had a strain as the
"Vermont" spanked away at her fullest speed,
northwest by north.
As has been once before said, "how pleasant
it is to go into the country after a long voyage !"
Come, reader, let us go there once more. It was
Thanksgiving day in Vermont, the Thanksgiv-
ing of 1844 ; and the scene was in our favourite
spot, old Squire Beaton's parlor.
The roast turkey had gone the way of all flesh,
the plumb-pudding was demolished, minced and
pumpkin pies had disappeared, nuts and raisins
too were gone. In short, the ceremony and feel-
ing of a Thanksgiving day's dinner were over,
but the cheerful hilarity remained ; and though
the rosy wine might have been wanting, the
happy faces that gathered that evening around
the old 'Squire's fireside, were beaming with
gratitude to the Giver of all their mercies, and
with calm contentment with their happy lot.
Uncle Jonas and his wife, even they, felt the soft-
ening influence of domestic happiness, where
they were invited guests. The old 'Squire occu-
pied his arm chair, yet a hale old man. Mrs.
Beaton sat in her rocking chair in the opposite
corner, hatching the gambols of her two grand-
children, upon the carpet. If the reader recol-
NATHAN SMITH. 79
lects, there was once a pause in that room be-
fore : so there was now, till it was interrupted by
a little boy running to his father with a childish
complaint, " Papa, Jane's been laughing at me !"
" Never mind, my son," replied Captain Smith,
"you're not the first Nathan that Jane or other
people have laughed at !"
The Squire smiled. Old Mrs. Beaton told
little Jane she musn'tbe naughty. Uncle Jonas
and his wife looked in each other's faces, and
Mrs. Smith stirred the fire.
I give you joy, my friends ; here ends the story
of Nathan Smith. Two of the characters of
this story, at least, are not fictitious. Captain
Coffin died a few years ago at St. Helena, on
his passage from Sumatra. A few months since,
I stood by the grave that once held the remains
of Napoleon there never was an inscription
upon it there was none needed ; every one who
saw it, knew what it should be, " The Con-
queror." I stood also over the grave of Abel
Coffin. There is no inscription there, but those
who knew him, know what it should be,
" An honest man's the noblest work of God."
Which of the two epitaphs would we all
prefer ?"
Mr. S. still lives ; long may he live ! one of
Boston's first merchants, one of her most bene-
volent citizens and last, but not least, THE
SAILOR'S FRIEND.
80 NATHAN SMITH.
NOTE. This tale, as already hinted, is founded upon fact ;
and those manoeuvres, which have been reviewed by a certain
writer, in a style that indicated that some personal offence
had been given him by the author, (of which he is, however,
unconscious,) were such as have actually occurred.
For the alleged grammatical error in the use of the word
that, in the title, if wrong, I am happy to be so in such com-
pany as that of Shakspeare and of Addison.
I have used the name of Mr. S., in connection with the
" Gentoo." Captain Coffin sailed many years for Mr. Sturgis,
but when he commanded the " Gentoo," he was in the employ
of Mr. Bacon. So, if you please, you may read it as it is, or
for Mr. S , read Mr. B : what praise belongs to one, be-
longs also to the other.
CAPTAIN DODGE
WITHIN the walls of the old Spanish city of
Manila you may imagine the year of our
Lord to be 1600, or thereabouts many of its
present churches and private buildings were
erected in that century ; and the manners and
customs of the inhabitants have undergone as
little change as the dwellings of their ancestors.
But however dismal and gloomy appear the
narrow streets and alleys uentra muros"
when once emerged into the beautiful suburbs,
the scene changes : there seems to be another
race of beings dwelling there. The Spaniards
are alive, so far as they are capable of being
so, for breathing is somewhat of an exertion
to them. But outside of the walls you see
more of the natives happy, joyous creatures
that they are no cares have they beyond the
present hour. Nature spontaneously produces
enough to supply their wants. They have,
apparently, nothing to do but live, love, and be
happy. Then, O, the women ! O dear well,
82 CAPTAIN DODGE.
that's none of your business, nor of mine, at
present.
The Canada, or promenade ground, about
the city, is magnificent ; and if you wish to see
the stately Dons and lovely Senoritas, go out
there of an evening, and you will see all the
fashion of Manila: and then how impressive
is the silence when tolls the vesper bell ! The
carriages, that were racing at full tilt, the gal-
loping horses, the running and laughing popu-
lace every body, every thing, is still on the
instant all heads are uncovered, all eyes cast
downward, and the spirit of devotion rests upon
the motionless throng ! Call it superstition, or
papacy, or what not to my mind, it is the
most interesting spectacle in the world.
Don Bernardo Antlemann (requiescat in pace !
Every body that's been to Manila remembers
Don Bernardo) kept the hotel where lodged most
of the strangers from Europe and America.
His house was, at the time of which we speak,
full of Yankees. As many of them will but
too well remember, they were all perfectly mad,
in 1837, for sugar and hemp, and there were to
be seen lying in the roads, a larger number of
American vessels than were ever assembled
there before. Pull about the harbour, and you
would see Boston, or New York, or Salem, on
almost every stern ; and among others, the " Ja-
red Spriggins," of Portland, lay waiting cargo,
whose master and supercargo were generally to
CAPTAIN DODGE. 83
be found on board, though business compelled
him against his will, sometimes, to take his
lodgings with Don Bernardo. Captain Dodge
looked upon this drain from his pocket as a
hardship, calling loudly for his Christian resig-
nation, and accordingly economized in other
ways to counterbalance it. A real seemed to
him somewhat larger than does a dollar to
common eyesight, for the chief and indeed only
object of his life had been to get what he could,
and keep what he had got. His dress testified
strongly to his economy; and this, with other
peculiarities, made Captain Enoch Dodge the
butt of and laughing-stock of all hands. ^
La Senora Valdaria was one of the most
beautiful and fascinating of her sex. Such
small, delicate features : long and luxuriant
raven tresses ; dark and expressive eyes, that
seemed to float in a sea of delight ; coral lips,
whence flowed a voice whose soft and warbling
notes might hush the nightingale; and, above
all, a form moulded with nature's choicest care.
Such was the lady who, in the absence of her
spouse in the country, was to be seen at even-
ing on the Canada, alone in her carriage, which
was continually escorted and its fair occu-
pant saluted by all the young cabelleros who
had the happiness to claim her acquaintance.
Such was the lady who sent the arrow of love
from the quiver of her charms, and lodged it in
84 CAPTAIN DODGE.
the heart of Captain Enoch Dodge, of the bark
Jared Spriggins, of Portland.
Enoch disdained the much-admired cheroot,
and was smoking his long nine and whittling
a stick, when the Senora's carriage passed.
Whether it was some gay cabaliero who hap-
pened to be in the same range with Enoch, or
whether it was some passing thought in her
mind, I know not; but she sweetly smiled, and
her eyes at the same instant met his gaze.
The consequence was like the contact of fire
with a roll of brimstone. Dodge was all in
a blaze done gone melted ! yes, in love !
" The young miss noticed me," thought he ;
" I don't wonder she's sick of them whiskered
chaps frisking round her." The thought pro-
duced such an unearthly whistle, that the Se-
nora looked round to see if a wheel had come
off, and the horses started off at full trot. " O,
crackee ! she's looking arter me!" exclaimed
our gallant friend, giving chase at the idea. It
was no easy matter to overtake the carriage.
Enoch ran his hat fell off he couldn't stop
for that, but still he ran as if for dear life his
long nine in his mouth, and knife and-tick in
either hand. Every body supposed he was run-
ning on a wager against time, and encouraged
him with shouts of "Bravo, bravo! que corri-
dor !" but all in vain ; though his legs were long,
his breath became short, and he was unable to
CAPTAIN DODGE. 85
keep his chase in sight after it entered the gate,
and passed into the streets of the city.
" I say, Sefior," said the panting and exhaust-
ed skipper, to a gentleman he encountered, " Q,ue
que carriage es este que just passado into
yonder gate ?" Fortunately the gentleman un-
derstood English, and gave his interrogator the
information that his compound lingo never would
otherwise have elicited.
" The Setter Valdaria's, sir."
" Well, wherebout's the house ?"
" In the Calle San Ignacio, if it will be any
pleasure for you to know."
" Well, it is a mighty sight ; much obleged."
Animated by the information he had received,
Capt. Dodge wore ship and stood for his hat,
which he happily found in the gutter by the road
side. Wiping off the mud, and clapping it on
his head, he re-lighted his long nine from a
friendly passing fire, and shaped his course for
the hotel, enlivening his march by whistling Yan-
kee Doodle, puffing his cigar, throwing stones
at the dogs, and holding sweet converse with
his own mind. " She is a picter, no mistake !
Lord, how she looked at me, and then looked
back again as sweet as 'lasses. But the cruel
critter ! why did she drive off so like all possess-
ed. Lem me see oh yes, cause '^wouldn't do
for us to be seen talking together so public like ;
well, any how, I know where her father's house
is ; oh, if I can only git into this pew, what '11
.5
86 CAPTAIN DODGE.
Sarah Stebbins and Nancy Mudge say ! when
they see in the Advertiser somethin' like this :
'In the city of Manila, on the 25th of Novem-
ber, by Rev. Mr. Somebody, Capt. Enoch Dodge,
of the bark Jared Spriggins, of this city, to Miss,
say Angeliner Valleydeer, daughter of the Senor
Don Valleydeer, F.R.S., A.S.S., &c. &c.' Oh,
Je-hos-a-phat ! And then agin : ' Arrived in Bos-
ton, bark "Jared Spriggins," of this port, Dodge,
Manila, 120 days, Java Head 100, passenger,
Mrs. Dodge, captain's lady, and six servants.
By the great lumber raft ! whew !' " and our
friend executed a pirouette at once original and
peculiar.
Turning into the main road at that instant,
I beheld his well-known figure, and witnessed
his remarkable evolution with astonishment.
He stood one hail without reply. The next,
at the top of my lungs : " Beautiful evening,
Captain Dodge; homeward bound, eh?" caught
his ear.
" Beautiful ! I guess she is ; yes, going down
in the next boat with my family."
"Why, Dodge, you fool ! are you crazy? I
say it's a fine evening, and are you going to the
hotel?"
li Yes yes sartain yes very fine such
eyes !"
" Eyes and boats, and what not ! old boy, are
you mad?"
CAPTAIN DODGE. 87
" Mad ! no I aint, but I'm kind o' "
" In love, very like." " Exactly."
" One would think that your sweetheart was
too far off just now to turn your brain in this
style."
"Is a mile such an everlastin' way ?"
" Oh ho ! a Spanish conquest ! I congratulate
you, my dear friend. What's her name, Maria
Seraphina Violetta ?"
tl I dun know what her chrissen name is, but
her father's name is Yalleydeer."
It just struck our worthy friend that he had
overstepped his usual prudence, and he resolved
to keep his own counsel in this case, as he would
have done about a cheap lot of sugar he want-
ed the market to himself for all sorts of produce.
So he walked home with me, declining to answer
any more questions, and even refusing to tell me
how his hat became soiled, leaving the natural
conclusion to be drawn that he had been in a bad
box, and perhaps received a bad boxing.
Valleydeer, Valleydeer ! a queer name too,
thought I, certainly not Spanish ; it must be
some English lady who has wounded the heart
of Enoch, and she must be rich too, or the ar-
row never would have penetrated so hard a
substance.
" My dear sir," said my consignee, when I
called at his office next morning, " I am going
to have a little dinner party to-day : will you
make one of us? " An invitation to his hospi-
88 CAPTAIN DODGE.
table and well-spread board was never to be
declined, and three o'clock found me seated
there with a Spanish company. The conver-
sation was carried on principally in that lan-
guage, and I found but one of them besides our
host who had English at command.
The dinner, however, was so excellent, that
for some time little of either language was re-
quisite to entertain every one exercising his
jaws so briskly with the savoury viands, that
words were superfluous. As our appetites flag-
ged, conversation increased. I was, by the po-
liteness of our host, placed next his friend, who
spoke my own language. The Senor Yaldaria
(the name brought to mind Dodge's lady-love)
had little of the demureness and pomposity of
his countrymen. He was gay, affable, and ex-
ceedingly agreeable and communicative, and
fond of joke, and all that sort of thing. Being
nearly of an age, too, we had formed quite a
compact of friendship before the cloth was re-
moved.
" I'll tell you, my friend," said he, after din-
ner, when strolling in the garden, " I'll tell you
a very good joke. One of your countrymen
has fallen in love with my wife. Pobre Anto-
nia ! she was much frightened, though ! "
" That's Dodge ! now we have it all out !"
cried I, delighted. The result of this discovery
was the concoction and execution of a most
CAPTAIN DODGE. 89
notable plan, having for its object to humbug
Enoch Dodge outright.
But what had that gentleman been doing in
the interim, and how did Valdaria make the
discovery of his love ?
Our worthy friend had not been idle on the
previous night. He had no sooner gone home,
than he rigged himself out in his best duck
trowsers and olive-coloured coat, or surtout. got
his boots brushed, borrowed a hat, and thus be-
ing all a-tanto, got under weigh, and stood di-
rectly for the Calle San Ignacio. He soon made
the street, and at length found the house of Se-
ller Valdaria, by spying his lady, the object of
his search, sitting alone by the window, sipping
her chocolate.
"Miss Valleydeer, here I be!" exclaimed our
hero, rushing to the grating. "Q,ue quiere,
Senor ?" said the lady surveying with wonder
her uncouth admirer. " Yo visto," replied he,
" Canada muy hermosa. Oh, darnation obre
the ventana and let me in." The Senora
started back, and at the same instant there was
heard a step upon the stairs.
It was that of her husband, who but a few
moments before had returned from the country.
The noise frightened Enoch from his game, and
he thought to himself, " That's the old 'un. She's
afeard of him, and daisn't talk to me any long-
er." So Captain Dodge dodged round the cor-
ner, where he remained until he supposed the
90 CAPTAIN DODGE.
old dad would have gone off again, and left the
coast clear. He then emerged from his hiding
place and promenaded before the window for
half the night in vain. The lady was not to be
seen. Her suspicious old father must have
locked her up. So he contented himself with ad-
miring the superb house, and fancying it his own
in anticipation. "Faint heart never won fair
lady," thought he. " I'll try again to-morrow
night," and he retraced his steps homeward, la-
menting the luck that obliged him to spend another
night ashore, and be at an expense for nothing.
The next evening, of course, was that of our
dinner party. Dodge was punctually upon the
Cal^ada. The Senora was at home, as was al-
so her husband, who had returned from dinner
to his own house. Our economical friend had
hired a horse, that he might take the field in bet-
ter style, and he moreover flattered himself that
he might ride alongside of his charmer. But
she was not there. He again railed at the ty-
ranny of her old father, who must have kept her
at home. He thought of the sacrifices he had
made to no purpose the danger he had incurred
for her sake, in trusting his legs across a horse's
back, and, not least of all, the dollar paid to the
stable-keeper. " But see her this ev.ening I will,"
said he, and see her he did.
Rigged again, in the same dress as on the pre-
ceding evening, he now cautiously stole up to the
window, where he found the Senora occupied
CAPTAIN DODGE. 91
precisely as before, and alone. He had looked
out some appropriate words in the dictionary,
during the day, and now brought them into ac-
tion. He accosted her as "Mi queridita mi co-
raronida amor de mi almad !" and fired off all
his love phrases at the first volley. His salute
was returned by a round of exqusite smiles, and
the window opened, sesame, for his admission.
Once fairly alongside his prize, the victor was
about throwing his grappling irons around her
neck, when the door opened, and Sefior Valdaria
walked in. Dodge resembled his old bark when
taken aback in a tide way. He couldn't veer
nor stay ; the poor fellow began to apologize
"Sefior yo hace mistake casa darnation
usted excusame !"
"No apology is necessary, my good sir," repli-
ed the young man, in very good English, " any
friend of my sister's is welcome to our house.
Sit down, sir. Ho, muchacho ! chocolate y taba-
cos. Take a cup of chocolate, sir and you
smoke, I presume? You'irfind these cheroots
very good." Overjoyed at his unexpected good
fortune in finding a friend in a supposed enemy,
Enoch seated himself with alacrity, crossed his
legs, spread his handkerchief on his lap, took his
chocolate, lit his cheroot, and made himself, as
he expressed it, "to hum."
"You see," commenced our hero, "you see,
Mr. Valleydeer, for I 'spose that's your name,
being as you are this young lady's brother, I just
92 CAPTAIN DODGE.
dropped in to see your sister, as she and me got
kind o' 'quainted last night, on the Canada.
I must say I feel considerable flattered by your
politeness, seein' that the article is no ways
common, so fur as my experience goes, in this
out o' the way part of the world. Miss Valley-
deer I calculate don't understand English ?"
" I regret very much," said his polite host, " that
in consequence, she should be deprived of the
pleasure of your conversation ; but you must talk
with your eyes, and if that will not answer, I
must be your interpreter."
" Thank you, I'm much obleeged. To tell the
truth, I'm despart in love with her, and if she's
no objection, should like to pay 'tentionreg'lar."
After some conversation with his lady, during
which the blood crimsoned her fair cheeks, Yal-
daria informed his guest that she was far from
disliking his personal appearance, and farther,
that she hoped for the happiness of his more in-
timate acquaintance.
" That's clever,' Mr. Valleydeer," chuckled
Enoch, " nothin' like impressions made fust goin'
off. Now when you go a courtin' yourself, just
you remember that."
''Certainly, my dear sir, I'll endeavour to do
so," replied Valdaria, "but in the mean time let
me tell you, you must be very cautious about
this business. Our parents are in the country,
but may at any time return to the city, and
father is very proud, as well as wealthy. (Here
CAPTAIN DODGE. 93
Enoch pricked up his ears.) However much 1
am inclined to favour your suit, (Enoch smiled,)
he would not be satisfied with any thing but
pure Spanish blood, and"
"Spanish blood!" echoed Dodge, "why a
man's a man! May be you don' know any
thing about Americans ; they are the greatest
nation on arth, and I expect in all creation,
'specially down east ! I guess you don't know
any Americans here, do ye?"
" 1 have been acquainted with several of the*m,
in the way of business, but I don't think I know
any who are here just now, excepting one by
the name of Ringbolt."
"Oh, you know that feller, do ye? wild young
rascal he is; always a hazin every body a' most
to death ! (If Captain Dodge was every body,
he might have been very nearly right.) Did you
ever hear him say any thing about me?" con-
tinued our suspicious lover.
" Not having the pleasure of knowing your
name as yet, I cannot really say," answered
Yaldaria.
"Oh thunder!" exclaimed Enoch, jumping
up, " forgot we haint been introduced yet, none
of us. I'll introduce myself, better late than
never, ha! ha! Mr. Valleydeer, Capt. Enoch
Dodge Captain Dodge, Mr, Valleydeer. Now
just you introduce me to the young woman, and
we'll be all right."
94 CAPTAIN DODGE.
" El Capitan Dodge," said Valdaria, smiling,
"Mihermana - Mihermana, ElCapitan Dodge."
The Senora smiled, for she saw her husband
do so, and Enoch grinned from ear lo ear, scrap-
ed the floor, and sat down again.
"Now all right," resumed our hero, "go
ahead. Speaking about this here Ringbolt,
wa'nt we ?"
"Yes," said the Senor, "he has spoken of
you ; said you commanded a bark belonging
to
"Portland," said Enoch.
"Yes, Portland, I don't recollect the name-
called after some public character, I believe
rather an odd name."
"Public character, odd name !" echoed Dodge.
" Why, she's called after one of our owners, to be
sure ; it's gittin' to be all the fashion now. Every
body calls their vessels after themselves, special-
ly if they haint got no children; there's the
"Jeremiah Stubbs," of Bangor; the " Abime-
lech Spooner," of Brunswick; the "Amos Pat-
ten," of Bath; and the "Solomon Piper." I
knowed two brothers in Kennebunk that were
in the 'lasses trade, who got pretty well to do in
the world and built a brig for a Sacarapper.
Speakin' about buildin' vessels ; down east is the
greatest place in the universe. We build 'em in
no time ana out of pretty much nothin', and
paint 'em and fetch 'em up to Boston, where
they fit insured as low as their bang-up Medford
CAPTAIN DODGE. 95
ships. Don't we stick the lick into them un-
derwriters, and then we git just as good frets as
t'others; damage the cargo some considerable,
perhaps; never mind, that's stress of weather,
you know ; git 'em condemned in seven or eight
years, and take the money and build new ones.
But I'm gittin' a little out o' the track, though ;
still, a man in love will run wild ; he ! he !" and
Enoch leered at the Sefiora, who stared in amaze-
ment at his conversation. "Poor critter," said
he, "she tries to understand, don't she? Well,
never mind, dear, you'll larn English by and bye.
Well, about names ; them two brothers I was
speakin' about, Zephaniah and Jedediah Per-
kins, they wanted the brig to be all in the family ;
so, as she was a small hooker, they couldn't get
the hull on't on to the starn in six-inch letters,
accordin' to law, 'and it had to read "Zeph and
Jed Perkins, K. Bunk." You see that was a
good deal prettier than the old-fashion names of
Mary, Sophia, Carolina, Eagle, American, and
such like." Enoch went on to give his friend
the history of Portland in particular, and the
State of Maine in general expatiating largely
on the boundary question and the lumber and
molasses trade, where he was quite at home.
But it grew late, and the Sefiora began at length
to yawn, in spite of the awakening touches of
her spouse. At last he finished his 'story, and
there was an awful pause. Dodge would have
given anything for a stick to whittle ; but after
96 CAPTAIN DODGE.
squirming about for awhile in his chair, he made
a prodigious effort hauled out his pocket chro-
nometer, and said he guessed he must be goin'.
The Sefiora said something which her husband
translated into an affectionate invitation to come
again. The happy lover assured her of his in-
tention to do so squeezed her delicate hand
with his flipper, and bidding Sefior Valdaria good
night, bolted into the street, so overcome with
joy, that on awaking next morning, he could not
recollect which way he came home, or on which
side he got into bed.
Now, it is not to be supposed that the Sefiora
enjoyed this visit overmuch; but knowing that
her husband had some object in view, she wil-
lingly acceded to his desires, like a dutiful wife,
and followed all his directions. " Patience, my
dear Antonia," said he, " for one or two even-
ings more, and I'll learn this conceited fool a
lesson he'll not soon forget and it is such rare
fun to hear him talk ! I wish you could under-
stand more of what he says." "Oh, I under-
stand quite enough," replied Antonia, "but what
can you mean to do with him, after all?"
Why, my dear love, just this " and Valdaria
whispered to his wife, as if he feared he might
be overheard.
Next morning Capt Dodge made his appear-
ance at breakfast in such a smiling mood that it
was generally supposed he had been making a
great bargain. His good humour was lasting
CAPTAIN DODGE. 97
he must have been making money, for he spent
all his time on shore, day and night. Where he
was in the evening, no one knew but you and I.
In tho mean time the Jared Spriggins was
nearly loaded, and her commander began to close
up his accounts, and especially to take measures
to wind up his matrimonial project. He hinted
as much on the fourth evening of his courtship.
"My dear friend," said the faithful ally and
affectionate brother, "Antonia feels as anxious
to bring matters to a close as yourself. But
what is to be done ? I know my father would
not sanction the connection what can be
done?"
" Well, your father appears to be an obstinate
old hunks, any way," replied Enoch "I don't
see no other way then, but for her to cut and
run."
"Cut and run?"
"Yes, 'lope."
" You mean a secret marriage, and then for
her to leave with you ?' '
" Exactly, and though I'm tolable well to do
in the world, why if she has any money about
her she might as well take it. you know."
"My good friend," said Valdaria, "I don't
know if I am doing right to encourage my sis-
ter to elope with you, and thus break the heart
of her parents and beside, perhaps never again
to see her myself," and he put his handkerchief to
his eyes " but she has set her heart upon you,
98 CAPTAIN DODGE.
and I see no other way. In regard to money,
she has abundance in her own right, and it can
be easily converted into jewels."
This communication, and particularly the lat-
ter part of it, produced a thrill of pleasure which
caused every nerve in the animal econorny of
Enoch Dodge to vibrate with joy.
"You are a trump, Mr. Valleydeer," exclaim-
ed he, springing to his feet and gripping Valda-
ria's hand. "You are a trump, that's a fact!
As to the money, that's no object. Still, I'd like
to see her dress respectable, you know, when she
goes a visitin' to hum. Our folks are very par-
tikiler. Well, about the weddin' then; it ain't
best to make much fuss, is it? best be quick
about it."
"Oh, no! by no means," replied the Senor.
"I'll arrange all that ; as you say, the sooner the
better; though it's a hard trial to me; what say
you to to-morrow night?"
"Any time's agreeable to me. that suits the
lovely Antonee," said our hero, leering at the
beautiful Senora, who returned his ape-look
with an enchanting smile.
"Well, then," continued Valdaria, "you must
have your boat ready to-morrow night, and I'll
bring Antonia at eleven o'clock to the church of
San Francisco. The priest shall be in attend-
ance, and though it is best to be as secret as pos-
sible, you had better bring a few friends to see
you safely oif. Yes, I'll have it all arranged.
CAPTAIN DODGE. 99
But it is hard thus to part with a dear sister,"
and he kissed Antonia, and folded her to his
bosom.
"Oh mi queridita Amor de mi vida," yelp-
ed Enoch, and he was about to follow suit, when
Valdaria cautioned him to moderate his trans-
ports, and take the kisses after the nuptial knot
was tied.
u And I'll be whipped if I don't, you may de-
pend," said the happy bridegroom in anticipa-
tion. "Well, I must say for you, Mr. Valley-
deer, you're one of the most comidating chaps I
ever fell in with. One good turn deserves ano-
ther and if ever you come our way, you'll be
welcome to stop at our house or if there's any
thing in my line for your convenience, I'll do it
free of expense that is. no more than actooal
cost." And Capt. Dodge soon took his leave,
congratulating himself on the happy and expe-
ditious manner in which he had conducted
" this little job."
All the next day he grinned as if he had a
blister on the back of each ear he absolutely
looked horribly happy. Still he kept his secret
profoundly till evening, when, having called a
few of us into his room, he divulged it, and re-
quested our attendance at the ceremony. Long
and loud were the cheers he received.
"Hush, boys hush!" said Enoch "don't
for goodness gracious make such a racket."
Eleven o'clock came, and found us all, espe-
100 CAPTAIN DODGE.
cially the happy man, in high spirits, and thus
we adjourned to the church.
A venerable structure is the church of San
Francisco. Where are now the hands that rear-
ed its gloomy and moss-covered walls ? Where
are the generations whom the deep tones of its
bell have called successively to worship in its
sacred cloisters? Their dust has been long since
mingled with the dust of the earth. Their his-
tory and very names are forgotten, while this
remnant of antiquity stands proudly solemn, and
will stand when the names of succeeding gene-
rations have alike passed into oblivion with
those of their ancestors. In spite of our disposi-
tion to be merry, such thoughts as these ob-
truded themselves as we entered the side portal,
and our steps echoed among the vaulted arches.
It seemed really too solemn a place for the mar-
riage of Enoch Dodge. The shutters were
closed, and a dim light burned near the altar,
where the officiating priest had already placed
himself, awaiting the arrival of the bridal party.
He took no notice of us, and we seated our-
selves in a recess. A death-like stillness per-
vaded the place, and even Capt. Dodge's shrill
voice subsided into a whisper, when he observed
that it was " considerable of a large meetin'-
hus." We were not however kept long in sus-
pense. The door again opened, and the Senor
Yaldaria made his appearance, with the lady lean-
ing on his arm. She was dressed in white, and
CAPTAIN DODGE. 101
a long veil concealed her lovely features, on
which we should have delighted to have gazed ;
but custom forbade. The priest beckoned to us,
and we all entered the great aisle of the church.
He then motioned to the bride and bridegroom,
who approached the altar. The service was
performed the ring presented the benediction
on Enoch and Antonia fully pronounced, and
Capt. Dodge, of the barque " Jared Spriggins," of
Portland, was a married man ! Had there re-
mained any doubt upon that subject, the first
kiss of love which Valdaria now allowed him to
print on the veil which covered the blushing
face of the bride, and which kiss made the con-
cave roof of the old church ring again, was con-
clusive.
We escorted them to the boat, which was in
waiting. Upon reaching the landing, it ap-
peared that some trunks and two small kegs had
preceded us ; and the second officer, who was in
charge of the boat, assured his superior that the
latter were " considerable heavy." All these
were duly stowed, and Valdaria approached to
take leave of his sister. He had schooled him-
self for the trial, as he told his brother-in-law,
and behaved like a man. He merely took An-
tonia' s hand in his own for a moment, invoked
the blessing of heaven upon her happy union,
and charged Enoch not to forget his marriage
vows. The latter threw his arms around the
neck of his wife, and expressed his desire to be
102 CAPTAIN DODGE.
" tetotaciously ramsquaddled" if he ever did
forget them. This overcame the feelings of the
brother, who put his handkerchief to his face,
and leaned his head upon my shoulder, until
the boat was out of sight.
"Gentlemen," said the bridegroom, standing
up in the stern-sheets, ("sit down, Antonee,
dear, I ain't a goin' ashore agin to-night,") and
he chucked her under the chin; "gentlemen, I
shall spect your company to-morrow at half past
twelve, to dinner aboard the ' Jared Spriggins.' I
mean to have a good time on the 'casion, but I
want you should behave yourselves, and re-
member what's due to woman's society that's
all let fall give way, boys pull like the old
scratch;" and the "Jared Spriggins' s" yawl gig
pinnace dingy cutter for she was one and
all of these, as suited the occasion, shot out into
the stream, followed by such a cheer as nearly
brought the police upon us.
That evening, after they had reached the ship,
and retired to the cabin of the "Jared Spriggins,"
Captain Dodge removed the veil from the fea-
tures of his wife, and beheld not Antonia Val-
daria but Antonia de la Costa a woman, in
character and appearance, quite the reverse of
Antonia Valdaria !
Enoch gazed a moment upon her faded
charms, and then jumped from his seat, and
seizing her by the shoulders nearly shook the
remaining teeth out of her head.
CAPTAIN DODGE. 103
"Dar na tion!" yelled he, as she opened
her eyes " what hey oh I^ord !"
"Miquerido!"
" Your querido ! you miserable creature
away with you !"
Enoch " had waked up the wrong passen-
ger." She alighted upon him after the manner
of the turkey buzzard clawed his eyes, and sent
him reeling to the other side* of the cabin.
Antonia de la Costa possessed one advantage
that the Senora was deficient in. She had many
choice English phrases, and soon explained to
his wondering ears, the relation subsisting
be ween Valdaria and the Sefiora, and of her be-
ing employed by the former to personate the lat-
ter at the altar.
" You married Antonia I'm Antonia I'm
your wife !"
This logic was good, and Dodge could not de-
ny it so he turned for consolation to the trunks
and kegs.
The first contained his lady's wearing apparel,
and the latter, sand of a superior quality, suita-
ble for scrubbing the cabin floor !
This last discovery well nigh crazed our wor-
thy friend, to whom "money was no object."
He flew about the cabin in an uncontrollable rage,
execrating both the Antonias Valdaria him-
self and every body else, until he became com-
posed, from sheer exhaustion, and began to re-
flect
104 CAPTAIN DODGE.
" I'll apply to the Legislatoor for a divorce but
it won't do to carry her home amongst our folks
besides, I can't afford it. No it must be done
here. I'd kill her if I dared," thought he, as he
looked at the vixen and ground his teeth.
" Come you dress yourself git into the boat
and go ashore !"
But the lady preferred to remain onboard, and
her husband had already gained sufficient ex-
perience of her prowess, not to attempt physical
force and he resorted to threats, persuasions,
entreaties and promises, to no purpose.
Poor Enoch was obliged to leave her in com-
mand of the bark till morning, when he went
alone. He steered directly for Valdaria's house,
determined at all events to wreak vengeance upon
him. But he and his lady had left very early
for the country, and thus escaped the conse-
quences of his indignation. He ran about the
streets like a madman, until he found a magis-
trate who could give him no consolation, and
could only divorce upon the full consent of his
lawful wife. Disappointed and distracted, he re-
paired on board at about his dinner hour, where
we also arrived, according to invitation.
"Gentlemen, cried the distracted husband,
" I've been most everlastingly done. That
scoundrel, Valley deer !"
" How so?" exclaimed his guests in amaze-
ment.
"Why, go down in the cabin and see my
CAPTAIN DODGE. 105
wife ! yes, wife, and my kegs of jewels. Oh !
oh ! I'm ruined undone !
The poor fellow's distress was now really pit-
iable. There sat Mrs. Dodge in the cabin, quite
at home, waiting, as she said, for her husband
and his company to come down to dinner !
" Oh, if you can git me out of this scrape," said
Enoch, "I'll do any thing in creation for ye all
oh oh oh ! "
We all accordingly united our powers of per-
suasion 4o induce Antonia to release him from
his engagements, and go ashore. At first she
was obstinate as a mule, but when Enoch told
out two hundred hard Spanish dollars upon the
table, which seemed to be like wringing his very
soul out, she consented to the divorce, and sig-
nified her readiness to go ashore with her hus-
band, and dissolve the contract.
The news of the affair soon spread abroad ;
and as boats from other vessels passed and re-
passed under the stern of the cc Jared Spriggins,"
many were the polite inquiries after the health
of Mrs. Dodge.
Enoch was rejoiced to escape from Manila,
and on the very next day, being ready for sea,
tripped his anchor with a hearty good will, and
stood down the bay. As he passed us with a
fresh breeze, I wished him a pleasant passage,
and could not avoid asking if he had any com-
mands for Mrs. Dodge, as I was just going on
shore.
106 CAPTAIN DODGE.
" Gaul darn ye," yelled Captain Enoch
Dodge, "loose the main-to'-gan'-sail there !"
In due time the " Jared Spriggins " arrived in
Boston, and great was the haste with which
Capt. Dodge landed after his vessel was anchor-
ed in the stream, and he had left orders with
the mate not to haul in for three days, and to
give the crew no money, that they might be pre-
vented from going home. His entry at the cus-
tom house was speedily made, and he embarked
the same evening on board the Portland boat,
though without his " family." His mind was
occupied during the passage, in discussing the
relative advantages of the Misses Mudge and
Stebbins, for one or the other of these ladies he
was determined to secure, before the news of his
Manila marriage and divorce should be divulged
by the crew. But his uncertainty was soon
ended, by information he received on board the
boat, that old Hiram Stebbins had recently be-
come immensely rich by a great land specula-
tion, and instanter Miss Sally Stebbins was gifted
with new charms.
The flash East India captain, Enoch Dodge,
felt himself a bug of the first magnitude, when
he landed among the Sacarappers, and made his
way through piles of lumber and tiers of molas-
ses casks, steering in as direct a course as these
impediments would allow, for the house of 'Squire
Stebbins. Sally opened the door in person.
"Oh my dear, charming, lovely critter," ejac-
CAPTAIN DODGE. 107
ulated Enoch, " you sweeter than all the chera-
bims of the spicy pomegranate gardens of the
East. Oh, thank fortune, I have at last return-
ed to fold you in my arms ! You haint been
out of my thoughts one blessed minnit sence I've
been gone." Enoch, what a whapper !
Who could resist such a lion as the East India
captain ! The blushing Sally surrendered with-
out terms, and the 'Squire consented without
much ado ; and as he intended to fail in a few
days, hastened the ceremony of their marriage,
from the double motive of making sure of Cap-
tain Dodge, and of using the funds of his credi-
tors while yet in his power to give the happy
pair a splendid entertainment. The ceremony
passed off accordingly, in grand style, and for
one whole week Captain and Mrs. Dodge enjoy-
ed the full sunshine of matrimonial felicity, dur-
ing which time jealousy made a hearty meal
upon the vitals of Miss Nancy Mudge. But,
and I must be excused for introducing a worn-
out quotation.
" A change came o'er the spirit of (their) dream,"
and, to use the language of the same author,
(Their) " dawn of life was overcast ;"
or as Captain Dodge himself more beautifully
and poetically expressed it, " the honey-moon
got knocked in the head."
This full sunshine became moonshine by the
news of Enoch's Manila adventures reaching
108 CAPTAIN DODGE.
the ears of his wife on the same day that 'Squire
Stebbins's failure became known to that gentle-
man to whom " money was no object." Let us
not again approach the curtains that conceal
domestic joy and wo : but it may be mentioned
that the bridegroom had the prudence not to use
any harsh epithets, and that however long and
severe the lecture he received undoubtedly was,
it was not accompanied by any of the other fem-
inine accomplishments displayed on a former oc-
casion.
The Xantippe was rather personated than the
Wild Cat; and though during that tempestuous
night, Enoch entertained thoughts of buying off
again, they were soon chased away by the reflec-
tion that such was too expensive an expedient to
be often resorted to. Happy it was for him, that
such considerations prevailed. He was not a
Socrates for life. Though the clouds did indeed
look black, and there was every indication of a
long continued gale, it all ended in a mere
squall. The morning light chased every tear
from the eyes of Sally, and its brightening rays
reflected on her reconciled face, and Enoch
really found that " money was no object" to a
man that was blessed with such a wife.
Four years since, being on aVisit at Portland,
I fell in with Captain Dodge, who informed me
that he had been ever since in the Sacarappa
trade, and very cordially invited me to a "pret-
ty considerable tea party" at his house, hinting
CAPTAIN DODGE. 109
v
that it would gratify him if our conversaton
was confined to matters and things on tUte side
of the Cape of Good Hope, and that any allusion^
would be unpleasant that touched upon "that
everlastin' disagreeable place, Manila."
There I spent a very pleasant evening, and
Mrs. Dodge presided much better on such an oc-
casion than the veritable Senora Valdaria would
have done.
When on my next voyage to Manila, I re-
counted Enoch's domestic felicity to the Senora ;
and she sent Mrs. Dodge a splendid pifia dress,
which excites the admiration and jealousy of all
down east ; and as it must be a satisfaction to
any one to reflect that he has been the means of
improving the condition of frail humanity,
Enoch was of course gratified to learn that the
first Mrs. Dodge, with a credit based upon his
two hundred dollars and as much more liberally
\bestowed by the Senor Valdaria, had become
proprietress of a hotel, which bids fair to rival that
of the lamented Don Bernardo Antlemann ; and,
kind reader, should you ever visit Manila, you
will find the best of entertainment at the "Casa
dp Huespedes," por la Senora Dodge.
6
THE PRETTY MISSIONARY
HOWEVER much the usefulness of Missionaries
in foreign lands may be questioned by those
who have no other means of forming opinions
than from the overstrained reports of the religious
press on the one hand, and from those of irreli-
gious travellers on the other, it will be allowed
by such as have been among them, and are dis-
posed to be candid, that if they have not already
accomplished any thing decisive, they have at
least laid the foundation of great good, and future
generations will gather the fruits of the seed
they have sown, which, though long buried in
the earth, will spring up and produce an abun-
dant harvest.
And now, having hazarded what I believe to
be a candid opinion, I have no doubt that the
one party (should either condescend to notice it)
will merely shrug their shoulders and say,
1 That man is prejudiced: there have been no
overstrained reports. Look at the Sandwich
Islands, with their overflowing churches, and
THE PRETTY MISSIONARY. Ill
|
hear how eagerly the heathen every w^era re-
ceive tracts ! And read the letters that%heWn
verts themselves write home ! O, he's
diced!"
s The other side will simply observe, " That
man is half a Missionary himself. Talk about
the good that will result! Nonsense! let's
know what has resulted." So that in this case
the maxim, "In media tutissimus ibis" does not
hold good, for the unsparing lash of criticism
would come from both sides upon the shoulders
of him who thus runs the gauntlet. Such being
the punishment, which is likely to increase if we
still go on to sin, it will be prudent to leave
such matters to themselves, and proceed, without
further preface or comment, to notice the time
and occasion upon which the Cornelia sailed for
the East Indies, with a numerous company of
Missionaries on board.
It was a summer's day, and a light breeze had
sprung up from the westward, when, being
ready for sea, the topsails were mast-headed,
and the pilot announced that all who were not
going to sea must now step on shore. A little
delay was requested. The wharf was crowded
with spectators, looking upon the unusual scene
which was that day presented. At a signal, every
head was uncovered, and a venerable clergyman
arose to commend the band of adventurers to
the care of Heaven. In his eloquent petitions
he included us all ; . and seldom, if ever, did a
112 THE PRETTY MISSIONARY.
.company leave the wharf bearing with
tffe prayers and good wishes of so numer-
an assembly. The bow-fast was cast off,
and as the ship swung round, filling her sails,
and the stern- fast was let go, three hearty cheers
were given by the multitude, which we answer-
ed in our usual style. As it subsided, the united
voices of the passengers rose upon the air, in
clear and distinct tones, swelling the great Mis-
sionary Anthem with an effect that could never
be produced by the organs and choirs of cathe-
drals ; and ere they had completed it, the sound
of their voices died faintly away upon the ears
of the friends they were so rapidly distancing.
Most of the company had never before even
seen a ship ; and as we passed down among the
beautiful islands thai stud our harbor, they
gazed with wonder and delight upon the charm-
ing novelties presented to their view. But as
they gazed, their thoughts wandered to the dear
homes and friends they were leaving, perhaps
never more to see again. When the last link
was broken, as 'they put their farewell letters into
the parting pilot's hands, a feeling of desolation
came over them ; and when the shades of even-
ing drew around them, gradually shrouding
their native land from sight, till at last it for-
ever disappeared, they turned and went below,
many sorrowing with tears, and one wept as if
her gentle bosom would burst with a pang she
THE PRETTY MISSIONARY. 113
before had faintly imagined, but never had felt
till now.
She was indeed alone. Others had their wed-
ded companions with whom to derive mutual
consolation, but this enthusiastic girl had left
her parents and home, to be a companion to one
of the more aged couples, persuading herself that
she could thus do more service to her Maker
than in the domestic walk of life in which his
goodness had placed her.
." I tell you what, my boy, you may say what
you like, but I calls it unlucky," said old Jack to
me one night. "I've been going to sea now
nigh upon thirty years, but there never came any
luck where there was a woman or a parson on
board- and here there's nine women and eight
parsons, and so to my notion there's seventeen
chances to nothing against us. It's unlucky, I
tell you. I was in the old " Mary Jane," and the
Captain had his wife aboard, and the first thing
we knew, plump we went on to the Gingerbread
Ground. Well, the wreckers took us off, to be
sure, but the old ship was lost. So much luck
for a woman !"
" Was the Captain on deck when she struck 7"
said I.
" No, he was turned in."
"Oho ! well so much bad luck for the Cap-
tain's wife being on board, not so much because
of a woman."
" Well, then," continued old Jack, somewhat
114 THE PRETTY MISSIONARY.
snappishly, "I was coming down the Baltic
once, and we had a woman aboard, and she
won't the Captain's wife. Ah, that was a hard
time, late in the season, you see, no day there,
all night, and an eternal head wind. We were
standing along one night under double reefs,
when I sees breakers ! and sings out ' Breakers P
* Where a way ?' says the Captain. * All the
way under our lee, sir,' says I. ' Call all hands
there.' says the Captain ' Rouse 'em out quick,
turn a reef out of the topsails, and loose the jib
and mainsail. Now, be lively, boys !' He said
it all, just as cool as if it had been calm, in the
middle of the Atlantic. But we knew him, and
loved him too, and all hands were on deck, and
sail made sooner than if there had been a flurry
and swearing, and the like o' that. When we
got the sail on to her, she began to jump into and
through it, like a mad bull. But it was no use,
she couldn't weather the breakers on that tack,
and now we could hear 'em as well as see them,
roaring, dancing and flying,' like so many live
monsters, that were only waiting to get us in
their clutches. I see the captain stand a minute
and think, and I rather guess he thought this :
1 There's them breakers all along from the lee
bow to the quarter. Now if I ware her, she'll
like enough go ashore before she comes up to the
wind on t'other tack.' < Stations for stays !' says
he ; ' all ready, fore and aft?' 'All ready, sir !'
' Ease your helm down' ; Hard a lee !' ( Ha-a-
THE PRETTY MISSIONARY. 115
ard a lee '" answered the mate. Slat went the
jib, as she came up in the wind. The head sails
took aback ; she'll go round, thinks I, glad
enough. Ah, but she didn't, though; for just
then, she fetched a dive, and a tremendous sea
came over the bows and rolled aft, taking every
thing off the decks, and rattling the fore topmast
down over our heads. < Let go the maintopsail
haulyards,' shouted the Captain ' Haul up the
courses and let go the anchor!' It took some
minutes to get the anchor clear, and by that
time we were almost in the rollers. At last we
let it go, but the chain snapped. Away we went
dead to leeward, and cleared away t'other anchor
as soon as we could, but that fared the same as
the other, and we brought up in the breakers.
After thumping once or twice, all could see that
the brig was going to pieces, and the captain
sung out 'Save yourselves there, and God bless
you!' and as he said it, overboard he went with
something white in his arms. Some said it was
a patent swimming machine; others that it was
his clothes-bag ; most thought it was a ghost,
but I said it was that woman ! Well, when, we
got ashore, some swimming, and some because
they couldn't help it, on Bornholm, we begins to
look round, and mustered all hands to see who
was missing. We were all there but the captain
and that woman I And I proved myself right,
when we found 'em next morning, hove up on
the beach, with his left arm clinched round her
116 THE PRETTY MISSIONARY.
waist, as taut and hard as an iron strap round a
wheel block ; and I rather think I've proved my-
self right again, when I told you there was no
luck with a woman aboard. And as to par-
sons "
"But stop, slop, one thing at a time," said I.
" You are right in this instance, so far as that it
was unfortunate for the captain, who might have
saved his own life, but for the woman ; but I
can't see how she had any thing to do with the
dark nights and stormy weather that always
happen there at that season, and make the navi-
gation so dangerous, and which caused the loss
of the brig." ..-t-^;-
" Now it's no use for you to talk," said old
Jack, right angry. u wasn't I there? and hadn't
I ought to know ?"
As this is one instance among many of the use of
this argument. I may l:e allowed to say that it is a
knock-down one in the forecastle. If a discussion
fall upon the climate and soil of France, or upon
the religion and domestic manners of the Chinese,
if one of the disputants should have had the good
fortune to have been in the port of Havre, or in
Whampoa reach however strong the tide of
argument might be against him, when directed
by a less travelled ship-mate, he has only to say
" I've been there !" and the question is settled,
nem. con. So in this instance, I was obliged to
hold my peace, for sure enough. "Jack was
there!"
THE PRETTY MISSIONARY. 117
Mr. Landsman, did you ever see a gale of
wind? I'll answer for you never. Neither
upon the ocean did I ever see such an one as upon
this voyage ay, it must have blown hard,
when old Jack himself acknowledged that he had
never seen it blow harder. Of ail places upon
the ocean where to encounter a heavy gale, let
it be any where else excepting in the Gulf Stream.
The constant current of warm water from the
southern latitudes makes a continued disturb-
ance in the atmosphere, and rarely, if ever, does
a vessel cross it in any season, without feeling
its effects. The \vind, although coming in sud-
den and furious gusts, and making it sufficiently
unpleasant, is nothing in comparison with the short
and irregular sea that is caused by its opposing
efforts to the force of the current. After contend-
ing against southeasterly winds for five or six
days, and getting into the middle of the stream,
the wind suddenly shifted to the northward, and
blew with unexampled fury. Sail was reduced as
fast as possible fortunately little was upon the
ship at the time, so that our labour was less. The
sea did not rise at once, and we went off before
the gale as dryly as one might wish. The sea-
sick-passengers had generally recovered, and al-
though naturally terrified at the novelties around
them, they placed confidence in the word of the
Captain, that no danger was to be apprehended,
and soon became familiarized to the scene. For
who, however timid he may be from natural
6*
118 THE PRETTY MISSIONARY.
disposition, can look upon the ocean in a time of
its rage, and hear the mad roar of the crested
billows, without losing all thoughts but, those
awakened by the majesty of nature displayed
above and beneath him? Lakes, rivers, forests
and mountains are beautiful, and indeed sublime.
But are they animated beings like the waves of
the ocean, whose hoarse and hollow voices are
ever speaking in the sailor's ear not only show-
ing him, but telling him in tones louder and more
distinct than all homilies ever delivered, " The
Lord God Omnipotent reigneth ?"
Did you ever know an infidel sailor ? Wicked
ones; ay, and too many of them you may know.
And shame to us all for it! Give but a small
proportion of what you bestow upon mission-
ary, education, tract, prison discipline, and other
societies ; all good enough, but not so pre-emi-
nently good as to engross all your benevolence,
to relieve the moral and physical wants of those
whoso life is truly on the mountain wave, whose
home, whose only home is upon the deep, and
whose last home is often in the deep's unfathom-
ed caves ; give your money for the benefit of the
seaman, you will have his thanks added to those
of an approving conscience, and you may live
to see the day when that proverb becomes ex-
tinct, "as wicked as a sailor."
Oh, but that gale of wind ! pray excuse me
for running off, but it was a heavy squall, and
when such a one strikes me, I must run orf a
.
, THE PRETTY MISSIONARY. 119
little; but now it's all over, I'll endeavour to keep
up to the story.
At last the sea commenced rising, and became
so very irregular, that it was a difficult matter
to steer the ship. By this time their old enemy,
sea-sickness, had again taken possession of most
of the passengers, and driven them to their berths
below. But Isabella Carroll seemed to be above
all sickness or fear at such a time as this. As
the wild storm increased, and the heaving surges
rose higher and higher, her whole soul kindled
with rapture, and, as my honest chum, old Jack,
expressed it, it shone out through her eyes.
Oh, she was beautiful ! There she stood upon
the quarter deck spars, refusing to go below, and
gazing upon the mad ocean and the angry sky,
with such flashing eyes, still unconscious that
many were gazing upon herself with different feel-
ings, but with feelings of equal admiration. Her
dark hair had parted from its moorings and fell
upon her shoulders and blew out with the gale.
Her naked shoulders and half naked bosom,
white as the sea foam that fell upon it, and pure
as the heart that beat beneath it, could not but
become the centre of attraction for all eyes. Oh,
that unconscious girl was lovely ! I looked upon
her as a guardian angel for us all, for sure old
ocean must soften down at the sight of her, and
the gale which now vents its wrath upon her un-
protected form, will relent. But no ! oh no ! see,
the wheel rope has parted, and before the reliev-
120 THE PKETTY MISSIONARY.
ing tackles can be put on, the ship had broached to !
Mr. Maxwell, the chief officer, who had charge
of the decks, was possessed of presence of mind
for any such emergency. When he saw that the
ship must inevitably broach to. he threw off the
main brace and eased off the weather main top-
sail brace, as she came to the wind, which she
did, after shipping a fearful sea that swept our
decks. Though many things went overboard,
we were about congratulating each other upon
all ending so well, when a chill of horror struck
the stoutest heart, as, far away on the lee quar-
ter, when the seas rose and fell, appeared the
white dress of Isabella !
r A dozen jackets and shirts were off in as many
seconds. Neither was that staunch old fellow,
Jack, among the last, bad as the luck, appeared
to him to be from womankind.
No boat could be lowered into such a sea as
that, but. all were ready to risk their lives.
Ci Avast, there!" cried the mate; " not a man
of you goes overboard ! Loose the mizen top-
sail !"
It was done instantly ; two or three nimble
fellows running aloft and cutting the gaskets,
the close-reefed sail fell from its yard, already
braced aback, and the ship gathered stern way
as we hauled home the sheets. The cross-jack
yards were shivered, backed and filled as occa-
sion required, and the ship was dropped slowly,
but steadily in the direction of Miss Carroll.
THE PRETTY MISSIONARY. 121
By this time the captain had come on deck, but
was so unacquainted with what had happened
and was going on, that he prudently told his chief
officer to take care of the ship. He did so until
when within about fifty yards from the object of
our search, he resigned the ship into the hands
of the commander, who was now prepared for
the responsibility, and partly stripped, plunged
into the sea and swam towards the unfortunate
girl. Well that he did so in time, for her dress
having become saturated, could no longer buoy
her up, and she was already sinking when grasp-
ed by his, vigorous arm. Being an excellent
swimmer, he easily sustained himself and his
insensible burden until the ship dropped down
upon them, when bowlines and coils of rope
being thrown around them, both were safely
landed on deck, with shouts of joyous welcome,
from all hands, and with sincere and devout
thanksgiving from all the passengers.
"I told you so," said old Jack, after the affair
was over. " I told you so ! So much for having
a woman aboard."
"So much for having one overboard," said I,
" and no harm done as yet, after all, notwith-
standing your croaking."
" Well, for that matter," answered he, " if
she had'nt been aboard in the first place, how
would she have got overboard ? Tell me that !"
''Did you ever get dismasted. Jack?"
122 THE PRETTY MISSIONARY.
" Did I ever get dismasted? Why, a dozen
times. When I was in the ship "
"Never mind the yarn, now," said I, inter-
rupting him, "how came you to have any spars
in the ship? If they had'nt been there, you
would not have lost them."
" Pooh ! that's nothing to do with it. I was
in the ship myself, and I know how it was !"
Verdict for Jack, nem. con.
There is an almost inexplicable allurement
that the sea holds forth to young minds, and in-
stils a passion into them scarcely inferior, and
often more lasting, than the passion of love itself
and which, when once in possession of the
heart, it is in vain to use endeavours for its ex-
pulsion and the only medicine in such despe-
rate cases, is experience, which will certainly
either kill or cure. It would not seem strange,
were this passion to seize upon the misanthropic,
who might wish to free themselves as much as
possible from what they call the trammels of so-
ciety, those who even pretend to be still un-
satisfied with
" A lodge in some vast wilderness
Some boundless contiguity of shade,"
and would fain get at a greater distance from civ-
ilization. Why do they not seek the place
where they can live
" With the blue above and the blue below,
And silence wheresoe'er they go ?"
THE PRETTY MISSIONARY. 123
But such miserable wretches generally prefer to
remain at home, there to annoy their friends and
society with private complaints and public essays
upon the deceitfulness, lusts and crimes of man-
kind, which so perpetually come in contact with
their own truthfulness, purity and good morals,
and with heaping all manner of calumny upon
this lovely world, wherein our beneficent Crea-
tor has placed us, and where the use, and not
the abuse, of unnumbered enjoyments are allow-
ed us by his kind indulgence.
Edward Maxwell was certainly as far from
being such a character as I have described, as
light can be distant from darkness. What Mr.
Snevellicci said of the ladies, he could say with
truth of all his acquaintances, " He loved them,
aad they loved him."
He had received an education calculated for a
different (higher, if you like it) profession than
the one in which he was now engaged ; but, ac-
tuated by some such feelings as have been spo-
ken of, college walls could not confine him, and
notwithstanding the wishes of his friends, he
took the " medicine," which they affirmed killed
him, but which he maintained operated success-
fully and agreeably to his expectations. He
"came in at the hawsehole," and by zeal and
activity, had soon acquired information, practice
and promotion, so that now at the age of twenty-
three, he was first officer of the "Cornelia,"
1^4 THE PRETTY MISSIONARY.
with the promise of a command upon his re-
turn.
A handsome man, too, was Mr. Maxwell,
But as it requires a lady to describe a handsome
man, I had left the remainder of this sheet blank,
to be filled up by my sister, with an appropriate
description : but she says that handsome men
have gone out of fashion, at least are very
scarce she knows quite a number of handsome
monkeys and baboons but that won't do, so I
shall leave it to any fair one, who may honour
these pages with a perusal, to arm and equip
Mr. Maxwell according to her own fancy, with
hair and eyes black and shining as coal tar
or light and blue, as she may mix the colours in
her own imagination.
Now it was not at all surprising, that upon
the morning after the accident, when Miss Car-
roll, having recovered entirely from its effects,
tripped up the companion-way before any of the
others had left their nests, and as she gained the
deck, accepted the offered support of Mr. Max-
well ; I say it was not at all surprising that she
should thank him, and heartily thank him, too,
for having been the instrument of heaven in sav-
ing her life. Neither was it remarkable that
Mr. Maxwell should feel thankful and proud of
having done so : and as she grasped his hand in
fervent gratitude and joy, that he should retain
hers somewhat longer than was absolutely neces-
sary ; and that when her radiant eyes beamed
THE PRETTY MISSIONARY. 125
upon his face, was it strange that a glance should
be returned? Oh, reader, think of tinder-boxes
and matches. Well, the amount of it all was,
that Edward Maxwell was in love with Isabella
Carroll, and Isabella Carroll was in the same
predicament as regarded Edward Maxwell. A
clear and manifest truth, although nothing was
said by either side, or to any one else, upon the
subject.
For my own part, I am glad that the thing
was accomplished so quickly, so naturally, and
so easily for had it happened, as it often oc-
curs, that the gentleman loved the lady who
treated him with neglect, reducing him to the
necessity of learning to write poetry and play
upon the guitar, and then suspecting him, and
he suspecting her, I might have had as much
trouble to explain it to you as it cost the talented
author of " Precaution" to bring his untractable
lovers to an understanding and to tell the world
the story. Ah, but how can Isabella marry Mr.
Maxwell? Who said she did marry him ? How
could she, indeed! She had promised her life
and services to the Missionary Society, and, as
it were, had taken the veil. No, indeed, you're
right, reader. But in the mean time there certainly
could be no harm in Isabella's rising very early
upon some fine mornings to see the splendid sun
risings, and sitting up late some evenings to look
at the gentle moon, whose beauty reigned su-
126 THE PRETTY MISSIONARY.
preme among the thousand lesser claimants to
admiration.
O 5 glorious sights ! how truly has the sacred
poet said of us, " These see the works of the
Lord, and his wonders in the deep ! " Though
years have elapsed since I first "sought my
ocean home," I still gaze with unabated admi-
ration upon the sublimities and beauties of cre-
ation which it affords " ever varying, ever
new!" Rise, reader, at sea, before the break
of day, and watch the gradual opening of a
cloudless morning. It is true, there is nothing
of the crowing of cocks and chirping of birds, upon
whose assistance your rustic poets count so
much to usher in the king of day for here
unbroken stillness reigns. There are no moun-
tains, trees, or works of human hands, to ob-
struct one particle of the view no intervening
object to distract the attention or to prevent the
minutest shade of the picture from exerting its
full effect. What more delicate than the first
blush of Aurora, as she prepares to leave her
couch, and which is now succeeded by a deeper
tinge as she is ready to unveil her beauties be-
fore us. But away with such trifling ! See the
flashing sky. and the rays that shoot toward the
zenith and on every side, bright forerunners of
him who has sent them to tell the earth of his
coming. Slowly, majestically, yet silently, the
monarch now arises and spreads his glories far
and near, irradiating ocean and the blue vault
THE PRETTY MISSIONARY. 127
of heaven, but with transcendent brightness
forbidding the eye to rest on himself, but direct-
ing our gaze to his works upon nature around
us !
Herein has our Almighty Father again given
us a lesson from his never-failing book, as legi-
ble as were it penned in golden characters upon
the clear horizon : " Ye cannot look upon my
glory, too bright for the eye of finite reason :
but look upon the works of my hands, these
show forth my praise."
And who, that has a taste for the beautiful,
but will choose to pace the decks when all is
silent around him ; when he hears not a word
to interrupt the stillness of the scene, as the
queen of night has risen to rule her empire with
her peaceful sway ? How often is a boisterous
day succeeded by such quiet as this, for the
rising of the moon is regarded by seamen, with
much appearance of justice, as producing such
effects ! It is then that
The glist'ning eye the scene surveys,
The thankful heart pours forth its praise
To Nature's God, whose bounteous care
Has placed us in a world so fair.
Blest emblem of redeeming love,
That bids the clouds of sin remove,
As thou hast calm'd the ocean's breast,
So cairn our passions, all to rest !
I have thus merely endeavoured to give you
some faint idea of the sublimity of sunrise, and
128 THE PRETTY MISSIONARY.
of the beauty of moonlight nights, at sea, in order
to bring you over to my view of the correctness of
Miss Carroll's conduct, and to force you to admit
that it was justifiable and praiseworthy ; nay,
more than that, it was proper for her to seek
suitable opportunities and times for such de-
lightful objects of contemplation. Our worthy
second mate, Mr. Lanyard, notwithstanding his
self-approved breeding, and his having been so
long at sea, was still rather unpolished. His
voice and language, though sounding extremely
well and much to the purpose from the weath-
er earing, was not precisely adapted to a lady's
ear. Though possessed of a deal of musical
talent, he made use of it mostly to keep himself
awake during his watches, when he was accus-
tomed to favour us with variations from "Yan-
kee Doodle," " Jirn Crow," and "Round the
corner, Sally," to no particular key that I recol-
lect having seen in music books.
Miss Carroll, therefore, chose her times of medi-
tation when it was his watch below, and and
(well, of course it couldn't be otherwise when
there were only two officers) when it was Mr.
Maxwell's watch on deck !
Every one is not so void of suspicion as you
and I. Old mother Snags, (as we called her,)
whose ward Miss Carroll might be considered,
sent the cabin boy on deck one evening with a
message to the young lady, to whom the mate
was just then explaining in a low voice, so as
THE PRETTY MISSIONARY. 129
not to disturb any one, some problem in navi-
gation, perhaps but be that as it may, Miss
Carroll reluctantly obeyed the summons of Mrs.
Snags.
What was the purpose of the interview which
Mrs. Snags had requested, might have been
guessed at, but it would have been impossible to
have related the particulars had it not been for
the impertinent curiosity of Master Thomas Plat-
ter, or as he was generally styled by us, Tom
Thumb, in order to distinguish him from a gi-
gantic namesake, who on his part was particu-
larized by the appellation of Long Tom. Now
Tom Thumb, though his members were formed
in minute proportion to each other, had perhaps
as large a bore for his ears, as most men of larger
stature ; and if what the young rascal told us
when he came forward soon after, was verbatim,
he had a pretty large memory.
"This here's a new go!" squeaked the
little fellow ; " old Mother Snags has been riding
down Miss Carroll like a main tack, and '
"Well, begin at thebegininng, and tell us what's
it all about," said some one, with the interest al-
ways manifested in the forecastle to know what
is going on, and what has been done and said, in
the cabin.
" Why, you see," replied Tommy, "Mother
Snags sends me on deck to call down Miss Car-
roll, and as she looked like a snapping turtle, I
thought something was out o' tune. So T called
130 THE PRETTY MISSIONARY.
her down, and when the young 'oo-mari had got
into the state room, and the door was shut, I lis-
tened. First go off was, ' Sis-ter Carroll,' drawed
out like weak tea, then I almost heard her look
at her. I guess the awful way of speaking and
the vinegar look altogether, struck Miss Carroll
aback, for she said, by jerks like, ' Why, my dear
Mrs. Snags what's the matter?' Not a word
for a minute. Thinks I, the old 'ooman means
to claw her, and I think she did mean to, but
thought better of it, for the young lady might
have carried too many guns for her, so she rang-
ed up alongside, and gave her a broadside of
this here, ' Sis-ter Car-roll ! and is it thus that you
keep the vows that are upon you, thus that you
turn from the paths of holiness and purity, and
bring a stigma upon your own reputation, and
dishonour upon the sacred cause in which you are
engaged ?' Here Miss Carroll tried to say some-
thing, but it was no use, she might as well have
tried to fight forty-four pounders with pop-guns.
The old 'oo-man silenced her fire in no time,
and blazed away again. ' The matter ! you
would ask me what is the matter ? why it's no-
torious, yes, it is in the mouths of all the breth-
ren and sisteren, (Thomas misunderstood ; Mrs.
Snags probably said sisters,) yes, not only in
their mouths but in those of the captain and the
crew ! In the mouths of everybody ! Oh, dear !
what a falling away ! If, when I was young-
unmarried, I mean, I had been guilty of such
THE PRETTY MISSIONARY. 131
enormities as you have with that poor foolish
Maxwell, if, oh !' Whack, down went the old
'ooman in a peper-perplexed fit, and Miss Car-
roll burst the door open so sudden, that it knock-
ed me down, and she went over me, and hearin'
the noise, out jumped all the rest of 'em, in their
what d'-ye-call-ems. And down come four wo-
men and three men on the top of us, and most
all the rest of 'em got piled up agin' the lee bulk
head. Finally, out jumps the captain, a-singing
out ' Tom !' ' Sir,' says I, but I don't think he
heard me, with such a pile as .there was a top of
me. But just as he sings out again, up I comes
through seven or eight pair o' legs and arms, a
blowin' like a porpoise. ' Well, what's all this
confusion,' says he. 4 Oh Lord, sir,' says I, out
o' breath, ' Mrs. Snags knows, if she ain't dead!'
' I'm sure I am equally surprised with yourself,
captain,' says the old 'ooman, as live as a bas-
ket of eels, ' Why, brethren and sisteren, I am
ashamed of you,' and she clapped both hands
before her eyes, and looked betwixt her fingers.'
" Well, as soon as I got clear of the mess, I
lent a hand to capsize some of the beef off o'
Miss Carroll, who looked a good deal more
frightened than she did when she went over-
board, a while ago. As soon as she got clear
she walked into her state room, not sayin'
nothin' to nobody. And then the men and
women that had been a top of us began to apo-
logize to each other. The brethren * regretted
132 THE PRETTY MISSIONARY.
extremely.' The sisteren declared ' they never
were so shocked,' but nobody said nothin' to
me about almost breakin' my arm. Hows'ever,
1 don't care, I got stowed so close to the young
lady that my lips almost touched hers. I guess
Mr. Maxwell would ha' liked to ha' been me, just
then."
" Hold your tongue, you little blackguard !"
cried that gentleman from the quarter-deck,
whose ears, most of Tom's animated description
had reached ; " hold your tongue, sir, and go
down in the cabin where you belong; don't you
be telling the people any more such nonsense,"
and catching the young gentleman by the ear as
he came aft, added, " don't you ever couple me
again with that young lady !"
"Lord, sir," replied Master Thomas Thumb,
putting on one of his most innocent looks,
" Wouldn't you like to be coupled with her?"
A severe twinge upon both of his mischievous
ears occasioned by their being used as handles
to lift him over the companion way, was the only
compliment he got for his wit.
It is needless to say, that such an accident as
had happened, prevented Miss Carroll from
taking her usual morning and evening walks
for a length of time, during which Mr. Max-
well appeared to be somewhat severe and un-
necessarily harsh in his treatment of us; but we
bore it with patience, well knowing to what
cause it was attributable. Mow strange and
THE PRETTY MISSIONARY. 133
and yet how common it is, that, when annoyed
by those against whom it is useless to complain,
we often find a vent for our ill-humour by tak-
ing vengeance upon our unoffending inferiors !
We had now entered the tropics, and were
making rapid progress to the southward, by the
aid of the steady north-east trade wind. How
delightful and exhilarating it is, after so long con-
tending with the light, baffling winds, and sul-
try weather, which prevail in the latitude of
Bermuda, to be ushered into the precincts of the
cool and bracing trades !
A new impetus seems to send the sluggish
blood through our veins, and there is life in all
around us. The clouds move across the sky.
not in the imperceptible way of late, but as if
they were now employed upon some errand re-
quiring activity and despatch; while instead of
the lazy black fish, whom we lately saw rolling
in a sea as slothful as themselves, on every side
are to be seen thousands of porpoises, bonitas,
dolphin arid flying-fish, gamboling upon the live
ocean. Yes, " this great and wide sea, wherein
are things creeping innumerable," is, as it were,
alive : and while
All nature, God, thy praises sings,
The air, the earth, the rolling sea,
And ships e'en spread their snowy wings, ^.
To join them all, adoring thee,
the thanksgiving which animated nature pays,
should teach us, more favoured than all thy other
7
134 THE PRETTY MISSIONARY.
works of creation, to use the reason thou hast
given us, not in inveighing against the ways of
Providence, but in humbly rendering thee our
" reasonable service."
"Sail, ho !" cried a man from the main-royal
yard, one fine morning, as we were bowling
along merrily upon our course. " Where-a-
way ?" inquired the captain. " On the weather
bow, sir."
There is nothing more enlivening at sea than
the sound of "Sail, ho!" Separated as we are
supposed to be, thousands of miles from human
intercourse, to become suddenly aware that
there are other isolated beings like ourselves in
our very neighbourhood, awakens the dormant
energies of the listless passenger, and stimulates
his curiosity in the highest degree. Are we in a
much-frequented channel, where hundreds of
vessels are constantly passing on their various
courses, very little notice is taken of them the
spy-glass is not even brought to bear upon them,
nor does fancy exercise itself at all about them.
But in mid-ocean, how different ! The emotions
now excited are those of intense curiosity, of
sympathy with our lonely fellow-travellers, and
a desire to communicate with them, and to recip-
rocate good offices if required, or at least to bid
each other " God speed."
In the present instance, all was bustle and
confusion a general rush of ladies and gentle-
men upon deck the former, poor souls, without
THE PRETTY MISSIONARY. 135
the probability of gratifying their curiosity as
soon as some of their adventurous husbands,
who now endeavoured, many of them, for the first
time, to climb up into the rigging. Some half
dozen had actually reached the leading-trucks,
when, urged, as they would have it appear, by
the entreaties of their wives not to risk their pre-
cious lives, but in part, as it seemed to others,
by a shaking of their knees, they thought proper
to descend. But Brother Bronson had tried the
experiment before, and had several times suc-
ceeded in reaching the main-top, when his lady
was below; and now, notwithstanding her cries
of, "Oh come down, my dear Elijah," he still
persisted, and reached the main-top-sail yard,
swinging his hat in triumph to his astonished
friends beneath him. Meantime the captain
had reached the same place, and was carefully
reconnoitering with his glass.
"Well, captain," said Mr. Bronson, "what
is she ? where is she from? where is she going?
what's her name? I hope they are all well on
board. How beautiful she looks ! Dear me, do,
captain, send a boat, will you ? What do you
see, captain ?"
"Brig, sir!" replied he, and shutting his
glass, descended.
The poor man had scarcely reached the decks,
when the same questions, with a dozen more,
came upon him from a dozen different mouths.
"Brig! ladies and gentlemen, brig!" was all
136 THE PRETTY MISSIONARY.
the answer that he would or could return.
" Mr. Maxwell," said the captain, with a feign-
ed smile, " we may come near each other, and
as it would be no more than politeness to salute,
especially if he happen to be a countryman, and
as this is the Fourth of July, you may clear
away the guns and load them."
"Ay, ay, sir," replied the mate ; " clear away
the guns there !"
We had but two of them, but they were good,
serviceable twelve-pounders. After the cart-
ridges were rammed down, the passengers, had
they much penetration in such matters, must
have thought that it was to be a very queer sa-
lute, when both guns were filled to their muz-
zles with grape, canister, and musket bullets !
In the meantime, the brig, which had been
heading to the northward when first discovered,
had stood off to the westward, and now became
visible from deck, bearing down across our
bows, with studding-sails set alow and aloft.
If there had been any doubt before in the cap-
tain's mind, there was none now, and he gave
the order to brail up the spanker, put the helm
up, square the yards, and rig out studding-sail
booms on both sides, it being well known that
to keep before the wind is the only chance for a
merchantman in a race with a sharp built ves-
sel. We soon had all sail packed upon the Cor-
nelia, and for a few moments we flattered our-
selves with the idea of escape; but our hopes
THE PRETTY MISSIONARY. 137
were false, for slowly but surely the brig gained
upon us. A box of muskets belonging to the
cargo was now passed up out of the hold and
broken open. These, added to those belonging
to the ship, furnished one to every male on
board. At these preparations the astonished
passengers began to stare, and soon suspected
the truth ; and some drew themselves apart,
while the captain encouraged us to behave like
men, and do otir duty. Nearer, nearer still, the
rascal came on, overhauling us step by step ;
and now we could see English colours at his
peak but he had mistaken us. We hoisted the
stars and stripes, and still kept on before the
wind.
Soon, down came the English flag and up
went the American ; but as this ruse did not suc-
ceed, and only made us more certain of his cha-
racter, he did us the favour to make assurance
doubly sure, by hauling this down, hoisting his
own true colours the black flag, and sending a
shot from his Long Tom booming after us.
" Ladies," said the captain, " I must request
you to go below. Your longer continuance, on
deck would be dangerous, and should you be
seen Go below, ladies."
His request was generally and immediately
complied with. Some of the gentlemen were
about to follow, when they found themselves
suddenly interrupted. " I said ladies, not gen-
tlemen."
138 THE PRETTY MISSIONARY.
Several of them not taking this gentle hint,
their further progress was stopped by Messrs.
Maxwell and Lanyard, who politely helped
them out of the companion-way, and then drew
over the slide, which the carpenter was ordered
to secure.
"I am sorry, gentlemen," said the captain,
" to be obliged to use such means to remind you
of your duty to defend your own lives and those
of your families."
"Sir," said Mr. Newman, in a faltering tone,
"we do not consider it our duty to engage in
carnal warfare. We have held a meeting upon
the subject : and after a candid view of the mat-
ter in all its bearings, we have concluded to use
only the weapons of prayer and faith."
"Very proper weapons in their way, no
doubt," replied our indignant captain, "but one
can pray and fight too, when occasion requires ;
and moreover, there are the ladies below, who
can handle the weapon of prayer for us ; arid
as to faith, I believe in that as sincerely as you
do, but I believe that unless good works go with
it, it is no more serviceable for a weapon, than
an unloaded musket is, nor half as much so."
Notwithstanding this luminous commentary
upon a doctrine, which has set Christendom by
the ears ever since sectarianism took the place
of religion, the gentlemen stood irresolute, some
being convinced that it was their duty to take
up arms; among whom the Rev. Mr. Snags was
THE PRETTY MISSIONARY. 139
conspicuous, for that gentleman was really no
coward there was nothing in this world that
he feared, excepting his wife. Still the New-
man party were about to continue the discus-
sion, when Captain Davis, espying something in
the neighbourhood of his chief officer, exclaimed
"But how is this] why, Miss Carroll, I
thought that I had requested all the ladies to go
below !"
"Oh, captain!" exclaimed Isabella, " do let
me remain on deck. I can do something. I can
fire a gun or a pistol, at least I can hand Mr.
Max I can hand the men powder. I know I
can do something!"
Here was an argument stronger than any
thing that the captain could produce, and the
cowards who, for the credit of humanity, were
few in number, stole away into a corner to hide
their shame.
" God bless you, young lady!" cried the wor-
thy captain, : ' God bless you ! If all the women
in America were like you, the next generation
would be an army of heroes ! Maxwell, my
lad, make much of her. I know you love her,
and I know she loves you, and I'd have her in
spite of all the societies that ever grew and
every heathen might go to grass !"
Having thus given vent to his feelings in a
style rendered excusable by the exciting circum-
stances, he ordered the slide to be removed, and
the blushing girl being persuaded that she could
140 THE PRETTY MISSIONARY.
render no assistance, descended, while Mr. Max-
well endeavoured to hide his confusion by being
busily engaged in double-shotting the muskets.
It was quite unnecessary to re-fasten the slide.
And now approached the time of trial, for
our enemy was rapidly gaining upon us ; and
his shot, which at first had fallen harmlessly in
our wake, now whistled by. and skipped on the
water far ahead. Orders were given to haul in
our studding sails, but not to do it in haste, and
this manoeuvre apparently succeeded in inducing
the pirate to suppose that we had at last paid
attention to his summons, and having given up
all hope of escape, were shortening sail in order
to allow him to come up. In so far, he was
right. His firing now ceased, and having taken
in every thing above our topsails, we slowly
moved on, awaiting his more rapid approach.
Previously to this, the guns had been covered
over with old canvass and other rubbish, and the
passengers, with several of the crew, stowed
snugly away under the bulwarks. To all ap-
pearance, the Cornelia, both outside and inside,
looked as peaceably disposed as a Quaker meet-
ing-house. On on came our bloody and fear-
ful foe, his black ensign insulting the air that
opened its folds, and threatening the most awful
calamities to ourselves.
" Steady, my brave fellows, steady!" said the
captain; "obey the orders I have given you to
THE PRETTY MISSIONARY. 141
the letter, and with God's help, we'll disappoint
his expectations."
11 Ship-a-hoy !" came hoarsely over the waters
from the brazen mouth of the trumpet.
" Hallo !"
" Where are you from 7"
"Boston."
"Where are you bound?"
" East Indies."
"Round to, with your main-topsail to the
mast ! I will come on board."
By this time the brig was on our starboard
quarter, and was preparing to shorten sail ; but
his mandate not being immediately complied
with, he luffed up two points, which increased
his speed, and brought him within pistol-shot
upon our beam, so that we could distinguish the
lines of the ruffian-like countenances, that were
all gathered in his larboard gangway, wonder-
ing at our useless disobedience. " Do you mean
to heave to, sir ?" roared their savage com-
mander in a voice of thunder, " answer me !"
He was answered in a way he little expected.
A whistle from our Captain our ports rose,
while nearly thirty muskets bristled over the rail,
and a storm of iron and lead was poured forth
for a reply.
Standing as they did in a body, and so near,
this well-directed fire swept them off like chaff
before the wind, while their standing and running
rigging being cut to pieces by the thousand fly-
THE PRETTY MISSIONARY.
ing missiles, sails and spars were brought tum-
bling down upon the heads of the survivors. Dy-
ing groans and yells of agony mingled with sa-
vage imprecations, rose upon the air; and as
our smoke cleared away, sad was the spectacle
of the slain, and vain were the efforts of the liv-
ing to seek revenge. Our helm was put to star-
board, the larboard tacks hauled aboard, and the
ship was again under a press of canvass steering
on her original course. The pirate succeeded at
length in bringinghis long torn to bear; but after
sending one or two ineffectual shots after us, found
that he was so disabled from the havoc made in
his larboard rigging, that he could not carry sail
on that tack. He accordingly gave up the chase,
and wore round with his head to the northward,
as when he was first seen.
"Now, then, is the time for thanksgiving,"
said our sincere commander, calling us aft, when
the danger was over. ' You have* all behaved
as I knew you would, but don't let us be too
proud of this; it was all directed by the hand of
the Lord!" and laying his hat down, as we all
did likewise, he exclaimed, raising his eyes io-
ward heaven, " We thank thee. oh God ! Unto
Thy name be all the praise !"
To this sentiment most hearts responded, and
perhaps the only one that did not, was that of
Mr. Newman, who took more credit to himself
than all others together would claim, endeavour-
ing to prove that he had Id lied some sixteen pi
THE PRETTY MISSIONARY. 143
rates with his two bullets, although Ned Sim-
mons, who stood next him, did not hear the report
of his musket ; and what also threw some
additional suspicion upon the courage of our con-
scientious friend, was the circumstance of one of
the muskets being found still to retain its charge.
The ladies now came on deck, of course de-
lighted with the result of the affair, and we be-
lieve they had been very quiet, with the exception
of Mrs. Snags, who as Tommy said when he went
below, was kicking, in another of those "peper-
per-plexed " fits, but fearful of a similar catastro-
phe to what had befallen him once before, he kept
a respectful distance from danger, and Mr. Snags
coming down, she speedily recovered, by blowing
off steam upon him for his cruel neglect of her in
such a perilous situation. As to Isabella, when
she made her appearance, nobody could, and
none of our officers wished, to prevent our giving
her three cheers as loud and sincere as those
with which we celebrated our victory.
After having crossed the N. E. trade, there is
generally more or less of light winds, squalls and
calms, until a ship arrives within the limits ofthe
S. E. trade. At some seasons the trades approach
so near each other that the delay between them is
but trifling ; but in the summer months, the in-
terval is frequently five or six hundred miles, and
long miles they are indeed.
It was our fate upon this voyage to be longer
detained than usual, being thirty days in accom-
144 THE PRETTY MISSIONARY.
plishing this distance, which, with a fair wind,
could easily have been done within one-tenth
part of the time. For the greater part of these
thirty days we were becalmed.
Dr. Watts closes some verses in one of his
psalms with this stanza
" 'T is calm, and sailors smile to see," &c.
Smile in a calm ! If there is anything upon the
ocean to cast a gloom over every thing, to bring
the melancholic fiend into the mind, to subdue
patience and Christian resignation, to make peo-
ple fretful, cross and peevish, to bring on wrin-
kles and gray hairs, it is a calm ! The heaving,
rolling and pitching of the ship, day after day,
upon the everlasting and glassy swell ; a vertical
sun, beating down upon us as if the ship was
the centre of its burning rays ; the ceaseless mu-
sic of creaking spars and rigging, and the ever
continued and heavy flapping of the sails ; the
consciousness that we are gaining nothing on our
voyage, and that so much time is stolen from the
sum total of our short existence, causes any thing
but a smile. It is in vain to talk of books. If
any man upon such occasions as this, will read,
and understand and remember what he reads,
I would like to pay my respects to him, as to a
greater philosopher than ancient or modern times
have produced. I believe, however, that court-
ship may progress in a calm, for Mr. Maxwell
and Isabella, notwithstanding the saintly horror
THE PRETTY MISSIONARY 145
of Mrs. Snags, used to pass the dull moments
pleasantly enough, and but I had intended
to say no more of this matter, for 'tis perfectly
useless. You know we have settled it long since.
They can't be married for missionary obliga-
tions are not so easily evaded as honest Captain
Davis would insinuate ; and unless Mr. Maxwell
became a missionary, the thing, you see, was
impossible. * * * *
Oh, dear, that is too bad !
"What?"
Why the steward came in just now, and when
the d:)or opened, out went my four last sheets
through the cabin window. I had taken so much
pains with that part of the story had collected
from memory so many choice incidents had em-
bellished it with so many charming conversations
had recounted so many narrow escapes had
chronicled our arrival at our destined port, and
shed so much light upon the world, as to the man-
ners and customs of the inhabitants, and finally
had told you how our missionary friends had
been distributed amongst the islands of the In-
dian Archipelago, and what the ladies must re-
gret the loss of, more than all there was the
parting of Maxwell and Isabella, the last fond
embrace her duty conquering love, as she
told him that this was the last meeting they
should enjoy upon earth and then Maxwell's
going below to give vent to his anguish ! Oh,
what a pity ! But whether you may be sorry
146 THE PRETTY MISSIONARY.
for my loss or not, I know of some who will re-
joicethe printers.
However, the lost sheets went on to say that
we loaded the ship and returned home, without
accident ; and that after remaining there a few
weeks, she was despatched again upon a trading
voyage, under the command of Captain Edward
Maxwell, and that your humble servant was
elevated to the station formerly occupied by
Mr. Lanyard, arid they told you of our arrival
abroad.
The character of the Malays is as little un-
derstood by people at home, as that of the in-
habitants of the moon. They are supposed
to be universally destitute of any approach to
goodness, and addicted to piracy, murder, and
cannibalism. Although there are many instan-
ces of cruelty among them, and I may presently
have occasion to notice something of the sort,
yet as a people they are very far from deserving
the censure that has been awarded them. If
well treated, they are not treacherous, for they
are simple-minded and kind-hearted. I have
lived for weeks, the only white man upon an
island inhabited by thousands of them, and have
gone about unarmed, fearing nothing, and treat-
ed with the utmost kindness and attention. The
instances upon record of ships having been cut
off by them, may be traced directly, or indi-
rectly, to the abominable system of cheating,
adopted by Christians, who when they have load-
THE PRETTY MISSIONARY. 147
ed 7000 piculs and paid for perhaps 5000, are
attacked by these cruel people whom they have
robbed ! though in most cases they are able 10
get off safe with their booty !
Still man/ of the Rajahs are tyrannical, and
the Rajah of Tringanu was one of these. We
touched at that island to complete our cargo,
and learned that three American missionaries
were there imprisoned for having, as was assert-
ed, endeavoured, by their preaching, to create a
rebellion among the people. It was in vain that
Capt. Maxwell endeavoured to explain to the
Rajah that such could not be their object. He
was obstinately convinced that it was, and was
resolved to keep them " in durance vile." But
at length, when our cargo was completed, he
told Capt. Maxwell that they should be liberated
upon one condition, that he would take them
home to America, never to return again.
It is not to be supposed that Capt. Maxwell
could hesitate. The prison doors were thrown
open, and out marched the Rev. Mr. Sna^s and
lady, and a young lady of our acquaintance.
Oh, such a scene, such a moment of astonish-
ment ; and then such a squeeze as Maxwell
gave her !
His promise on their behalf was explained to
them, and they could not do otherwise than con-
sent to return Miss Carroll, of course, very re-
luctantly.
I know not how it was, but probably only to
148 THE PRETTY MISSIONARY.
save appearances, but, at any rate, it seemed ad-
viseable that the young lady should change her
name before she went on board.
And the Rajah, now perfectly reconciled, of-
fered his house for the performance of that cere-
mony. All hands came on shore to see that Mr.
Snags spliced Miss Carroll in "ship-shape " style
to the captain, and the evening's entertainment
concluded with a feast of rice and curry, fowls,
fruit, and cocoa-nut toddy. The festival was
enlivened with dances by some fifty pretty Ma-
lays, in which we joined, as much to our own
amusement as to that of the natives.
As we weighed anchor on the next morning,
we fired a parting salute, which was returned
by the battery on shore ; and not many months
afterwards our owners and friends were pleased
to read in the Boston Journal, the arrival of
the Cornelia, Capt. Maxwell : Passengers Rev.
Mr Snags, Mrs. Snags, and Mrs. Maxwell, (cap-
tain's wife.)
TOM BROWN;
OR,
SUPERSTITION.
EVERY community, be it ever so small, has its
character. By that I mean some one particular
person who is odd so odd as to be denomi-
nated, . par excellence, " a character." Why
this title should be bestowed upon such indi-
viduals, behooves us not now to inquire, for
it would take time, and, after all, perhaps, not
elicit truth. All admit, and that's enough, that
there are such persons: some of good character,
some of bad, and some of no character at all.
But my present object is merely to chronicle a
recollection or two of my old shipmate, Tom
Brown. He was a character among us, and
his oddity consisted in a continual propensity
for fun. There were few dull hours in the
Ellen's forecastle; and if ever dulness cast its
shadow, (which was all it dared do there,) it
150 TOM BROWN.
was speedily ejected by a song or a yarn from
Tom Brown. Did any one suffer from head-
ache? Tom was there to assure him that it
would be better when it was done aching; and
if seriously ill, his advice was given to keep a
stiff upper lip and a fuzzy eyebrow ; adding,
that even "kicking the bucket was nothing
when a little used to it." Fun at all times he
would have innocent if convenient, mischiev-
ous if necessary. " Hooking manavlins " was a
favourite amusement with him : not so much for
gratifying his appetite, as for exercising his dex-
terity and enjoying the astonishment of the cook
at their miraculous disappearance ; but his chef-
d'oeuvre in this line was this : One day all but
himself and two others were below at dinner ;
it was nearly two bells the captain in the
cabin the mate writing up his log the second
mate aloft on the mizen the steward laying
his table and the cook just taking up the cabin
dinner, which consisted chiefly of a magnificent
turkey.
" Now. boys," says Tom, " novv's the time !
Charley, scare up the pigs in the long-boat !"
Now "the doctor" always kept a watchful
eye on the pigs, considering them particularly
under his jurisdiction, and holding himself in
some measure accountable for their good beha-
viour. Hearing there was some angry discus-
sion among his " kitchen cabinet," he rushed out.
TOM BROWN. 151
from one of the galley doors, while Tom quietly
entered by the other, abstracting the turkey and
stowing it under his jacket, and in less time than
has been occupied in narrating it, he was look-
ing into the opposite side of the boat, asking
the doctor what ailed the pigs !
"I dun know," said he, "dey's kickiu' up
bobbery here. I believe you fellers was plagin'
'em. Dare, keep-a-still now, will ye, dare 's a
good hog, so."
" Two bells!"
11 Two bells ! " echoed the cook.
u Yes," said the steward, coming forward.
" Whar yar dinner?"
" Here be, all ready."
Alas, humanum est errare, which signified
in this instance, "You don't always find your
turkey where you think it is." While the two
darkies were gazing, horror-stricken, at the de-
serted dish, Tom shouted, u What's that dog got ?
My eyes ! if it aint the captain's dinner ! Doc-
tor ! I say," and with this exclamation, he and
his two comrades pounced upon the unoffending
" Bose " and bore him down into the lee scup-
pers, whence, after a severe scuffle, Tom disen-
gaged himself from the melee, flourishing the
mangled remains of the turkey torn by no teeth
as yet, but by his own hand. The captain, who
by this time was on deck, was very excusably
angr^. He scolded the steward, kicked the
coolf, ropes-ended the dog: who wouldn't? but
152 TOM BROWN.
as to eating a turkey bitten to pieces in that
manner who ivould ?
11 Heave that turkey overboard !" said he.
"Please sir," said Tom, "it will save the
ship some salt junk, if you'll let us eat it, for-
ward."
" Eat it, then, and be hanged to you," said
the skipper, with a look savouring of ipecac-
uanha, " and take some swill for your sauce, if
you like !"
Declining the generous offer of the sauce, the
three conspirators made a hearty meal of roast
turkey, though sneered at by their shipmates,
who were as ignorant of the joke as were the
party in the cabin, who, it is to be hoped, en-
joyed their dinner of salt beef.
Every one knows that sailors, as a class, are
superstitious ; but there are not many on shore
who know to what length superstition often ex-
tends among them. It is more or less prevalent
among all sailors. One of the most ridiculous
examples of this, may be found among the
native sailors of Java, who compose the crews
of all the Dutch country ships. One of their
gross fancies is, that it is not only unlucky, but
exceedingly impious, to sail in a ship whose masts
are stepped in a contrary direction to the way in
which they grew.
Although so stepping a mast is often very con-
venient, in order to have the bigness of the spar
above deck, where it is most needed, yet the
TOM BROWN. 153
builders are obliged to forego this advantage,
otherwise not a man could be found, who, upon
any conditions, would sail in the vessel. The
Chinese are overflowing with superstition. Their
" chin-chinning Josh," is well known to many.
This operation consists in beating gongs and
burning paper, by which means they either intend
to propitiate the divinity, or, what would seem
to us more probable, torment him, for a fair wind.
Another of their strange whims I was once wit-
ness to, being at that time a passenger from Sin-
gapore to Penan g, on board a country brig, be-
longing to the Chinese, some thirty or forty of
which nation, besides a fair assortment of Ma-
lays, Bengalese, Arabs, and some of every other
nation, (at all events, there were eleven langua-
ges in use,) were my fellow-passengers. When
off Malacca, we were suddenly struck by one of
those furious squalls known as " Sumatras." It
was quite enough for a good ship under good
management, but in this crazy old brig, so
crowded with people as to cover the decks each
owner of which, (there were half a dozen,) assum-
ing the part of captain ; no orders, consequent-
ly, obeyed ; and nothing to be seen or heard be-
sides the wind and rain, but clamour and confu-
sion ; it was like Mr. Pickwick's game with the
lawyers, " too exciting to be pleasant." In the
midst of it all, I observed that the Chinese were
collected upon the taffrail, and making exertions
to get hold of the ensign halliards, which they
154 TOM BROWN.
finally accomplished, and bent on a flag, (if re-
collection serves me right, a white one) which
they triumphantly ran up, and then remained
watching the result very calmly. In the mean-
time, the vessel lay nearly on her beam ends,
and the trysail sheet having parted, the sail laid
hard against the main rigging, so that the brig
would not fall off. I had laid hold of the wheel,
which I hove hard up, while my companion
crawled up the trysailmast and cut the old sail,
so that it blew away, and we went off safely be-
fore the wind; which the Chinese firmly believed
resulted from their having, displayed the "storm
flag." During this time the Hindoos, Arabs, Par-
sees, Siamese, and the other tribes, were not idle
in the performance of their peculiar prostrations
and genuflections, and loud calls upon their va-
rious prophets and deities, to whose good influ-
ences they individually attributed their escape.
I was silently thankful that the trifle of common
sense, which Capt. O'Dogherty and myself had
brought to bear upon the business, had been the
means of saving all hands. But failing in his at-
tempts to convince others of this, my friend came
near to getting " a broth of a bating," for ridicul-
ing the white flag and abusing the "consaited
haithin," whose "divils," he said, "if they exist-
ed at all, were so far underground as not to know
starboard from port, nor a trysailmast from a fly-
ing jib-boom." Spaniards. Portuguese, and all
Mediterranean sailors partake largely of super-
TOM BROWN. 155
stition ; but perhaps not much move so" than their
countrymen on shore; the nature of their reli-
gion engrafting it upon them all. Among these
people, it is mostly confined to a stupid venera-
tion of saints, whom they regard as possessed of
as much power as O'Dogherty's " haithin " fan-
cy their " underground divils" are gifted with.
Every change of wind, calm, storm or sunshine
with them, savours of the miraculous ; and to
their minds, there seems to be nothing natural,
unless it be food, drink, and laziness.
The superstition of Dutch, Danish, Swedish,
and Norwegian sailors, of whom there are a great
number in our merchant service, consists chiefly
in a belief in demonology and witchcraft. The
oft-repeated tale of the Flying Dutchman, so fa-
miliar to all, is firmly credited by the greater
part of these men. They fancy, among other
absurdities, that the inhabitants of Finland are
possessed by evil spirits, and are consequently
very shy of sailing in a vessel with a Fin on
board. If they should be so unfortunate as to
be thrown into his company, they will not fail
to attribute any misfortune that may occur dur-
ing the voyage, to his presence ; for they look
upon him with awe; as a wizard, who holds
their lives in his control. The English, Irish
and Scotch, are also very credulous ; the latter
perhaps less so than the former, although they
sometimes tell wonderful tales about "the bo-
gles." But there is a general belief among Brit-
156 TOM BROWN.
ish seamen, in ghosts, hobgoblins, dreams, and
supernatural warnings, lucky and unlucky ships
and sailing days, and many more strange fancies
of the sort. Ghost stories innumerable might be
here repeated, which I have been told in the
forecastle, by these fellows, which they as impli-
citly believed as they did in their own being ; and-
to dispute the probability of which, would be
entering into a quarrel with them at once.
No one can doubt that superstitious notions are
generally owing to a want of education ; and as
far as seamen are concerned, this is sufficient-
ly evident .when* we see how little, American
sailors are tinctured with them. Though the
influence of example is ^powerful, and they are
continually brought into contact with the ruff-
scuff of all nations, and must in a greater or
less degree imbibe some of their ideas, still
their early education restrains their credulity,
and very few of them are to be found who place
any confidence in supernatural agency. It is as
rare to find an American seaman who cannot
sign his name to the articles, as it is to find an
English sailor who can. Although the latter
sometimes deface the paper with an unintelligi-
ble combination of pothooks, they generally
merely make their "mark ;" but I have seldom
seen a Yankee-born sailor who could not write
his name. This early education is their safe-
guard from superstition and other debasing vices,
and shows itself one of the inestimable advanta-
TOM BROWN. 157
ges which our beloved country enjoys over all
other nations of the earth.
Why, Tom Brown ! how I have run away
from you ; gone off dead to leeward on another
chase. I'll brace up, then, down tacks and aft
sheets ! So now we are alongside again, I'll
tell that little story to which what I've been
saying is incidental, as is the tail of a cape sheep
to his hind legs, and then good-bye to you, dear
Tom, for to-night, for I am growing sleepy, and
so perhaps will my readers.
" Starboard- watch, ahoy ! Eight bells there,
below tumble up!" sounded from the fore-scut-
tle one night. Well, the watch of course obeyed
the summons, and came on deck yawning and
rubbing their eyes.
" Hallo!" cried one of the others, " what are
you all turning out for at six bells?"
u Six bells ! what did you call us for then,
and say it was eight 7"
"Who called you?"
<: Why, you, or some of your watch."
It was in vain for the larboard watch to pro-
test that they had done no such thing, for all
below heard the voice. Mutual recriminations
ensued, and the disturbance was only quieted
by the appearance of the mate. There was no-
thing more occurred that night : but at six bells
of the next, again came the voice, which roused
them once more upon deck. Then ensued a
8
158 TOM BROWN.
fiercer quarrel than before, the watch on deck
making oath that they had not called them, and
they in turn swearing that they were called.
Things began.to look serious, and it was suggest-
ed by some one, and immediately voted, that it
was the work of a ghost ! For several nights
the voice was still, but many could not sleep ;
but at last, after watching long, one bright moon-
shiny night, came the dreadful voice again, in
clear and distinct tones
" Starboard watch, ahoy ! Eight bells there
below, tumble up !"
The hail was heard by all hands on deck and
below, and if there had been doubt before, there
was none now it was a ghost ! In the midst
of the universal consternation, Tom proposed to
exorcise him, saying he had seen it done, and
thought he could do it himself and drive the
spirit off. He accordingly arranged some kids
and tin pots in a circle, constituting himself the
centre, and repeated a quantity of gibberish, which
he said was Latin, and then confidently express-
ed the opinion that the ghost would never come
again. And he never did come again, for in ad-
dition to the exorcism. Tom stowed away the old
hookah-pipe which he had led up from his berth
up underneath the ladder, and from which the
startling hail so oft. proceeded ! The latter part
of this performance did not become public, and
Tom Brown accordingly became a great man; and
to do him justice, he exercised very temperately
TOM BROWN. 159
the office he ever after held on board the Ellen,
as "bully of the forecastle;" and he and this
ghost story have doubtless obtained a great no-
toriety the latter, as the bookmakers say, being
"revised and corrected, with notes and annota-
tions, with preface and appendix," and insisted
upon by the narrators as entitled to the fullest
belief, "for they were there /"
HARRY SPANKER'S LOVE STORY-
i, THE starboard watch of the "Isabella" were
seated upon the forecastle, as usual, one fine
night, in the trades, amusing each other with
divers yarns. As the last one ended, Harry
Spanker fetched a sigh and looked at the moon,
remarking in reference to its phasis and the
story just recited, u That moon and your twist-
er, Sam, clapt together, reminds me of some-
thing I'd almost forgot, about my running foul
of a snag, too -that is, being in love. Let me
see it was about ten years ago no it wasn't
that wan't the time I mean ; I believe I got
foul of a worse one, a year or two after that
scrape but hows'ever, that wouldn't be much
of a yarn neither so I'll pitch you something
that happened afore either of 'em.
" You see we were on the east coast of Suma-
tra, a loadin' betel nut for China. Now you
must know, there's a good deal of ceremony and
gum game both sides in that business. First
place, the ship comes to, off one of the towns
161
yes, towns they call 'em sort of hog pens
ranged in tiers, in the streets. Well, the ship
bangs away a salute, and the captain goes
ashore. After tumbling over the surf, you get
into what they call a river, which is just no
more nor no less than a dirty creek but I'm
blessed, if these rivers ain't well fortified nat'-
rally fortified like. D'ye see, Jonathan, the
banks are lined with alligators, about forty-five
foot long, stowed close together, for the matter
of three miles, till you git to the town. They're
bred to keep guard sort o' sodgers. So an en-
emy can't land nowhere, 'cause they'd swallow
a whole ship's company, and if you fire at 'em,
they'll just shut their mouths, and being that
their eyes is the only port-holes left to fire into,
they're all furnished by government with thick
iron blinkers, so all they have to do is just to
wink, and this machine drops, besides, it's
dangerous firing at 'em any way, for they'll
sometimes ^atch the ball on the end of their
noses and send it back again at you. Hows' -
ever, being at peace with the country, they
didn't trouble us. What I looked at, though,
first time going up one of the rivers, was the tel-
egraphic monkeys."
" What's a telegraphic monkey?" asked Jon-
athan.
"Why," replied Harry, " Signal monkeys
means the same thing. The number of 'em de-
pends on how long the river is ; they generally
average one to a quarter of a mile or so ; they're
stationed on the tallest trees, and have tails
about five fathom long. They're edicated to
tie up these tails in different kinds of knots. I
took 'em to be Malay letters. They're to let the
Rajah know who's coming up river. So when
we got there, the old fellow was all ready to re-
ceive us. There he sot, on a bamboo grating,
tailor fashion, with a skull cap on, and twenty
or thirty fellows squatting round him and mak-
ing salaams. We shoved the boat into the land-
ing, and our skipper jumps ashore and walks
right towards him, not taking off his hat, nor
making a hoop of himself, nor nothin'.
The old Rajah looked mad at first, and his
understrappers looked shocked, for they think
their Rajah is a touch above our President.
" Taby, Tuan," growled the old fellow, at last.
That means '-Good morning, sir," d'ye see.
" Good morning," says the skipper; " don't
care if I sit down:" and with tha&he planks
himself upon the grating alongside of him. The
Rajah soon found that it was no use to try to
come dignity over our captain, or else he
wouldn't trade with him. So they palavered
away for a while, and when they got through,
we shoved off and went aboard and I noticed
that just as we got over the bar, the last tele-
graphic monkey cocked his tail up and made an
O of it, which meant, I suppose, " they're Off."
11 That's all very true, no doubt," said Jona-
163
than; "but what's it to do with your being in
love?"
" You're green yet," said Harry ; " you don't
know nothin' about a yarn. Don't you always
reeve the gear and rig out the boom first, afore
you set a stu'n-sail ; and which takes longest to
get ready, or to set it? Don't you know, too,
that if the gear is rove shipshape and nothin'
foul, the sail hoists out all the easier, though it
may be nothin' but a small kite of a royal stu'n-
sail after all ? Well, the next day off comes the
old Rajah in his prahu to return the visit. We
had the decks cleaned, and the pigs stowed
away for it won't do to let 'em touch a pig or
see one. It's against their religion to eat pork,
'cause how, I suppose they look upon it as a
sort of cannibalism. So the old chap bundled
himself up the side, followed by a whole gang
of lackeys, and the captain had a dinner for
him. Tl^^evvard said he wouldn't drink any
liquor at iMPtable. It was against his religion
to drink afore folks, just as it is with some tee-
totalers, but after dinner he winked at one of
his boys, who fisted all the bottles and passed
them into the prahu, telling the rest of 'em it
was "eyer manis" a kind of sweetened water
they drink. Fact was, he was conscientious, and
didn't like to set a bad example.
Well, the old fellow and the captain began to
make a bargain for betel nut. But the Rajah
wanted his money afore he'd give the nut, and
164 HARRY SPANKER'S LOVE STORY.
the skipper wanted the nut afore he'd pay for it
and there they were at loggerheads. So the
old Rajah, finding he couldn't get the money,
took off his skull cap and began to scratch his
head for an idea, I suppose. At last he got
one.
"I'll tell you what, captain," says he.
"Give me one of your men for security, and
you shall have five hundred dollars' worth of
nut, and then you pay for it, and so go on
again."
You see the old chap set some value upon a
sailor. I wish folks at home did the one hun-
dredth part as much. The captain said he was
willing, but he wouldn't force any of us to go
he'd call for a volunteer.
Up jumps I, for I knew the old man wouldn't
go off and leave me ; and besides I took a fancy
to the old Rajah, 'cause he valued a sailor so
high. ^
"Very well," says the captain,WKiind and
behave yourself ashore, and don't get into any
scrapes."
"Ay, ay, sir," says I, and down I went and
bundled up all my clean clothes and borrowed
one or two white shirts from the second dick-
ey, so as to look respectable amongst the hea-
thens. I minded how the skipper come it over
the Raj-ah ashore, and so I jumps into the stern
sheets of the prahu, took out a cigar ; and trou-
bled him for a light, and then advised him to
HARRY SPANKER'S LOVE STORY. 165
throw away his roco and take a long nine.
He looked confounded hard at me at first, but
just then the ship give us a salute, and that
tickled him so, he got good-natured, give me a
light, and took a long nine then he puffed away
at it and said, "Bagoose!" I thought at first
he was calling me a goose, but I found out after-
wards that it meant " good !"
By the time we got into the river we were
pretty sociable, considerin' we couldn't under-
stand a word of each other's lingo. The tele-
graphic monkeys stuck up their tails on end
twice, which meant that there was two of us,
and the alligator guards salaamed with their
fore paws over their noses, and looked as mili-
tary as the dandy companies at home that make
forced marches over railroads. On a pinch I
think they'd fight as well too. Their principles
is better than our sodgers, who never can make
a campaigifw-ithout shovin' an h into the word,
but these cn'a^s nat' rally take to water.
We landed in style at the town, and the old
chap was off to his harem, leaving his under-
strappers to look out for me. First, though, he
made a short speech to me, which the inter-
preter turned over into some sort of English.
The amount of it was, "that he considered me
a pretty clever chap, and as long as I behaved
myself, I should live like a fightin' cock; but
when I didn't, I should be cooked for the alli-
gators."
8*
166 HARRY SPANKER'S LOVE STORY.
They marched me off to a decent-looking hut,
and sarved me up a supper in style, on silver
dishes, and then two servants came and said
they'd lend me a hand to undress; but I kicked
them out, and when I got ready, I turned in.
Well, you see, I was in clover, as you'd say,
Jonathan. Breakfast was sarved the same way
next morning, but after that I felt lonesome, so
I called over to see Mr. Rajah, and we had a
smoke together till our chaps comes ashore.
Soon as I see the boat a coming, I comes tailor
too along side of the old boy, and shoves a fist
full of betel nut into my mouth, and kicked two
boys. I began to feel big like an office-holder.
"Taby, tuan," says I to the skipper, touchin'
my hat. He laughed, and the old boy looked
good-natured. So I calls my two servants, and
takes the boat's crew over to my house, and
give 'em a blow out, while the Rajah and the
captain was having their palaver. By and by
the old man sung out for the bSaf, and they
went off. Then I just took a cruise round the
town. All the heathens was very civil to me,
and called me u Tuan" that's "Mister, "you see
or rather it means a bit more " Your honor,"
or the like of that.
Well, so I killed the first day, and had a good
dinner and supper ; but then I began to feel lone-
some again at evening, and just as I was casting
about what to do, in comes the interpreter, and
HARRY SPANKER'S LOVE STORY. 167
says the Rajah wanted me to come over and see
the dance.
" Dance !" says I. " that's the ticket !" So up I
gets and follows over to the Rajah's. Afore I
got there, I heard the turn-turns, and fifes, and
bells. Well, there was the ball-room not exactly
a room, neither, for it was all out doors. Rajah
made a motion to me to come up and sit along-
side of him ; so we looked right down upon the
dancers, who were girls, and some pretty ones, too.
They were rigged flashy, and had bells and
clappers stopped to 'em all over; and the bright
lights would glisten on their gold and silver gear.
Rajah looks at me as much as to say : " Have
you got anything that'll come up to this in Ame-
rica?" I thought it was best to keep on the
right side of him, so I says : " They do beat our
dancers out and out ;" and it wasn't much of a
lie neither, for they beat 'em a good deal in mo-
desty. But there was one ! oh dear, it makes
me sigh again ; she was a touch above extra ;
her hair was black, her eyes were black ; to be
sure her skin was a little blackish, too, but not
much ; and she had a smile on her face that set
like a handsome cut topsail to new smooth spars ;
her neck and shoulders was like a neat mast
coat, and she was catharpened in snug ; her
counters was rounded off, just enough to be
handsome; and when you get down to her floor-
timbers, all I can say is, that nature got 'em out
neat.
168 HARRY SPANKER'S LOVE STORY.
1 couldn't look at any of the rest of 'em, tho'
she took no notice of me at first ; but by and
by, when Rajah gets asleep, she looks at me
once in a while, and soon seeing that I was look-
ing at her all the time, she got to looking at me
all the time, too. So that often, when it came
her turn to go round, she missed stays, and had
to ware. At last, in waring, she got foul of some
of the rest of the fleet, and that interfered with
the whole order of sailing. This made such a
noise that it woke old Rajah up, and as he hap-
pened to wake up cross, he sung out, " Suda !"
that means " enough," you see, and they all
made sail out of the ring. But Lulu (that was
her name) made a stern board of it, exchanging
signals with me all the time till she got out.
Boys, I was in for it ! I didn't know which
end I stood on, but I managed to bid the Rajah
" good night," told him it was " bagoose" and
went over to my house. But I couldn't sleep a
wink. I tried to think what folks ought to do,
that's in love. At last I remembered reading in
a book that somebody that was sick of the same
disorder used " to gaze on the silver moon and
the radiant stars what floated about in the azure
sea of ether." So I gits up, knocks out one of
the deadlights, and looked aloft. But I got tired
of it, and turned in again but I couldn't git
asleep. So I turns out once more, and goes out
doors to walk a bit. I was walking along, slow.
HARRY SPANKKR-'S LOVE STORY. 169
a thinking of Lulu, when I heard a soft voice
alongside of me whisper, " Tuan."
Did you e?er touch one of them 'lectric ma-
chines ashore 1 Well, you felt a little as I did
then ! I was struck all aback, but I looked
round, and just then the star Venus struck into
them eyes, and shone back into mine again, so
that I went off like a keg of powder. I can't sit
still now and think of it. Howsever, after the
flusterfication was over, we got sot down on a
bamboo log, and found that different lingos makes
little difference in love. There we sot, and though
the toads, and lizards, and land-crabs crawled
round us, I couldn't find it in my heart to hurt
'em, I was so happy myself; and when I put
my arm round her neck, it was as if forty thou-
sand of them 'lectric machines was rubbing us
both all over. The long and short of it was,
that it was two bells of the morning watch afore
we went home. Well, you see I was in love.
Love, I say, is a nat'ral thing. Folks ashore
falls in love. I've heard of Indians falling in
love, and niggers I know does, for I've seen 'em
put their lips together like four beefsteaks. So I
don't see why sailors hasn't a right to their
share !
Rajah used to have the dances almost every
night, and every night I used to walk with Lulu
and sit down on the bamboo log, and I soon got
so that I could say sweet things to her in Malay.
I was happy as a clam at high water ! When
170
the captain came ashore, he used to ask me if I
didn't want to be relieved, but I told him I was
very well off, and as Rajah took a fancy to me,
he let me stay.
But there's an end to the middle watch; there's
an end to the world ; there's an end to a long
yarn, and there's an end to love. At last we got
in all the cargo we were to take in at Qiialla
Mengallan ; and the captain came ashore, and
told me we were to go down to Sawang next
day ; and I was to go off aboard with him. I
never felt worse, and I looked I don't know
how.
" I suppose you are glad to hear it," says he.
" No, sir, I'm not," says I. " I should like to
stop here forever."
"What!" says he.
" I should like to stop here forever and ever
Amen, sir!" says I.
"What to do?" says he. "Eat rice and
curry, drink cocoanut milk, and ?
"And marry Lulu, sir," says I. "Now it's
out ! "
He looked one way, and then t'other way, for
a minute, and then roared out, "'Get into the
boat, sir ! "
"Let me go over to the house, sir," says I,
"and get my traps."
" No ! " says he ; " I'll send one of the other
men for them."
I didn't get into the boat, for I sort o'dropped
171
in. In two or three minutes we shoved off, and
just as we got into the stream, down comes poor
Lulu on the bank, with her hands clasped over
her bosom, and the salt water a-runnin' out of
her scuppers. I took off my neck handkerchief
and waved it, then the boat shot round a point,
and that was the last I ever saw of Lulu. I
didn't get over it for a fortnight !
When we got down to Sawang, I found a
fellow who spoke English, about going up to
Qualla Mengallan. So 1 wrote a bit of poetry,
and sent it up, and got him to translate it for
her, and she answered it."
"Come, come," said Charley Brail, " that's a
little too much."
"She did, though," said Harry; "she wrote
it on a piece of plantain bark, and I shouldn't
wonder if it was in my chest now. This is what
it was :
' Tuan manis, mana blaya
Kenapa kata sama say a ?
Kalou mata hari t'ada,
Bulan banya sakit ada.
Lulu pangil s'rivou kalee,
Jangan ratan dia cumbalee ! '
There ! d'ye believe it now 1 "
"What is the English of it?' asked Charley,
somewhat staggered.
' ' Look it out in the dictionary," replied Harry,
" same as folks has to do, that reads French and
Italian in novels."
But though Harry was not disposed to gratify
172 HARRY SPANKER'S LOVE STORY.
Charley's curiosity, I have no disposition to
leave my fair readers (and I am quite confident
that I have some) in ignorance for the title
" Love Story " is sure always to attract their at-
tention. It amounts to something like the fol-
lowing :
" I sit alone in tears forlorn,
My lover and my friend is gone,
Ah, so would fade the queen of night,
Should but the sun withdraw his light.
I call a thousand times in vain,
Thy voice I ne'er shall hear again ! "
" Well, well," said Charley, " it may part of it
be true."
"It's founded on fact," replied Harry.
" But there's one thing I don't hardly believe,"
continued Charley; "that is, them what d'ye
call 'em monkeys ; and as for them cold water
sodgers. the thing aint according to natur, so it
can't be true. I don't like your ' founded on fact'
yarns, any way ; I like the truth. Now I'll tell
you something true.
"EIGHT BELLS, THERE !" sang out the second
mate.
" Ah, that's better than a yarn, any time.
Strike the bell eight, Jonathan, and I'll pitch my
yarn to-morrow night."
CHARLEY BRAIL'S TRUE STORY-
The middle watch of the next night, found the
same company seated on the forecastle, that lis-
tened to Harry Spanker's edifying yarn, during
the first watch of the night preceding.
"Now. then, Charley," said Harry, "for that
yarn of yours ! I spun a twister last night, and
you said you was going to give us something
true to-night. You wouldn't believe what I told
you."
" Yes, I will," replied Charley, "if you'll be-
lieve mine. I'm going to tell 'the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth,' as they
say in Court, when they expect you to make out
the best story you can on one side, and keep dark
about t'other. They goes on the principle there,
that there's three things alike truth, a Manila
hawser, and a lawyer's conscience they can all
shrink and stretch, and yet they're all amazing
tough. Truth is a queer thing any way. I
heard a minister preach once from the text,
'What is truth?' and he made it out that every-
174 CHARLEY BRAIL'S TRUE STORY.
body was a liar but him, and like enough a fellow
on t'other side, would have made him out a bigger
liar than all of 'em."
Having thus prefaced his remarks, Charley
fortified his mouth with a fresh supply of the
weed, that while his tongue was wagging, his
masticators might not remain unemployed. "So
here goes," he continued, "but first let me ask
you, if you was ever in Batavia, any of you ?"
" No? Well, then, I wouldn't advise you to
try it. Of all the dirty, sickly holes in this world,
that is the worst. Orleans and Havana ain't to be
mentioned the same day. That Java is a fine
island and has plenty of high land, where it is
as healthy as it is at home, and plenty of good
harbours, where they might have cities but
you see it was settled by the Dutchmen, and
they thought they couldn't live without they
could look into a canal, no more than they could
live without gin and tobacco just 'cause they
had ? em at home. So they goes to work and
picks out the nastiest swamp on the whole
island, and digs canals and builds brick houses
with old-fashioned glass windows and shutters,
hot enough for bake-houses in Russia, and then
they lays down and dies off like sheep very
contented 'cause all round looks so much like
home ! That's the way it's sickly in the town,
but it's worse in the roads.
" The sun is powerful hot all day, excepting
CHARLEY BRAIL'S TRUE STORY. 175
now and then when it rains like it did in Noah's
time, and then it clears off so quick, and the
sun comes so hot, that your wet clothes a'most
scald you. There's a canal about two miles
long, that runs up to the town ; and when, you
pull up this canal early of a morning, the smell
is worse than a Spanish kitchen. The land
breeze comes off at night and blows till eight
o'clock in the morning. This wind brings off
all this nosegay among the shipping, and there's
yellow fever or fever and ague in every puff of
it. Now mind what I tell you, if ever you have
to go there : Don't go ashore to stop over night,
unless you go out to the country, and that
sailors can't well do. Don't sleep on deck
mind that ; and don't drink any of their infernal
arrack. If you once get that fever, you're very
apt to kick the bucket right off; and if you get
over it, you'll never be as well as before. Now
this is all true. The rest of my yarn, I expect
Harry to believe when I believe his.
" Well, I gqt thefever and ague shocking bad,
and had to go to the hospital. That's a fine
building out in the country, and I should have
had a first rate time there ; only I was sick, and
they wouldn't allow me anything to eat till I got
better, when they give me mosquito broth, and I
soon got so as to eat a small piece of the breast.
The Batavia mosquito is very delicate eating ;
when he's cooked, you can't tell one from a large
wild turkey ; but when they're flying, you can
176 CHARLEY BRAIL'S TRUE STORY.
always tell 'em by the length of their bills ; be-
sides, they're white, and flap their wings different.
" The hospital was chock full. There were
about four hundred of us in it, on an average.
Sometimes ninety or a hundred would die of a
day, but we soon had our complement again,
and so we kept about square. You've heard of
the fever and ague out West ; how they shake
themselves out of bed ? But it won't begin with
it in Batavia. They're obliged to have iron bed-
steads at the hospital, with sides to 'em like a
bunk, so a fellow can't shake himself out One
night a chap, that was in the next tier to me,
got a fit on him. The room shook so, it woke
me up, and it wan't long afore the iron bedstead
went to pieces, and the fellow shook all over the
ward like a drop of quicksilver on a shovel. The
noise woke up one of the nurses, who said the fit
was rather severer than common.
"Sometimes when a hundred or two get the fit
together, you might hear the bones rattle for a
quarter of a mile; however, the building is strong.
You see where these front teeth are gone? Well,
I shook 'em out there. It's a dreadful thing, is
the fever and ague ! I think it accounts for earth-
quakes. I wouldn't like to be aboard of a down
east ship with a man who had one of these fits
on him ; she wouldn't be safe. Bui I don't like to
think of it. I have to hold on to this bitt now for
fear the thoughts of it might shake me overboard !
" Finally I got well, for I shook it all out, and
CHARLEY BRAII/S TRUE STORY. 177
then I was adrift, for the ship had sailed long
before, and there was no other American in port.
But I couldn't afford to be idle, and so I shipped
on board of a Dutchman rather than starve.
You see there had been a row up to the north-
ward of Borneo, between the natives and some
Dutchmen, and so the government were going
to punish the I^tives. The Natives, you know,
were to blame $f course. The Dutch govern-
ment thought so any way, just as ours did when
they sent out a frigate to the West Coast of Su-
matra to burn down a town, 'cause the people
didn't like to be cheated. I tell you what, if
government had sent out by that frigate as many
dollars as the Malays have been cheated out of
by Americans, she'd have drawed more water
than she did.
'' But to go on with my yarn : A man o' war and
some sodgers was to be sent up to this place to
kill a few Natives, and our vessel was taken up
for one of the transports. It was in the norther-
ly monsoon, arid as the port was dead to wind-
ward, fifty days was allowed to be a fair pas-
sage, considering the vessels were all dull sailers
and Dutch. The skippers got their instructions
from the Commodore, which was to keep com-
pany and mind his signals ; but if they should
get separated, to get into port the best way they
could. So we got underweigh and went along
very comfortable for three or four days, getting
178 CHARLEY BRAIL'S TRUE STORY.
to the eastward through the Java Sea, keeping
close together and obeying signals all right.
" It was on the sixth day out, when we got
abreast of the south east land of Borneo. The
old commodore was Doubtful whether he had
better try to beat up the Straits of Macassar, or
try some'of the eastern passages. While he was
thinking about it, he spoke a fmirteen hundred
ton ship, belonging to Messrs. lowland & Co. of
London, homeward bound, with a full cargo of
oil from Macassar, and she reported such strong
southerly currents in the Straits, that the com-
modore concluded to square away for the east-
ward. The captain of this ship (her name was
the "Oleagenous") sent aboard of us to see if
he could get some scissors. His hair growed so
by smelling the oil, that he'd wore out two or
three pair of 'em ; and as to the men, poor fel-
lows, that had been obliged to work amongst the
casks, the hair growed all over 'em so fast, that
they had to spell one another, a singeing it off.
"Well, after the old commodore made signals
to square away, we stood along for about five
miles, when it died away nearly calm ; and as
the current was against us, the old chap made
signal for the fleet to anchor. Now, our skipper
thought that as there was twenty-five or thirty
fathoms of water and the wind so light, that the
stream would hold as' well as the best bower.
So we clewed up our sails, cleared away the
stream and let it go. But what do you think,
179
boys ! As soon as that stream was gone, and
about forty fathom of chain ran out and nip-
pered, instead of fetching us up, her head flew
round to the northward, and she went ahead at
the rate of eleven knot an hour, which was four
knot faster than the old < Vrow Julie ' ever went
before.
" ' Give her more chain !' cried the skipper
' Donder und mitzen!' says he, 'what's the
matter? Clear away both bowers !'
But every body was so frightened they could
not do a thing. In a minute or two the commo-
dore set the VTOW Julie's number with the signal
to anchor, and kept hauling it up and down to
make us take notice of it. But we kept on.
Then he fired a gun to wake us up. On we
stivered, and then came a shot a whistling by us.
Then he waited a minute or two to see if we
minded that, and finding we didn't, he sent
another but that fell short, and he^ didn't try
again !
"All this time we were frightened enough
there was the commodore's shots a booming af-
ter us there was the stream chain a tendin' out
right ahead, and there was we a going like a
chain of greased lightning, whipped by a thun-
derbolt.
" ' Dis-ist-ter-tuyvel !' said the skipper ; 'I be-
lieve he's got hold of the Vrow Julie." Then he
looked in the binnacle and see that she headed
N. N. E. Now that was the course into the
180
Straits of Maccassar. So he grunted and hitched
up his breeches, and ordered the helm to be put
amidships, having come to the conclusion that if
it was l ter tuyvel,' he was a pretty good pilot
in those seas. So he lights his pipe, gets a com-
pass out on the poop, and sits down to take the
bearings of the points and islands as we went
by them. And it was about as much as one
man could attend to, let me tell^ou. Away we
went, then, dead to windward, up the Straits of
Macassar. The skipper's taking it so cool, made
us do so too ; so we laid aloft, and give the sails
a snug furl. The old mate stuck his eyes out
of his head, at making figures in the log-book
he never made before.
" 'Nevermind,' said the skipper, 'boys, as
long as she goes the right way, let her go : and
when she don't, we'll slip the chain.' And so
he loaded his pipe again, and called for a coal
of fire, and a glass of gin.
"Well, she did go just right ; for when she got
abreast of Pulo Laut, she kept up due ^crth,
and shaped a course slap through the Paternos-
ters. After she'd cleared them, she kept off
again N.N.E. ; and of course, when she got Ha-
ring's Island to bear S. E., why there we was in
the Sooloo Sea, and the skipper went below to
get a snooze ! But he couldn' t sleep long that
is, for a Dutchman not more than fifteen hours
or 80^ afore it was time to look out for the Ta-
wee Islands : but here she went all right again.
181
To make a long story short, in two days from
letting go our anchor, we were off Madura Bay,
where we were bound !
11 Now then, Mr. Von Smokesleepandgin," says
the skipper to the mate, " we'll get ready to slip
the chain. But just as we were going to do it,
the ship went over a bar that laid across the
mouth of the harbor with three or four fathom
water on it, and all at once she stopped and
swung to the wind ! Thirty-eight days after-
ward, the rest of the fleet came in !
" Did you ever find out how you got there so
quick?" asked Jonathan.
"Yes, we did," replied Charley Brail, "for we
had no sooner come to a stand still, than a large
whale came up alongside, a looking very tired
and sweaty, and a good deal chafed about the
blow-hole. We had dropped the fluke of the
stream anchor into it, and it scared him so he
set out to run away, but you see he had to take
us with him ! We happened to go right, but I
don't suppose he knew that bar was there, for
it's an out-of-the-way place, and ain't often called
at by ships nor whales. So he struck on it, and
in trying to clear himself, he rolled over, and our
anchor dropped out."
9
DAVID WILLIAMS, THE STEWARD.
THERE was, on board the Maria, a functionary
common to all ships, called a steward, who was
certainly a curiosity. The shining black of his
complexion would vie with the reflected image
of the sun in a tar-barrel ; between his saucer
lips were seen two or three tobacco-stained tusks,
when he deigned to smile. His eyes resembled
two parched peas, and his wool partook about
equally of black and white. Flesh and blood he
had little of, but of skin and bone a very fair
proportion. His understanding was rather lim-
ited, his two little toes being among the missing,
which circumstance can be best explained in his
own language.
" Why, sar, I tell you just how dese here toes
been come gone. You see I was gwoin to Bata-
via in the H , long with Captain Ned B ,
three years done gone smce last winter. We
cotched a northeaster in the bay, in quinsiconse
of which my toes got friz, as it was, preternatu-
ral cold. Well, when they got thawed, they
DAVID WILLIAMS, THE STEWARD. 183
! was excruciating sore ; and when we got to Ba-
tavia the excruciating preponderated most ex-
cessive. So one day the doctor come board and
look at 'em. ' Teward,' says he, * I'll amptate
'em to-morrow.' "Stremely obliged,' says I. So
next day off come doctor. c Git up on table
dare,' says he. So I gets up. Wall, he takes out
a most opprobious looking knife.
" ' Hullo, doctor,' says I. { what you gwoin do V
" ' Cut your toes off,' says he.
" t Cut my toes off?' says I; ' why I t'o't you
was gwoin to amptate 'em.'
" 'So I am,' says he.
" ' Why,' says I, ' ain't amptate a kind of poul-
tice?'
"Well, if dat are Dutch doctor didn't laugh !
Howsever, he cut 'em bofe off, and I larnt what
'amptate' meant, without a dictionary."
"Steward!"
"Good gracious, dare's the old man hollerin'
arter me !" and David hobbled down the compa-
nion way on his eight toes, faster than you or I
would have done on ten.
If my readers have never been passengers, let
me tell them that they will always find them-
selves more comfortable by keeping on the right
side of this important personage, who, though
he seldom dares to be impudent, is often sulky,
and performs services Negligently for those who
happen to' fall under the ban of his displeasure.
I have seen such unfortunate individuals with
184 DAVID WILLIAMS, THE STEWARD.
their hands in the suds, minus a towel, singing
out, "Steward!!" to the peril of their lungs,
while the darkey was on deck, leisurely clean-
ing boots for his favourites, and muttering to
himself, " Holler way dare do your troat good !"
Now as I happened to be a passenger, I was na-
turally desirous of having all the comforts that
situation is capable of; for at best it is often a
miserable one. The cook is a happier man than
a passenger on a long voyage, especially if the
latter chance to be a seaman. One has little to
interest himself about. Books are overhauled
and laid aside ; meals eaten, and, for want of
exercise, with difficulty digested ; for, when you
walk the deck, you are sure to be in some one's
way; if you catch hold of the weather main
brace to benefit your muscles, it is insinuated
that there are enough to work ship without you;
and if you chance to look aloft, the captain looks
thunder clouds, as if he thought that you were
criticising the trim of the sails. Oh, that was a
long tedious passage !
However, as I was remarking, having a de-
sire to be as comfortable as circumstances would
permit, I speedily insinuated myself into the
good graces of the steward, by means of old
shirts and trowsers. tobacco and cigars, and kind
words ; but this enviable position was attended
with this slight inconvenience, that all the griefs
which swelled his gentle bosom, found vent in
DAVID WILLIAMS, THE STEWARD. 185
my ears. Many were the mournful tales I was
compelled to listen to. unable to afford relief, es-
pecially when they concerned the " old man,"
who often amused himself with banging the
steward's head against a bulk-head, to the im-
inent danger of the latter head. The only
tittle of consolation I could give him for this
frequent cause of complaint, was advice to be
thankful that his shins escaped uninjured.
The other passenger was a young gentleman,
who, perhaps, from neglecting such sage advice
as I have been giving, enjoyed but little of
David's good will, and received no more at-
tention and service from him than he was ab-
solutely obliged to render. His clothes were
never brushed, his state-room left in disorder
till night, and sundry other negligences he ex-
perienced, all which he bore as best he could,
until a sudden revolution took place, after this
wise.
I was taking my accustomed walk after
breakfast, one fine Saturday morning, and had
just turned aft towards the companion-way, when
out rushed David therefrom, with bristling wool,
and a most demoniac expression of countenance,
jumping on deck, the image of rage and ugli-
ness combined.
"Hallo!" I exclaimed, "what now? you look
like a scared crow, what's the matter?"
"What-a-matter, sar? Oh gorry, you want to
know what-a-matter ? Why, he 'truck me, yes,
186 DAVID WILLIAMS, THE STEWARD.
sar, dat are young man 'truck me!" And
David's fury was ungovernable.
" I'll tear out a liver ! I'll pull out a gizzard !
I'll hab his heart's blood ! " All which exclama-
tions were accompanied with such antic gestures
as put the mate into a choking fit of laughter,
and would have operated upon me likewise, had
not an idea of further sport taken possession of
my brain.
" This is no laughing matter," said I ; "why,
Mr. Pintle, I am astonished at you ; and David,
I am really sorry for you, for it was really an
outrageous insult ; and if, as you say. you think
the stain upon your honour can only be wiped
out with blood, my pistols are at your service.
However, I have no idea that Mr. Johnson will
fight. A pistol will frighten him."
"I'll fight him," replied David; " yes, sar, he
shall fight; if he don't, eb'ry body call him
coward; dat fix him, any way. I b'lievehefaid,
too."
"Well then," said I, "you must challenge him,
that's all. Now go to the galley and get me a
coal of fire."
While David went on this errand, I stepped
below and spoke with Mr. Johnson.
Erelong that gentleman cameleisurely on deck,
and walking to leeward, looked over the side
apparently in a contemplative mood. The op-
portunity of giving the challenge " in propria per-
sona " was not lost upon David, who presented
DAVID WILLIAMS, THE STEWARD. 187
himself before his victim with all the dignity of a
Congo Senator, prefacing and accompanying his
speech with a look calculated to intimidate a
Napoleon, and with which he expected to over-
whelm his antagonist in the twinkling of a bed-
post
"Misser Johnson," said he, " you Ve suited
me, you 've put a inveterate stain on my dis-
honour that's only gwoin to be sterminated with
blood ! Pistols is destinationed to be the arbitra-
tioners, and you will please desinate the time!"
Mr. Johnson was not annihilated, nor did he
even faint. On the contrary, David's surprise
can scarcely be imagined at his unblanched
cheek and sharp reply.
" If it was not to chastise your impudence, I'd
not condescend to meet you, but you shall have
your wish. Let the meeting be upon the main
deck this afternoon at three o'clock, after the cap-
tain has turned in.. Mr. Ringbolt and Mr. Pintle,
I presume, will act as seconds;" and he coolly
walked away, leaving David too much astonish-
ed to utter a word. The unexpected courage
of Mr. Johnson, when he had anticipated the
triumph of calling him a coward, had entirely
disconcerted the steward, and made him what
he would fain have called his adversary.
"Look here, sar," said he, as soon as Mr.
Johnson had disappeared; "look here! dat are
young man gwoin to fight ! Who'd tot o' dat !"
"Why, to be sure," replied Mr. Pintle;
188 DAVID WILLIAMS, THE STEWARD.
" you asked him, didn't you? Now you'll have
to fight, unless you can buy off, and be called a
coward."
"Me buy off! Me coward? I'se not that
chap, no way ! No, sar. Only, good gracious,
Mr. Ringbolt, to be sent out of this sublunar
hemisphere in such a stemporaneous way makes
me kind o' kind o' "
"Oh. nonsense," said I ; "I don't think that
Mr. Johnson will come to the pinch. You had
better see him again."
David was not long in following this advice.
"Mr. Johnson," he said, "I didn't prexactly
'scriminate what you said a little while gone.
You mean to say, you rather 'pologize ?"
"Apologize ! No, I mean to fight you."
"Now, Mr. Johnson," (and he put on an air
of commiseration,) "I really don't want your
blood. I am very sevagerous with a pistol.
I've killed a fly, five fathom oif so you better
Apologize."
"Apologize! I tell you, I won't apologize to
a darkey! ha! ha! ha! !"
"Well, just say you're sorry"
" But I am not in the least sorry."
"Well, then, just say you 'truck me kind o 7
accidental. Say somefing so as save your life."
"You miserable black rascal!" exclaimed
Johnson; "I see just how it is. You are a
sneaking coward. You've asked me to fight;
DAVID WILLIAMS, THE STEWARD. 189
and yon shall fight. If you don't, I'll heave you
overboard on the first dark night."
This was a settler. Whatever latent courage
there was in David's bosom, seemed to spread
over all his anatomy, as he muttered " That's
an insinuation you'll be impenitent for, sar, dis
affernoon at tree o'clock !"
A wild and inexplicable look hung about Da-
vid's countenance that day. He made several
mistakes as to his dinner, putting salt water into
his soup under-boiling his salt fish, and burn-
ing his pancakes all which called down the
maledictions of the "old man," who threw a
plate at his head, and then cursed him for break-
ing it, and finally charged it to his account.
" Cook," said the steward, after dinner was
over and the two coloured gentlemen were seat-
ed on the spars, near the galley, washing their
dishes, "Cook, I feels a little discotnboberated,
but I'm not gwoin to be 'timidated. Dis here
may be the last time me and you sets here occu-
pied in our profession. If I falls in dis oncoun-
ter, you'll git promoted. Now mine what I tell
you : when you gits to be 'teward, jus you trow
your dignity overboard. Dignity, Cook, digni-
ty's what got my life in joppaday now. If pas-
senger 'trikes you, jus you turn round and tell
'em to 'trike the todder side too. Howseber, dis
afTernoon you'll see me act like gemman, lib or
die, and now let's wash up clean."
As was his wont. Capt. Westerly turned in
190 DAVID WILLIAMS, THE STEWARD.
for a snooze after dinner. The watch on deck
were all occupied in the usual " soger " employ-
ment of Saturday afternoons cleaning muskets,
all eager to see the sport, of which they had
an inkling. Mr. Johnson and the steward ap-
peared at the capstan at the appointed hour,
when the former proposed to the latter a choice
of seconds, leaving him to choose Mr. Pintle or
myself. The honour of being David Williams'
second was mine.
The pistols were produced. Before loading,
Mr. Johnson offered David also a choice of wea-
pons. After trying the locks of each, and upon
due consultation with his second, he selected the
one which seemed to throw the most fire ; and
now his antagonist, wishing to be above-board in
everything, allowed him to select one of two
bullets.
It devolved upon me to load the weapons,
which I did first for Mr. Johnson, slowly and
surely, first, powder; second, wad; third, bullet;
(at which the steward shuddered, and turned as
nearly pale as a darkey conveniently could) and
then a slight wad over all, and finally primed
the pan. " Is that pistol loaded fairly ?" said
Mr. Pintle to his principal.
" Ya yas, sar," faltered David.
" Now then for yours," said I. " So, you see,
here goes the powder." "Yas, sar." "Now
the wad." "Yas, sar." "Now the ball." "Yas,
sar." " And now the last wad."
DAVID WILLIAMS, THE STEWARD. 191
"Oh, lorry gorry, Misser Pintle, don't tep on
my toe what's cut off ! " (While he turned thus
to express himself, his bullet rolled down my
jacket sleeve.)
" Come, come, what's the odds," exclaimed I,
impatiently, "what difference does it make about
your toe? You'll be going after it, perhaps, di-
rectly. Now attend to more important business.
I was just ramming down the last wad in your
pistol. See here, now it's primed. Are you sat-
isfied, Mr. Pintle, that your principal's pistol is
fairly loaded?"
" Perfectly, sir," replied Mr. Pintle, "and he
is now ready to take his station."
Reader, imagine this devotee of honour mount-
ed on one gun, facing his antagonist, who stood
on the other, at the short distance of twenty-five
feet, and who was pointing the muzzle of a load-
ed horse-pistol at his face !
He had screwed his courage up to the sticking
point, but his pistol-hand trembled so that his
weapon would not have been very dangerous,
even if the ball had been in it, instead of in my
pocket; and his bones fairly rattled, while the
expression of his countenance was like that of a
galvanized mummy.
All tittering was suppressed, and every one
looked on with an appearance of awe.
" Will you pol pol igize now, Misser John-
son?" stammered the steward.
" No ! I 5 ] I rather blow your brains out."
192 DAVID WILLIAMS, THE STEWARD.
"Well, then, sar, Vll 'poligize to you? said
David, fairly overcome.
" Too late for that now. Don't disgrace your-
self by being called a coward," said his second.
" Aim steady, you'll hit him. Now ! I'll go on
to give the word. All ready. Well one two
three Fire !"
Simultaneously went off both pistols, Johnson's
ball of course over the mark ; while the steward
made a leap from the gun for the main hatch,
where he alighted on all fours, exclaiming,
" Good lorry gorry ! am I killed? Oh, I'm
dead ! " but instantly jumping up, ran to Mr.
Johnson, assuring him that he was perfectly sat-
isfied, and "the stain on his dishonour was ster-
minated."
The report of the pistols, and the noise and
laughter which ensued, brought Capt. Westerly,
half naked, on deck ; which circumstance having
been anticipated, all hands had resumed their
occupations, excepting David, who had just be-
gun to find himself alive, and stood pistol in hand,
spell-bound, by this new cause of terror.
"What's all this noise about," roared the old
man, "and what'sthat thunder-cloud doing there
in the waist?"
"Oh, nothing sir, "said I, "only the steward took
a fancy to discharge one of my pistols, which
went off so unexpectedly as to frighten him, as
you see."
In consequence of this explanation, the steward
DAVID WILLIAMS, THE STEWARD. 193
escaped the full measure of wrath, being only
ordered about his business, receiving but one
kick, as a hint to do so speedily.
Thus resulted David William's duel. He still
lives in ignorance of the abstraction of his bul-
let, and maintains that "de whiz of Misser John-
son's bullet" was what knocked him down. He
expressed himself to the cook as pretty well sat-
isfied with his opponent's apology and acknow-
ledgment of his superiority, though he would
have insisted on another shot if u de ole man
hadn't woke up;" while his attention and obedi-
ence to Mr. Johnson for the remainder of the
passage, evinced that this communication to the
cook was strictly confidential.
A BARGAIN'S A BARGAIN-
THE comfort of every voyage, depends very
much upon having a good crew. As to pas-
sengers, I have always thought that the com-
mon system of charging them, good, bad and in-
different, per capita, is a very wrong one, inas-
much as it is worth a vast deal more to transport
some individuals than it is to transport others
across the Atlantic. They should pay according
to their sombre countenances or their cheerful
looks ; the former paying a round sum for their
accommodations, and the latter going for nothing,
rather than being left at home. A good crew
and pleasant passengers, therefore, are important
items, but one of very great consideration to
such as regard the welfare of their stomachs,
(and who amongst us does not ?) is a good cook ;
while a bad cook is unquestionably the most use-
less lumber on board of a ship.
I sailed in February, 1843, for Havana, with
a crew shipped as is customary, by a shipping-
master, but taking the usual precaution of seeing
195
and questioning all of them before they signed
the articles.
"Cook," said I, to the darkey, who applied for
that berth, "do you consider yourself 'A. 1.'
in your profession?"
"Yes, sar, I does."
" Well, for a man dressed in go-ashore togs,
you don't appear to be the cleanest mortal that
ever was. If you are not cleaner in your galley,
we shall quarrel."
"Oh ! de fack is. sar, I hasn't got on my best
clothes to-day, and I've been overhauling de
camboose dare and
" Ship him, Mr. Sawyer," said I, impatiently,
"he is probably as good as any that have ap-
plied."
We sailed the next day. and every thing went
on as usual, cl earing p the decks, relashing
spars and water-casks, and then reefing and furl-
ing, as the weather soon obliged us to do, while
the snow fell thick and fast, and the sea broke
over us, washing every loose thing about and
overboard. Why, we could not expect much
of a dinner on the following day; still, as the
roast beef made its appearance, I suggested to
the steward the propriety of scraping off the out-
side : but he assured me that it came so from the
galley; he ' ; hadn't dropped it on the way, and
it must be clean."
" Well, what else have you got]"
"Pudding, sir," replied the steward, as he de-
posited something upon the table.
196 A BARGAIN'S A BARGAIN.
" Pudding ! what kind of a pudding d'ye call
that? You've been with me two years, now,
and never produced such an article as that be-
fore." It had more colours than a rainbow and
a thunder cloud combined, though the colour of
the latter predominated.
" Just as I got it from the galley, sir."
"Help yourself, Mr. Garnet," said I, "I've
done."
" No, thank you, sir," said the mate, "I've
done too."
" Call the second mate and carpenter, steward,
to their dinner" said I, as we rushed upon deck,
where stood one of the crew, who had been
waiting patiently, though not for a very long
time, for us to accomplish our meal. He held
in his hand a kid, and civilly requested me to ex-
amine the contents. Now, I had not been sea-
sick since I was a boy, but it might have been
the motion of the ship, at this time, or possibly
the sight of that kid at any rate I felt sick
very sick !
The cook was called aft, and notwithstanding
his various excuses, reprimanded sharply, and
promised something additional, in case he
did not amend. But alas! he did not; for the
next day's dinner, fore and aft, beggared descrip-
tion ; but willing to resort to mild means at first,
he was merely obliged to swallow a great part
of his own dirty concoction, which he did without
any compunctions of stomach or of conscience
A BARGAIN J S A BARGAIN. 197
hardened villain that he was ! Still another
day and so far from improvement, he seemed
to grow still worse. Now he was introduced
to the lee scuppers, and copiously drenched with
water, while deck brooms were freely used upon
him, to cleanse at all events, his greasy person.
But did all this have any effect upon the mor-
row's dinner ? Oh no ! no ! for upon that day
every appetite in the ship was ruined, and those
whose duty called them to pass the galley, gave
it a wide berth for fear of infection.
The final remedy was at last resorted to a me-
dicine no one likes to take, and one which no one
should administer excepting in the most obstinate
cases but even this failed, and he was pronoun-
ced incurable disease, chronic filthiness Othel-
lo's occupation was gone, and he was thence-
forward knocked about the decks, receiving more
kicks than coppers, while the steward did the
cook's duty as well as his own. Our appetites
again revived, and when we entered Havana, we
were all in a state of convalescence.
"Now," thought I, " what shall be done with
this fellow ? Shall I carry his useless carcase the
voyage round 1 Indeed I will not even if it be
necessary to pay his passage home, he shall go
no farther." With the fixed resolution to dispose
of him in some way, and even with the wicked
thoughts stealing into my mind of selling him,
(which however conscience overcame when I re-
flected upon how his purchaser would be cheat-
198 A BARGAIN'S A BARGAIN.
ed,) I gave general notice that I was ready to
transfer him to any one who might need a cook.
Even then, conscience troubled me, but I deter-
mined to smother its reproaches.
I was seated one evening at the fountain on the
Quay, enjoying my cigar in company with a few
friends, when we were approached by a lengthy
individual, whose legs were inadvertently shoved
too far through his pantaloons, thus giving
a very fine opportunity to display the blue wool-
len socks that encased his shins. He wore a
venerable olive colored surtout, perhaps claiming
the designation of frock coat. Two very prom-
inent pieces of linen rose at angles of forty-five
degrees above a rusty neck-cloth, and to cap or
rather hat the climax, his shaggy locks were
surmounted by a beaver of by-gone ages. Mak-
ing a desperate pull at the rim of this helmet, he
asked, " Gten'lemen, neither on ye ain't the
cap'n of the * Agnes ' be ye?"
It being somewhat doubtful as to the number
of negatives requisite to make an affirmative to
this singular interrogatory, I hesitated, but was
soon relieved from suspense by his saying, "Well,
I guess it's you that was pointed out to me just
now."
" Yes, sir, I am the person you are looking
for."
"I heer'd you'd got a nigger you wanted to
get rid on, and "
199
" Won't you sit down, sir?" said I, delighted
beyond measure.
" Thank ye, no can't stop now but as to
that nigger, what's the reason you want to git
rid on him ?"
Now this was a hard question, but honesty
being the best policy, I replied accordingly,
" Because he is dirty," and was extremely re-
lieved when he asked, " Nothin' else ?" "No,
sir," said I, "nothing whatever; he is strong,
healthy, and civilly behaved."
" Now is he right down civil, though ?"
"Perfectly so."
"Well then, I'll take him, if you'll swop !"
"Agreed."
"What! unsight, unseen? Howsever you
can't get off; you've said it, and these here folks
is witness. A bargain's a bargain ! But then
I'll do as some of our conscientious folks
down east do, (tho' they don't always) after
they've sold the ship that they cracked up c A.
I.,' they'll tell ye, (and if they don't, you'll soon
find out,) she wants building all over again !"
"Yes," said I, "I know that they generally
require some slight repairs of that sort, and they
must be built over again several times in the
region where they were first l sawed off," before
they are of much value."
" Now don't go to 'busing our ships I tell ye
we can build better ones there than in.Medford.
Sartin, it stands to reason we do; if we couldn't.
200
how comes it we build 'em so cheap ? They'll
ask you $45 or $47 a ton for hull, spars and iron
work in Medford, and more too in New- York,
where they rub 'em down with sand paper, and
putty up the seams. And we'll knock 'em off
for $ 30 a ton any day, and less money. But as
to that nigger of mine, I '11 just tell you, (now
mind, you 've agreed to take him,' or forfeit a
hogshead o' lasses if you don't) he's sarcy !
there, no flinching now."
"Oh well," said I, "that's nothing at all
that complaint is easily cured ; but you under-
stand that the one you have agreed to take is
dirty ?"
"Yes, but not sarcy? honour bright, hey?
Well, I don't mind a little mite o' dirt, but as to
bein' spoke to the way I be by that air feller I ' ve
got, I can't stand it no longer ; he don't have no
respect to me as an officer and a gentleman, not
a bit ! Well, we 've swopped, haven't we?"
"Most certainly; by the bye, which is your
vessel?"
" There she lays over in the lumber tier," said
he, pointing to an old box, whose masts and
yards were looking about in all directions, as if
afraid of each other, but which was evidently
intended to have been a brig, " The * Virgil Del-
phini Paris,' and my name 's Snubson."
" Captain Snubson," said 1, " I'm happy to
have made your acquaintance ; you and I must
take these fellows ashore to the consul to-mor-
201
row, and pay their wages, discharge and ship
them, &c., you know. I'll come on board the
'Virgil Delphini Paris' at nine o'clock, to-
morrow morning, if agreeable to you."
"Very well," he rejoined, "so be it; good
night!" and away he went down the quay,
smiling, chuckling, and snapping his fingers
with infinite delight. Yes, there were two hap-
py men that night in Havana happy in per-
spective ; wherein, after all, most happiness
consists.
If I was never punctual before, I was upon
the next morning, standing on the deck of the
" Virgil Delphini Paris," at nine o'clock pre-
cisely.
" Walk down here," cried Captain Snubson ;
and, descending, I found that gentleman seated
on the transom somewhat in dishabille, taking
the grass from off his bows by the reflection of
a paper looking-glass, " I'll be ready directly,"
added he, which he soon was, having quickly
despatched that part of his toilet, and drawn on
his woollen socks.
"Cook," said he, "you might as well have
greased my shoes, mightn't yer? I should think
you might; however, I suppose you was busy."
" I ship'd for cook and teward didn't ship
for boot-black," replied my future cook.
" Well, git up along on deck, then. Just see
what a dreadful sarcy creeter he is !" added he,
turning to me.
202 A BARGAIN 's A BARGAIN.
The u sarcy creeter" not making any demon-
strations of obedience, the captain added, "or
stay below, if you're a mind to. Now you and
I, cook, can't set hosses together no way. and
this man says he'll take you, if you'll quit.
What say, will you go?"
"Yes!"
By this time, the captain, having finished
dressing, and politely offered the refreshment
of "switchel," a liquor composed of new rum,
molasses, ginger, and water,) which was as po-
litely declined, we, that is, Captain Snubson,
Captain Ringbolt, and the respective cooks of
the " Virgil Delphim Paris," and "Agnes," pull-
ed by four very willing men of the latter ship,
left the brig for the shore ; and, landing, pro-
ceeded to the office of the consul, where the
transfer was made, legally and satisfactorily to
all parties ; and I went on board with the new
cook, greeted by the pleased and smiling faces
of my crew.
I saw no more of Capt. Snubson in Havana,
and sailed in a few days for Matanzas, there to
complete my cargo. In the meantime, every-
thing went on like clock-work at the galley, and
great was the joy we all felt and expressed at
the exchange !
"Look here, sir," cried the mate, one morn-
ing early, " if here isn't that Latin and French
down-east brig, in shore ! "
There she was, indeed ; and sure enough there
A BARGAIN 's A BARGAIN. 203
was a small boat, pulled by one man, approach-
ing us from her. Taking the glass, I could
plainly make him out to be Captain Snubson
himself.
" Do you think he's coming here?" asked Mr.
Garnet, in a faltering tone.
" Yes, but don't be alarmed, I shall hold him
to his bargain."
In a few moments the dingy was alongside,
and the captain, throwing his painter on deck,
climbed up the ladder.
"Good morning, sir," said I, " I didn't expect
the pleasure of seeing you here ! "
"Well, nor I didn't expect to see you. I
thought you'd gone to Rooshee."
" Oh no, not yet, but how are you ? "
" Why, tolerable, except I've got a kind of
rising and squeamishness about my stomach."
u Ay, the dyspepsia," said I, " I know what
it is. I was troubled with it once. You've had
it, Mr. Garnet, haven't you?"
" Yes, sir, once"
Captain Snubson was evidently not the man
he was when he walked so gaily away from the
fountain in Havana. He had not then the hag-
gard look which he now exhibited ; how wan and
dejected he appeared ! but his shoes were greas-
ed, and what was more, he seemed to be greased
all over !
"Well, what kind*f a passage did you have
round?" inquired he.
204
" Very good; we left in the morning, and ar-
rived here next morning."
"You did? Why, you beat me all holler. I
was two days.
"Come," said I, "have you breakfasted?
We are just sitting down."
"No yes not exactly, either. I don't mind
taking a mouthful."
"Do that's right. Steward, another plate
and chair !"
c ' Capt. Snubson cast his eyes over our clean
and well-provided board, and looked melancho-
ly; but he fulfilled .his promise of taking a
mouthful ; indeed he took several quite a num-
ber of mouthfuls ; so many that the constant re-
ception of food prevented any egress of words.
Having at length finished his rneal, he wiped
his mouth with the table-cloth, and observed :
"Lasses has riz !"
"Yes?"
"Fact! I come round here expecting to do
better than in Havana, but I'm disappointed."
"I'm very sorry to hear it; perhaps the price
will be lower, if you wait long enough."
"I shall die if I wait much longer!" ex-
claimed he, suddenly; but checking himself,
observed that it was " fine weather, and cool for
the season."
A full assent being given to this, he seemed at
a loss what to say next, though he evidently
A BARGAIN'S A BARGAIN. 205
had something important to communicate when
a good opportunity should be afforded.
"Be you acquainted here ashore?"
" Not at all," said I, "never having been here
before. I know no one but my consignee."
" Haint been here before? Where have you
been ? Well, I've been here so often, I've got to
know the ropes pretty well, and can introduce
you all round. Spos'n you go ashore long : a
me ?"
"No, thank you; I shall go by-and-by ;
much obliged for your kind offer of introduction,
but I'm not very anxious to make acquaintances,
where they will not be continued."
Capt. Snubson now sat a long while silently,
but at length broached the subject near his heart.
"Well, I 'spose you're plagued to death with
that sarcy nigger, aint you ?"
"Far from it; he seems to be an excellent
cook. Is he ever insolent, Mr. Garnet?"
"Not in the least, sir; a very quiet darkey,
who knows his place and keeps it."
"Strange!" said Capt. Snubson, "aint it?
Why, the creeter wouldn't grease my shoes
when I asked him to !"
" We never ask him to do anything here,"
said the mate.
;: Ah, well," said the captain, "you aint had
him long enough yet. If you was to keep him,
you'd soon find out. ^tfe's nat'rally sarcy. Now
10
206 A BARGAIN'S A BARGAIN.
I don't like to impose upon folks, I'll take him
back again; there !"
"Oh, no," said I, " you haven't been guilty of
any imposition at all. I'm perfectly satisfied."
The sweat stood in great drops on Capt. Snub-
son's brow.
" Ah, but you know," said he, " you see ; the
fact is, them pesky lawyers to hum makes so
much trouble, we'll both of us git sued and
plagued to death if we don't swop back again !"
"My dear sir," said I, " take another cup of
coffee. I cannot think of it; so don't mention
this subject again."
Poor man ! he gave no heed to my oifer of the
coffee, but only heard the last words, which
sounded like his doom. At length the blood
rushed into his face, and starting up, he knock-
ed over the table, exclaiming,
" Cap'n, YOU'VE CHEATED ME ! "
"Sir ! " said I, in some slight amazement.
The emotion had been too powerful for his
weakened stomach. Anger gave place to grief,
and he sank down again into his chair, and the
tears and big drops of perspiration chasing each
other down his cheeks, he sobbed,
"If I wasn't cheated, then, what on earth
was I?"
"My dear friend," said I, (and I did feel for
him,) "my dear, good friend, be calm. How can
you say you were cheatq^? Didn't I tell you
the fellow you took was dirty ? "
207
" Yes, yes," he replied, meekly, " you did say
he was dirty, but (and here he raised his voice
to the highest key) you didn't say he was so
gaul-darrfd all-fired piz ''nous everlasting
dirty!"
" Well, Captain Snubson," said I, " I sincere-
ly pity you, but you have a less distance to go
than we have, and will soon be in Portland
self-preservation, moreover, is a law of nature ;
again, you sought me, not I you; and finally, to
use your own words, ' a bargain 's a bargain'
and I could not release you from this, even if
you ' forfeited a hogshead of molasses,' as you
bound me to do ; no, not for all the molasses on
board your vessel ; but as long as we remain
here, make this cabin your home ; I shall al-
ways be happy to see you at meals."
THE OLD SAILOR.
AN old sailor is a singular being ; not only
peculiar, but singular , in the literal meaning of
the word alone. He has outlived his youthful
companions he has lost his relish for every
thing calculated to make life happy. Novelty
has no more charms for him. because to him
there can be nothing new, and he plods along
the downhill of life, too often hastening his de-
scent by seeking temporary oblivion of his mis-
ery in the intoxicating cup.
Poor solitary Jack Tar ! you stand alone,
like the old oak of the forest, but not like the
tree, strong and vigorous in age ; for your de-
caying trunk and weakened limbs bend more
and more to every fitful blast, until soon the
winds shall indeed pass over you, and you are
gone ; not even shall an humble tomb-stone tell
where you lie.
" Peace to the ashes of the dead ?"
No peace to his, for o'er his head
The ocean's heaving billows roll,
Their roar the requiem of his soul.
THE OLD SAILOR. 209
What matters this ? At God's command,
The ocean, as the solid land,
Shall bring its tenants forth to view.
Yes, they shall leave her, clothed anew
In glorious bodies, at the day
When, at a word are passed away
The ocean and the firmer earth,
By Him whose mandate gave them birth.
Excuse this humble tribute, to the memory of
an old shipmate. But shall such a destiny as I
have described always await the old sailor?
No, God be thanked for the benevolent age in
which we live, and the exertions which are al-
ready making for seamen. Contrast the present
time with a few short years by-gone. The
spirit of love of true philanthropy is abroad,
whicH^ if not religion itself, is her twin sister
and dearest companion. Hand in hand, they
are traversing the civilized world, and shedding
more of their blessed influence upon our own
land than upon any other region of eartn.
Fondly do we look forward to the time when
they shall complete the good work already be-
gun, and make this desert world blossom like
the rose, and render it once more the paradise
of God. No one can deny that the efforts now
making to improve the moral and intellectual
condition of sailors, have a greater tendency to
hasten that happy period than almost any other
purpose that can emanate from a benevolent
heart : for in vain shall the great societies for
the diffusion of the Gospel in foreign lands.
210 THE OLD SAILOR.
send forth their Bibles and Missionaries, so long
as the vessels which convey them are manned by
seamen whose evil example will counterbalance
all their good effects. Until very lately, no one
cared for the sailor's comfort of body or for the
peace of his soul. He was regarded as an out-
cast, and beneath the notice of his more fortu-
nate fellow-creatures who dwell on shore. But
humanity has at length been aroused in some
bosoms, and chiefly in those of such as are al-
ways first in every good work. God bless the
ladies ! and I am sure the response will come
from every sailor's heart Gou BLESS THE LA-
DIES !
But I have run off my course. The old sail-
or yes, poor old Bill Merrick you were such
an one as I had begun to describe. Your hag-
gard look, enfeebled strength, and broken con-
stitution, were strong and uncalled-for witnesses
to prove your claim to the title.
It was a cold and dreary night off the Cape
of Good Hope, in July, and the watch had gen-
erally sought shelter under the lee of the galley
and long-boat, excepting old Bill, whose look-
out it happened to be. After endeavouring in
vain to get warm by means of a p-jacket, I jumped
up, shivering, and volunteered to keep the look-
out for the old man, and let him caiilk, if he
could.
" No, no, Charley," said he, (for he called me
THE OLD SAILOR. 211
by this name,) "lie down again, and forget your
misery. 7 '
" Why, I'm not particularly miserable, Bill,
unless miserably cold," replied I, as he turned
away from me; "I should think you were,
though, for your face has looked as long as the
main- top-bo wlirie and jib downhall spliced to-
gether, for this week or more. Well, if you
won't let me keep the look-out for you, why
then good-bye only you're a bit unsociable
that's all."
I had turned away, when the old fellow sud-
denly stopped in his hurried walk, and said in
a kinder voice, " Charley, my boy, come here ;
you may keep the look-out udth me, if you like,
and I will tell you of a greater misery than cold
or any other pain you ever suffered."
" O, now for a yarn !" said I, "a regular
twister, I suppose."
" Nothing of that kind," said fre, seriously.
"If you live as long as I have done, you may
experience much misery ; but if you live as I have
done, you'll have the greatest misery a man can
have an evil conscience for that's my yarn.
" I once had a home, and a happy one, for there
was everything to make it so : kind and affection-
ate parents, brothers and sisters, and many
friends one friend, Charley, more dear than all.
' I had received a good education, and at the age of
twenty , blessed with that, and with robust health,
and, above all, with the love of such a sweet
212 THE OLD SAILOR.
girl as Mary Morton, who was happier or who
had fairer prospects for life than myself? But un-
fortunately I had a restless disposition, and felt
an irresistible desire to see the world, and could
not overcome a fancy for the sea. I must take
one voyage. My father opposed my mother
and sisters begged me not to leave my home.
And Mary, poor Mary said nothing but the
parting kiss, the tears that stood in her sweet eyes,
and the last look of love she gave me as I closed
the door of her father's house and saw her for
the last time, were words such as lips can never
utter.
"But I shall see her again, boy," continued
the old sailor. " I sometimes think I do see her.
I think she is one of those bright stars overhead
and on such a night as this, 1 love to watch
them as they break out from the black passing
clouds like rays of hope from the darkness of de-
spair, to cheer us on our lonely way. Charley,
I do believe those stars are angels. I can't help
worshipping them sometimes, and then I think
they glisten brighter than before, and are the
smiles of heaven upon my desolate soul !
" Well, I sought a voyage, caring little where
the ship might be bound, so that I might gratify
my darling desire to ' see the world ;' arid believe
me, my boy, I have seent and seen the vanity
of it too. My first voyage was round Cape Horn ;
and though at first ship's duty came hard upon
rne as it does upon us all, yet every thing was
THE OLD SAILOR. 213
so new during that voyage, that this was soon
no longer remembered and alas ! the thoughts
of my home and friends, too, began to fade from
my mind. I became a slave to bad habits, and
in two short years, whatever good feelings my
heart might have once possessed, were deadened
or benumbed; and when I returned, I was a
different being. I had forgotten my parents, my
brothers arid sisters, and even Mary or if ever
thoughts of them crossed my mind, tljey were
chased away like phantoms that disturb our
dreams, I had rushed headlong to destruction
and there was no one to stop my besotted career.
<: Had there been such institutions as there now
are, I might have been reclaimed but then, every
one seemed willing to help me on to destruction.
My dissolute companions induced me to frequent
t he resorts of infamy. My kind landlord stupified
my senses with his infernal liquor, and a miser-
able scoundrel of a lawyer, with whom he was
connected in trade, persuaded me to prosecute
my captain for some fancied wrong, and thus
between them all I was ruined outright.
" Charley, don't you ever forget your home
don't you go inside of such dens as I did don't
you touch rum don't you trust the landlord who
offers it to you arid don't you have anything to
do with lawyers. If^pu mind -the first three
things, you'll keep \*trr happiness, reputation
and health and if you mind the two last, you'll
keep your money into the bargain. Rum, bad
214 THE OLD SAILOR.
women, landlords and lawyers, have been the
ruin of me, as they have of many sailors besides.
Yes, they are worse than sickness, shipwrecks,
scorpions and devils !"
Bill expressed himself strongly; I will not ask
" 'long shore people" if any too strongly ; but,
sailors, I put it to you.
"Well," continued the old tar, "I shipped
again ; or rather, I was shipped ; for positively I
knew nothing of it until I found myself at sea,
when I awoke as from a trance, to the wretched-
ness, the untold wretchedness of my situation.
From the first hour that I landed in Boston un-
til then, I could not call my senses my own. But
a few days after leaving port they returned with
their full strength and vigour, and showed me my
past folly in a glaring light. My wages for a two
years' voyage were gone, and also those for the
first two months of the voyage on which I had just
entered, bound I knew not where. But all this
was nothing; I gave it scarce a moment's
thought. My reputation was lost forever. Oh,
the recollection of what I suffered on that dread-
ful day makes me shudder, even now, after a
lapse of more than thirty years. The conscious-
ness of my degraded situation overwhelmed me ;
the damning thought that I had set the seal of
ruin upon my own head, and that I had forgot-
ten the ties of nature aria of love, came over me
with a power that threatened to drive me rnad.
The tearful countenances of my parents often
THE OLD SAILOR. 215
appeared to my view ; and the image of Mary
flitted before me, as it were, the image of sorrow !
I have since been in the thickness of battle,
wounded among the dying and the dead ; have
lain among sufferers like myself from loathsome
diseases in a crowded foreign hospital; have en-
dured every hardship that falls to a sailor's lot,
and they are neither few nor small ; but the day
on which I suffered more than in all other days
combined, was the first day that I came to my
senses on my second voyage.
" Oh Charley, it was conscience conscience !
Many gay scenes have I witnessed since then,
in the midst of which, conscience, by suddenly
bringing such recollections to my mind, has dis-
pelled the temporary charms of pleasure which
I had gathered around me ; but as conscience met
with strenuous resistance, fainter and fainter
seemed her rebukes, until my soul was hardened
by sin.
" Yet once a softer feeling came over my mind.
I had recovered from a severe sickness, and, not
being able to go to sea immediately, resolved to
visit my home. Twenty years had elapsed since
I had left it ; yet I dared not to assume my own
name but under false colours I arrived at my
native town. The change that had passed over it
was great but not so great as the change that
had passed over myself. I recognised many
things and many faces, but no one recognised me.
1 made inquiries of the landlord of the village
216 , THE OLD SAILOR.
tavern, about the inhabitants, in such a manner
as not to excite suspicion. My parents were
dead they had died in the far West, and for
aught that was known, my brothers and sisters
still dwelt there, or were buried by their side.
But there was one, I dared not inquire for. though
I hoped that she had forgotten me, and was hap-
pier with another than she ever could have been
with such a wretch as myself; but I could not
find courage to mention her name, lest I should
be betrayed and I would not have been discov-
ered for worlds.
" A wanderer in my own home, I sauntered
about the streets seeking familiar objects dear to
my youth, and at length strolled into the burial
ground. I found there the names of many of my
early associates, and I sadly gazed upon these,
the only mementos that were left of them to me
but suddenly I stopped for a white tomb-
stone met my gaze, and on it was inscribed her
name ! She had died three years after 1 had re-
ceived her farewell kiss of affection, and prom-
ised in return the truest and most constant, love !
I asked no more questions of any one and here
I needed to ask none. Sftie died she must have
died of a broken heart ! and so perhaps died my
beloved parents. I gathered a handful of the
tall rank grass from her grave, and departed,
never again to return !
"My life then became wretched indeed. My
youth and health were gone, and I could no
THE OLD SAILOR. 217
longer enjoy pleasures, which long before, by
repetition, had lost their power to please. But
latterly a thought comes over me at times, that
I may yet be forgiven and thus may meet
again in heaven, those I shall nevermore behold
on earth. Yes, Charley, I'm a shattered old
hulk, and have been long adrift but, thank
God, I hope the sighs of repentance have at last
wafted me to good holding-ground, and I have
one anchor left it is Hope. When that takes
hold upon Mercy, we can't go ashore."
Such was the story of old Bill if not his pre-
cise words, as near as my recollection serves
me.
We became intimate friends. His sad history
had conveyed a moral. His was, too, the best
advice one sailor ever gave another. Let it not
be sneered at because he chose to include one of
the learned professions in his enumeration of
sailors' enemies. He meant "sailor lawyers,"
and experience has since proved to me that he
was riot wrong in adding them to his list, rior
very far out of the way in the comparison with
which he has honoured them.
It is a fact, too notorious to be disputed, that
in some places, certain of these gentry are leagued
with landlords, and make it their business to stir
up ill feelings among sailors towards their offi-
cers, bringing cases into the courts which might
not, perhaps, have been dreamed of; and, as is
usual, getting a very good oyster, and in almost
218 THE OLD SAILOR.
every instance, leaving the two shells to be di-
gested between plaintiff and defendant. One of
the members of the Suffolk bar once had the
frankness to tell the writer, whom he was pros-
ecuting for an alleged cruel assault and battery,
that he had no doubt of his innocence, but that
the sailor, having come off from a long voyage,
had plenty of money, and as long as that lasted,
he was determined to carry on the suit. Rather
than be at numerous law expenses, this gentle-
man received a clever sum to settle, for which
he gave his own receipt as attorney for the sailor,
who might have received it, or might not but
the probability seemed that he had been the
loser rather than the gainer, as he went to sea
again in a few days, the landlord taking his ad-
vance wages for money which he owed ! I do
not bring forward this example to gratify my
own spleen, though I must own that I was indif-
ferently pleased with the affair, but I mention it
as one of the numerous instances of the depreda-
tions of this class of land-sharks which have
come to my knowledge, and which happening
to in part myself, affords me at least strong
grounds for belief in its truth. And I trust the
honest gentlemen of Court-street, will have no
more objection to its exposure than an honest
landlord will dislike the exposure of a rogue
a pious man of a hypocrite or the tempe-
rance society the downfall of rum. I am writing
just now, as I humbly hope, for the benefit of
THE OLD SAILOR. 219
sailors. I wish to point out all their enemies to
them, and beg them, as they value their happi-
ness, reputation, health, and property, to re-
member old Bill's advice, the whole of it, from
clue to earing.
We at length arrived at our port of destination.
The good resolutions which Bill had formed
were not abandoned. He withstood every temp-
tation that was thrown in his way, and won the
esteem and respect of his officers and shipmates,
as the consistent conduct of a good seaman inva-
riably will. Unquestionably there are some-
times brutes who creep into stations of authority
and trust on board of American vessels but
they are never allowed to continue long, and I
cannot but believe that their cruelty is almost
always greatly exaggerated, for their own self-
interest would prevent its execution. I can truly
say, that during many years on board of many
different vessels, I have seldom seen a good sail-
or, who knew and did his duty, maltreated or
abused ; nor from credible and impartial testi-
mony, do we often hear of such instances. These
alleged abuses heaped upon sailors may gene-
rally be sifted down to pretty severe treatment
of those who cannot or will not perform their
duty as able seamen ; and in either case, such fel-
lows should expect it. If they cannot do their
duty, they have no right to ship as anything
more than ordinaries, and thus impose upon
their officers and shipmates by taking the place
220 THE OLD SAILOR.
of other men, especially when vessels are so un-
dermanned as at present. If they will not do
their duty when they do know it, they should
not be disappointed if their treatment corre-
sponds with their obstinacy.
After visiting several ports, the old Amelia's
head was pointed for home, and at first every-
thing promised a speedy passage. But such was
not to be our lot. After experiencing gale after
gale, we at length weathered the Cape, but the
passage was prolonged almost beyond precedent,
and that dreadful scourge, the scurvy, appeared
among us. It is a consolation to know that this
fell disease is every year becoming more and
more rare, as greater attention has latterly been
paid to the comfort of seamen, and more regafd
is had to their diet and cleanliness; but formerly
its ravages were dreadful, and even now, we
sometimes hear of its melancholy effects upon
entire crews. Let ship-owners be persuaded to
supply their vessels plentifully with flour and
vegetables and some live stock, and it will soon
entirely disappear. It is really astonishing that
this precaution has not been heretofore more ex-
tensive, for, putting motives of humanity aside,
salt beef and bread alone have been found to be
the most expensive articles in the victualling of
a ship. One barrel of beef, and one of flour, will
last one third longer than two barrels of beef, and
cost one fourth less. Flour allowed once, or at
most twice a week, is considered in many vessels
THE OLD SAILOR. 221
as very liberal but I have found that by far the
cheapest way is to give it to the crew every day.
As is usually the case, from what cause does
not appear this disease fell first and heaviest
upon the oldest men on board ; arid by the time
we were within ten days' sail of home, the chief
officer, who was an elderly man, had fallen a
victim to its power, and the half of the crew
were off duty. My old shipmate suffered more
than any other, and the death of the mate caused
him to despair of recovery.
On the day of the officer's burial, he called
me to the side of his bunk : " Charley," said he,
"so Mr. Williams is gone? Well, my turn
comes next."
" Oh no, Bill," said I, " I hope not. We have
got a fair wind now, and^hall be on soundings
in a few days, and then you'll be all right
again."
" NEVER !" said the old man solemnly. " No,
I shall never land in Boston alive. If not be-
fore, I shall die the moment we strike soundings.
I hope I may hold out till then, and perhaps the
captain will keep my poor old hulk aboard till
the ship gets in.*"
I endeavoured to console him, and assured him
that should it be so, we would all beg the cap-
tain to grant his request, if it could be done.
"But," said he, pressing my hand, "I have
one request to make of you, /would do it for
any one, and I know you will do it for me ! '
222 THE OLD SAILOR.
The tears started in my eyes as I promised to
obey his wish before it was expressed. He then
asked for pen and paper, which being furnished,
he wrote a draft upon the owners, made payable
to myself, for all the wages due him to the time
of his death. He put the paper in my hand,
and held that in his own, while he told me to
draw the money, and expend it in having his
body transported to , and, he added in a
faltering voice, "have it buried by her side."
I repeated the promise already made, and
pledged my word to see it done myself.
" I knew you would, Charley.;" said he,
squeezing my hand, " I knew you would" and
he then continued, " if there is anything left, put
it into Father Taylor's box."
But the consolation was denied him. Our
favourable wind soon failed. He become more
and more exhausted, and it was evident to him-
self, as weJl as to others, that his end was at
hand. Sailors may be supposed rough nurses,
but we did every thing in our power to soothe his
dying moments.
On Saturday he had been fast drooping, and
we had expected that every^our would be his
last; but as evening drew on, he revived a little.
and asked me how was the weather. I told him
it was fine.
" Are the stars out? " he inquired.
He was told that they were.
THE OLD SAILOR. 223
" Then, oh, take me on deck, and let me look
at them once more ! "
His request was complied with. He was
carefully lifted out of the fore scuttle, and placed
on the weather side of the forecastle. We were
off Bermuda, and it was indeed a beautiful
evening. It might almost be said with truth,
" The winds were all hushed, and the waves were at rest."
For only a slight ripple under the bows broke
the stillness of the hour, and its dirge-like music
seemed tuned by nature for the parting soul,
while the gentle breeze was ready to waft it to
the mansions of the blest. As the eyes of the
sufferer gazed on the bright firmament over his
head, they gathered an unearthly lustre, and a
triumphant smile irradiated his pallid features,
as he clasped his hands Across his bosom and
exclaimed, "THANK GOD, I AM FORGIVEN!"
These were his last words, and uttered almost
with his last breath. He was dead ; but his
countenance seemed to grow brighter after life
had fled, as if his purified spirit had returned
from heaven to share its happiness with the frail
body, which hacU^een its companion so long upon
earth.
Thus the hope which my old shipmate had
cherished of dying on shore, was disappointed.
But why should it have been regretted? Far
different is a funeral on shore from one at sea.
Who would prefer the ceremony and bustle ; the
solemn pageantry of the hearse and the pall ; the
24 THE OLD SAILOR.
being deposited in the damp earth, to become the
food of noisome reptiles, to being launched from
under our glorious flag, into the bosom of the
ocean, which for so many years has been our
home, and which will not at last stint us to a few
feet of room ?
It would have better harmonized with our
feelings had the sun risen as smilingly, as on the
previous evening he had set over the calm ex-
panse of waters. But the Storm king revelled
where the gentle zephyr so lately played upon
the smooth pathway now broken into crested
waves around us.
The body, lashed in a hammock for a winding
sheet, was brought upon deck, and having been
placed upon a board in a lee port, was covered
by the folds of the J&ck. The ensign flutter-
ed at half-mast in the gale, above the roar of
which the clear voice of the captain was heard
commencing the solemn service for the burial of
the dead.
"I am the resurrection and the life, saith the
Lord ; he that believeth in me, though he were
dead, yet shall he live : and whosoever liveth
and believeth in me, shall neWr die." As the
service proceeded, tears stood in the eyes of
many who had seldom wept till then. At the
words C{ We therefore commit his body to the
deep," the jack was raised, and the board with
its burden fell into the sea. The shot at the feet
THE OLD SAILOR.
of the body soon carried it down from our sight,
and the dark billows rolled over the old sailor.
t was his executor, though little wealth did
he leave behind him ; but upon searching his
chest, a small tortoise-shell box tastefully worked
by his own hands, was found. It contained a
few blades of withered grass, and upon the
paper which wrapped them, were these lines,
penned by himself :
I love to pace the decks alone,
And gaze upon the starry sky ;
I think thy gentle spirit flown,
To dvfell in some bright orb on high.
Then oh, from thy celestial home,
Behold the wanderer on the sea ;
If angel glances hither roam,
Let one sweet glance but rest on me.
Not like the love of others, mine,
To cool as years pass o'er my head ;
My love was thine it still is thine
I love thee yet, though thou art dead!
Oh, could I know when life is o'er,
That I should rise to dwell with thee,
I'd ask for death, and ask no more,
For death were life itself to me.
" While there is life there yet is hope,"
There's hope beyond life's rugged sea ;
Yes, 'tis an anchor, and its scope
Is lengthened to eternity !
VESSELS IN DISTRESS.
" Arrived, this day, ship : 15th inst., lat. 37 long.
73 30', saw the wreck of a large vessel, painted black, with a
white streak, every thing gone but bowsprit ; stanchions and bul-
warks stove ; could see nothing on deck ; the wreck being dead to
windward, did not get near enough to learn further."
THIS is only one of many similar reports that
might be copied from the newspapers, and which,
probably on account of their frequency, attract
so little attention.
Scarcely a day passes in the winter season,
but we see reports of dismasted, wrecked and
water-logged vessels and how many of them
have been spoken ? They were seen in lat. and
long so-and-so they appeared to be vessels of
such and such tonnage and this is all. Now in
the name of humanity, I ask, is this right 1 As
one who has the greatest reason for gratitude for
relief in distress, and who I trust feels grateful
for the satisfaction of assisting to rescue some of
my fellow creatures from a miserable death, I
put it to the consciences of my brother shipmas-
ters, do we do our duty in no tusing every pos-
VESSELS IN DISTRESS. 227
sible means to ascertain whether these wrecks
may not contain human life ? How incomparably
more precious than the few dollars that may be
be saved by cruel neglect !
What would be thought of the landsman who
would pass a capsized vehicle on the road with-
out stopping to see if any one was injured?
What then can be thought of the sailor who will
coolly pass a wreck which may never be fallen
in with again, and in whose cabin or forecastle
may lie those to whom life is as precious as his
own is to him whom hunger is driving to dis-
traction, and whose parched lips would call
down a blessing upon him for a cup of water,
for bestowing which the remainder of his days
would be gladdened by a happiness which no-
thing could ever deprive him of.
It is our bounden duty in all cases of falling
in with wrecks, to ascertain, beyond a doubt,
that there is no living mortal on board, before we
leave them. There is no excuse for such deser-
tion. If the wind is ahead, beat up and if it
blows a gale, even a fair one, keep as near as pos-
sible until it moderates. Underwriters will not
allow us to stop to save cargo, but they do allow
us to stop to save life, and can we for the sake
of shortening our passage a few hours or days,
embitter our future existence with unavailing
regrets that some of our fellow beings may have
perished through our negligence ; for assuredly
228 VESSELS IN DISTRESS.
such thoughts will often torment us, if we have
any consciences at all.
It was not long ago, that a vessel passed Gun
Key, or Double-Headed Shot Keys, and reported
that she saw the colours union down, and she
passed on, like the Priest and the Levite of old.
A few days afterward, another vessel, (we wish
we could remember her name, and that of her
captain,) saw the same signal of distress, sent
the boat ashore, found the inhabitants in a state
of starvation, and gave them every pound of pro-
visions they could spare, reserving but enough for
themselves to get into port. The first will hear of
this, and when the night of death closes around
him, the recollection of this incident will make it
darker still while a ray of hope will cheer the
parting soul of the pood Samaritan, that as he
had pity upon his fellow-men, so his God will
be merciful to him.
Within two years a ship arrived in Boston,
and the captain coolly reported as an item of
news, that on his passage from Europe, he had
passed a vessel bottom up, with men clinging to
her keel; but as it was ' ' blowing fresh,'' he could
render no assistance.
Blowing fresh, and that was all the excuse
he made ! The name of the ship and that of the
captain has passed from my recollection ; nor do
I wish to recall them ; but they are on the
newspaper files, and there you may find them.
VESSELS IN DISTRESS. 229
if you wish to be certified that such a thing
can be !
For what does such a man suppose that God
has placed him here ? To do unto others as he
would that others should do unto him, or to
treat his brethren in a way, for being guilty of
which, a Newfoundland dog would, Judas' -like,
put an end to his existence, out of very shame !
The brig " Peru," of Boston, sailed lately for
South America. She was knocked down in the
Gulf Stream ; and, after cutting away her masts,
she righted, full of water. Captain Prior, and
those of his crew who survived, were on the
wreck nine days, with not a morsel to eat or drink,
and during this time several vessels passed near
them ; they must have been seen, and were
probably reported as " a vessel dismasted and
water-logged," &c. &c. On the ninth day, a
French ship hove in sight. The wind was
blowing fresh from the north-west, and she was
bowling along merrily towards home ; but as
the wreck was descried, she hauled up and
spoke her. There was too much sea for a boat
to live : " But," said the gallant Frenchman,
"I will take you off if I wait a month." He
kept his position ; and after waiting thirty-six
hours, the sea went down, and he redeemed his
promise. " That old Frenchman," said Captain
Prior, " God bless him, was a father to us all ;
his cabin, clothes, and all he had, were at my
service ; nor did he or his passengers cease their
11
230 VESSELS IN DISTRESS.
unremitting attentions, until we were in the
consul's hands in Bordeaux, and furnished with
the means of getting home.' 7
That generous man has kindled a feeling of
gratitude, which will never be extinguished in
the bosoms of those he saved from death, and has
gladdened the hearts of their friends, who, had
he passed on like others because it "blew
fresh," or because " she was dead to windward,"
might now, and for all their lives, have felt that
horrid uncertainty, worse than a knowledge of
the certain death of those dear to them. And he
has treasured up for himself a fund of the purest
happiness, on which to draw for comfort amidst
all the ills of life. He will enjoy the approving
smile of his Maker now, and will hereafter hear
him say, " Inasmuch as thou didst it unto one
of these, thou didst it unto me !"
"MISSING VESSELS."
"MissiNG VESSELS," sometimes heads a large
list in the marine department of the newspapers,
and what is supposed to have become of them ?
Let me hazard an answer. In two cases out of
three they are lost by collision ; and in the same
proportion, at least, this collision has occurred
for want of a good look-out.
Eight o'clock. P. M. , and Capt. Easy, having had
his grog and smoked his cigar, feels sleepy, and
says : ' : Well, Mr. Nighthead, I'll turn in. Itwould
be pleasant to have a moon, this thick, squally
weather however, keep a good look-out, and let
me know if it blows any harder. Good night."
"Ay, ay. sir," replies Mr. Nighthead, who then
walks into the waist, and sings out, "Keep a
bright look-out ahead, there !" A gruff " ay, ay,
sir." comes from under some p-jacket, and Mr.
Nighthead walks aft, lies down on the hen-coop,
and in ten minutes is sound asleep. And how
are the watch 7 As may be expected, and the
man at the wheel, after casting a few occasional
232 MISSING VESSELS,
glances at the sails to ascertain that the ship is
somewhere near the wind, lays over his wheel
and looks into the binnacle where he sees more
than a hundred different points to the compass
dancing more than a hundred different ways,
and then sees nothing at all. Suddenly, with a
sound that might almost startle the dead, there
comes a voice in their ears, " Hard up your
helm!" The sleepers awake: the affrighted
helmsman throws his wheel down instead of up.
The half-conscious mate rushes to his assistance.
The watch start to their feet, and know not if
they are still dreaming, or if there is a dread re-
ality in the huge line-of-battle ship, the roaring
water under whose bows, sounds for an instant
in their ears like the thunder of a cataract, and
then they and their sleeping companions below
will never hear again, until they hear the sea
called upon to give up its dead !
Old Captain Wethereye was a good school-
master upon this subject, and taught us many
lessons, one of which was strongly impressed
upon my memory, and I think was not forgotten
by any, at least for one voyage.
it was a cold January night in the British
Channel, and we were ordered to look out sharp
for vessels, and told moreover of its particular
importance in that place. At half-past twelve
the captain walked forward and found us all
wide awake, and then turned about, bade the
mate " good night," and went below. This ma-
MISSING VESSELS. 233
noBiivre was watched, and we naturally con-
cluded that as he had been on deck all his own
watch, he intended to take a snooze and as the
mate was not an object of much dread, we com-
posed ourselves on deck to follow his example.
The " Old Man," however, out-generalled
us, for he came up again in about half an hour
and found us snoring. He then went quietly
down again, called the second mate and the
steward, and, arming them, and himself,
with two buckets of ice-cold water each, they
came upon the unsuspecting foe, and in an
instant we were as moist as the bottom of the
ocean. "And now, you precious rascals!" said
he, " for I can call you nothing better, after such
conduct, lay up on the fore-topsail yard, the
whole of you, and see if you can keep your eyes
open for the next three hours; and you, Mr.
Deadeye, go up on to the top-gallant yard and
watch them !" In vain did we beg leave to
change our dripping clothes. We were obliged
to obey, and such a three hours I never wish to
see again. It was an effectual remedy for drow-
siness, and thoroughly cured the complaint ; nor
was there a relapse for the remainder of the voy-
age.
Very many instances will readily occur to the
minds of all who, for any length of time, have
navigated the ocean, especially in its more fre-
quented parts, of narrow escapes from collision,
234 MISSING VESSELS.
which were only avoided by wakefulness. Even
that, however, will not always prevent it.
Not long since an accident of this kind hap-
pened to a ship which I commanded.
The night was intensely dark, so that one
could not see fore and aft the decks, and the
ship was going at the rate of ten knots with a
beam wind. The watch were awake at any
rate that night, and were stationed, with the ex-
ception of one man, "who was on the night heads,
at topsail haulyards and reef-tackles, when, as if
by the shock of an earthquake, we were thrown
to the deck. Another vessel upon the other tack
had struck our lee bow, coming upon us so sud-
denly as to be unperceived by the look-out, who
was a faithful man. I had seen him standing
at his station but a moment before, and he was
now thrown, with the fragments of the rail on
which he stood, to some distance abaft the fore-
mast.
The other vessel went down, and all on board
perished, and we were preserved, as if by a mir-
acle, from sharing their fate ! Although I felt
satisfied with the look-out we then kept, and
which was as good as usual, I have often thought
since, that this might never have occurred, had
the master of the unfortunate vessel and my-
self, used the precaution of showing a light,
which I have ever afterwards adopted.
This practice is objected to by some, upon the
ground that a light does more injury to themselves
MISSING VESSELS. 235
than good to others ; and this would be very true
if it were allowed to shine about the decks. But
such a lantern as I have used cannot be com-
plained of in this respect, for its existence, when
displayed, would scarcely be known to those on
board. It is so constructed as to fit on the end
of the bowsprit, under the jib-boom, and has
four staples which are entered by hooks and are
keyed. The after part contains the door. Each
side and the front (which is narrower than the
back) has a thick glass plate. Within is a large
lamp of six wicks. One objection to it may be
raised by a certain class of ship-owners, to whom
ten dollars is of more value than the lives of all
their crews it requires oil !
Subsequently, being on a voyage to Russia,
there occurred a very dark and blowy night.
Eight o'clock was the appointed hour for carry-
ing out the lantern. Coming on deck soon after,
I found that it had been neglected, and accord-
ingly told the second mate, whose fault it was,
to ship it, and to seat himself on the jib-boom,
to see that the light continued to burn. The
gentleman went forward with an indistinct mut-
ter about " new-fashioned humbugs," which did
not tend to shorten his "new-fashioned watch."
An hour afterwards we were running with a
strong quartering breeze, under double-reefed
topsails, when the look-out on the forecastle
sung out, " Light ho!" and there was a brig
lying to. directly ahead of us. Our course was
236 MISSING VESSELS.
altered in time to pass under her stern, giving
her a sufficient berth, but near enough to see a
man on the quarter deck holding a lantern in his
hand !
This incident may convince many of the im-
portance of carrying a light, as well as keeping
a good look-out, for, had we neglected either of
these precautions, two more might have been
added to the list of " Missing Vessels."
SAILORS' RIGHTS AND SAILORS' WRONGS.
POOR JACK ! Imposed upon by rum-sellers,
lawyers, landlords, and shipping-masters, is it
not enough, and must your employers come in
for a share of the devil's work ?
But who cares for you ? Let a pack of fifty
lazy land-lubbers, who cannot walk a mile to
their old church, or who'must separate therefrom
for the difference of " tweedle-dum and tweed le-
dee," send an agent through the land to tell us of
those feeble and persecuted brethren, who want
a new meeting-house for conscience' sake, bank
bills drop softly and silver rattles into the contri-
bution boxes, while the donors congratulate them-
selves upon having done a deal of good of hav-
ing " come up to the help of the Lord .against
the mighty."
The wants of the West come crying into the
market, and every parish pays its yearly stipend
to the Home Missionary Society. Then we
hear of children brought up in ignorance, and
the Sunday-school agent has his hand in our
11*
238 SAILORS' RIGHTS AND SAILORS' WRONGS.
pockets. Next we are told that every house in
the land must have a Bible and some tracts.
Temperance must prevail throughout the coun-
try ; and finally, thousands and tens of thousands
of dollars must be expended to keep up an ex-
citement which rivets the chains of " our co-
loured brethren" and which has exasperated the
South to such a degree, that our poor cooks and
stewards are treated with more severity than
before. Now, God bless and prosper all benev-
olent societies, especially those whose aim it is
to benefit "our own, our native land." But let
us come in for our share; let the Christian pub-
lic, particularly such as support the Foreign
Missions, look about them and see how little,
comparatively, has been done for Seamen, con-
sidering, at the same time, how intimately their
improvement is connected with the object they
have in view. Let public opinion open its bat-
teries upon Sailors' enemies, and turn the hearts,
or at least influence the conduct, of their em-
ployers.
Is it not the duty, and should it not be the
pleasure, of ship-owners, to add to the comforts
of those who, for such a small and hard-earned
pittance, pour wealth into their coffers, and
bring to them the luxuries of foreign lands ?
Instead of this, through ignorance, carelessness,
and meanness, their situation is often rendered
more intolerable than that of the poorest Irish-
man who does the scavenger duties of the streets.
SAILORS' RIGHTS AND SAILORS' WRONGS. 239
Such ship -owners regard a sailor, as father
Taylor once justly remarked, as "more like a
horse than like a man, and if they have the hu-
manity to give him a lodging at all, it would be in
the barn." If they have a rotten ship, the only
consideration that troubles them is effecting in-
surance; and if that can be surmounted, they
have no compunction in shipping a crew in
what, if the poor fellows knew the reality, they
would look upon as their coffin !
Three winters since, I was walking with a
friend down upon one of the wharves at the
north end of Boston, where there lay an east-
ern ship, aged about nine years. She had
leaked badly on the previous voyage, and a
piece of her wales was then out for the length
of twenty or thirty feet, so that her timbers were
exposed to view. :: You will have a great deal
to do there," said my companion to the carpen-
ter, as he put his bopt against one of the rotten
timbers, and kicked off more than half of its
thickness! i; Oh, don't," cried the carpenter,
" don't kick another one ! the old man says we
must cover them up immediately ! " And be-
fore we left the wharf, they were spiking on the
new wale ! The ship went to the East Indies
and she happened to go safely.
This is a glaring instance : but cannot many
more be found ? What does the ignorant sailor
know of the craft he ships, or, rather, is shipped.
240 SAILORS' RIGHTS AND SAILORS* WRONGS.
in ? And if he is lost in such a vessel, is not
her owner, knowing her condition, guilty of
something near akin to wilful and deliberate
murder ?
I once made a voyage in one of those east-
ern vessels, and we found her to be rotten
enough before our return. The captain told the
owner of it, but nothing was done to her. Other
officers and another crew were shipped ; she
went to Canton, and fortunately reached St.
Thomas on her return, where she was con-
demned ; and it was so managed that the under-
writers were saddled with the loss, after all,
not unjustly ; and it is to be hoped that their
eyes will be opened, one of these days, to the
impolicy, as well as injustice, of insuring these
miserable cost-nothing eastern rat-traps, at the
same rate as good and faithfully-built vessels.
It will scarcely require proof to convince peo-
ple that our vessels, in nine cases out of ten, are
not provisioned and manned as they should be ;
and the excuse for this is, "We must sail our
vessels as cheap as others, these hard times. 7 '
Hard times, indeed ! Mr. Skinflint, when you
employ almost as many servants in your family
as you do in your ship ; when these servants and
even your dogs would spurn the food you con-
sider "good enough for the sailor," as scarcely
fit for a very hungry hog. Would they eat old
No. 1 beef and poor bread one day, and poor
bread and old No. 1 beef the next, day after day.
SAILORS' RIGHTS AND SAILORS' WRONGS. 241
with nothing to relieve this variety but a hard
"duff," once or at most twice a week, and if
you asked them to do so, would they not laugh
at you, and leave your house ? And how would
they feel if you should put the labour of two
men upon one ; would they do it cheerfully ?
Yet this is the way the Skinflint family do with
sailors, and the Skinflint family is a large one
too. I heard a ship owner, not long since, make
his boast that he could sail one of his vessels, a
bark of about 230 tons, with only four men be-
"fore the mast, and no steward, and that all the
fresh provisions they had on the passage was a
quarter of beef when they left port ! Very many
vessels are thus shortly manned, and there are
vessels of 700 tons, carying only twelve fore-
mast hands ! Now, Messrs, underwriters, how
do you account for some of your losses ?
Far be it from me to include all ship owners
in the class of which I have been speaking.
Many stand out in bold relief, and in the name
of the sailor, I thank them for their liberality
and attention to the comfort of their crews, in
their provisions and in the arrangement of their
forecastles, and beg narrow-minded men to look at
them, and learn that
" On him prosperity attends,
Who most his fellow men befriends."
These remarks may have tended to show the
many physical wants of sailors ; Jmt their moral
necessities call far louder for sympathy and ac-
SAILORS' RIGHTS AND SAILORS' WRONGS.
tion. Ignorance, the mother of crime, prevails
amongst them to a degree unknown on land. It
is our pride and glory that religion, morality and
good order are nowhere to be found so preva-
lent as amongst the sons of New England, and
the cause of this we all know, is Education.
Why not give this blessing to the sons of the
ocean as well? Give them that, and let them
rise from their degraded mental condition to feel
that they are men, and the news of mutiny and
piracy will be less common. They will be able to
withstand their enemies, so that grogshops and
landlord rascals will become more rare.
These thoughts of the intellectual wants of sea-
men were naturally suggested by a visit to the
Sailors' Home in New- York.
After attending service in the " Floating
Chapel of our Saviour," one Sunday morning, I
received an invitation from the Rev. Chaplain
to dine with him at the Home, which was gladly
accepted. Having visited the library, reading
room, parlours, and in fact the whole establish-
ment, throughout which the greatest neatness
and good order prevailed, we followed the sum-
mons of the gong to dinner. The Rev. Mr.
PARKER said grace amidst the profound silence
of two hundred sailors, who then sat down to
their meal and conducted themselves much more
like gentlemen, than a party with whom I dined
at the Astor H<3use on the previous day. Cold
''- Croton" was the only drink and while cheer-
243
fulness prevailed, there was nothing approach-
ing undue levity. Such a sight I never saw be-
fore, and such a sight ten years since, I would
no more have expected ever to witness than the
fulfilment, of Miller's prophecies. Two hundred
seamen voluntarily bringing themselves within
the pale of civilization, and behaving like so
many rational and intelligent men ! It would
certainly but a few years ago, have been re-
garded as miraculous.
I have not time to write fully the many pages
I might pen of the good this establishment has
already accomplished the hundreds who have
been rescued by its means from the fangs of
those serpents, ycleped landlords ay, and the
hundreds too, who having been turned out of
doors by these sharks, after being stripped of
their last cent and their clothing, have been re-
ceived into this harbour for the unfortunate,
cared for and brought back again into the paths
of virtue from which they had strayed.
It costs money indeed to maintain it, above its
receipts, but its benevolent projectors have long
since received their own with compound interest
in the thanks of many a reformed sailor in the
tear of gratitude that has moistened many a fond
parent's eye. These are recompenses far above
all pecuniary calculation. Money they cannot
carry with them to the grave but these coins
will pass current with the treasury of heaven.
It is superfluous to dwell upon this theme to
244 SAILORS' RIGHTS AND SAILORS' WRONGS.
say more of the usefulness of these charitable
institutions. Recent efforts show that they are
appreciated, and no one can doubt that they are
among the first and best of means to promote the
object every friend of the sailor has at heart.
The support of these institutions and of chap-
lains, at home and abroad, are nearly all we can
ask of the Christian public, and to the impor-
tance of these, the public has at last awakened.
But wake up, ship-owners and ship-masters !
do your duty and there will not be so much left
for others.
Now, then, gentlemen ship-owners, just look
around you and see what others are doing who
have far less interest in sailors than you. Do
you want faithful and willing men in your ves-
sels? Is it not better to have men who study
your interests, and are willing to exert them-
selves for your advantage, than a motley set of
vagabonds, who will do no more than they are
absolutely compelled to do and is not a satis-
fied conscience worth something!
Then dor^t think Ringbolt impertinent if he
advises you not only to give men room and good
food, but to look after their moral interests. To
do this well, so as to advance knowledge among
them, put a library on board of every ship.
Don't say "that is not our business" for I'll
reply, "would it not be a good thing, and who
can do it as well as yon ?" Pray, what would
it^post? Just almost nothing: and, believe me,
SAILORS' RIGHTS AND SAILORS' WRONGS. 245
there is no possible way in which you can so
charitably invest a few dollars, as in this.
Don't throw this aside and cry " humbug !" It
is not humbug for I have proved it to my own
satisfaction, and now let me prove it to yours.
On a recent voyage, where a library belonged
to the ship, I had thirteen men before the mast.
Two of these men died during the voyage of
ten months, leaving eleven two of whom went
into counting-houses on their return, and six
procured situations as officers and this good re-
sult was accomplished mainly by that library !
I don't mean to take any credit either to my-
self, for it was only a pleasure to aid in carry-
ing out the good designs of such owners as I had
the happiness to sail for.
This crew was all American. By this I do
not mean that they merely had American pro-
tections, for foreigners who cannot speak a word
of English are supplied with these ; and if, as I
have said in another part of this book, collectors,
shipping-masters, and captains, did not wink at
this evasion of the law as it now stands, three-
fourths of our ships would be laid up for want
of men. This subject cannot be too often brought
before the public. Until it is attended to, there
will exist a heavy drawback upon the efforts of
the benevolent for the benefit of seamen.
They were Native Americans, and this is
the Native Americanism which I advocate
They could all read, and had a desire to i
246 SAILORS' RIGHTS AND SAILORS' WRONGS.
their information. They knew the sanctity of
an oath, and were not the men to be inveigled
by those pests of society, sailor landlords and
sailor lawyers, to swear to anything and every-
thing which they were told to do. There was
encouragement to assist such men as these.
But, landsmen, you do not know how little en-
couragement there is frequently for ship-masters
to labour for the interest of their men. There are
many sailors who would regard such efforts with
distrust, so prejudiced are they against their offi-
cers, and prejudiced, too, by those very persons
who call themselves their friends, and some of
whom are undoubtedly sincere in their profes-
sions. A false sympathy has been gotten up for
sailors by means of books which have had too ex-
tensive a circulation, and which, purporting to
be narratives of personal experience, have ob-
tained a great deal more credit than they de-
serve. People on shore believe that sailors are
almost universally abused, and a jury can
scarcely be found who will convict a sailor or
clear an officer. They make no allowance for the
perjury of ignorant sailors, and perjury is more
common in cases of this kind than truth. The
law has become nearly a dead letter, as far as it
reads for the benefit of the officers. There are
printed articles for the crew to sign, and printed
laws upon the same sheet, and printed formulae
receipts for wages in full of all demands ot
hat kind soever. But the courts have set these
SAILORS' RIGHTS AND SAILORS' WRONGS. 247
aside as meaning nothing at all. Sailors know
that the public feeling is altogether in their
favour, and that lawyers who will advocate their
cases, (though they forget they will pocket their
money,) are always on hand. They are thus
ready to take advantage of every opportunity to
prosecute their officers, whom they are taught to
consider tyrants and enemies, for the slightest
cause, which they magnify into cruel abuse ;
and if they cannot put the story together in a
plausible shape, the landlords and lawyers will
do it for them, and the sailors will swear to it.
This has been carried to an almost incredible
extent. Allow me to relate an instance drawn
from my own experience, and although I assure
you it is entirely true, make an allowance of
seventy-five per cent., on account oC my being
personally interested, and believe the balance,
and I am satisfied.
I sailed from Boston in 1841 for the East In-
dies, and I acknowledge myself in fault for not
particularly examining each man that was ship-
ped. However, they were brought down as usual
by the shipping-master, some sober and some
drunk. Upon getting to sea, they all, with one
exception, came to their senses and to their
duty ; and this exception was a crazy man ; who
had been put on board as simply a drunken one!
He was so violent as to attempt stabbing some
of his shipmates, and they requested me to taktfBj
ac-
care of him as their lives were in danger. I
-
248 SAILORS' RIGHTS AND SAILORS' WRONGS.
cordingly confined him in a state room, from
which he quickly made his escape; and after
trying various milder methods to keep him qui-
et, I was obliged to put him in irons, releasing
him only occasionally when not so violent, and
keeping another man in constant attendance
upon him. When freed from his irons in one
instance, he jumped overboard, and we saved
him with great difficulty, so much did he endea-
vour to drown himself. Upon arrival at Singa-
pore, he attempted to run away, but I prevented
him, intending to procure a place for him in an
insane hospital at home.
On the homeward passage, (with slight lucid
intervals, during which, however, he was too ill
to work,) he continued deranged, requiring con-
stant attendance and care. Upon arrival in New
York, the decks were swarmed as usual with
landlords, and he with the rest of the crew,
(with whom I had no fault to find, and none of
whom had been punished during the voyage,)
were carried off by these harpies. Pay day
came, and every man was paid his wages ex-
cepting Isaac Brown the crazy man, who did not
appear, but in his place appeared a landlord, who
claimed to be his brother-in-law, and who pro-
Ms
duced an order signed Isaac ><! Brown, for the
mark
balance of his wages, amounting to over one
ndred dollars. I questioned the authenticity
it, for I knew that the man could write. I
SAILOR'S RIGHTS AND SAILORS' WRONGS. 249
refused to pay it, at any rate, on the ground that
he had earned nothing, but that he was properly
in debt to the ship for his advance wages, and
for his passage to Singapore and back again, as
well as for the wages and board of one man who
constantly attended him. I used every exertion
to find his whereabouts, in order to have him pro-
perly cared for, but in vain. Well, this brother-
in-law put the case into the hands of Burr, Ben-
edict and Beebe. It was carried before Judge
Betts, and seven of that crew, who were all that
remained in the city, solemnly swore that Isaac
Brown was a good seaman ; was neither drunk
nor deranged during the whole voyage, and al-
ways performed his duty like any other man,
excepting for a few weeks, when the captain
cruelly confined him in irons ! The circumstance
of his jumping overboard was unknown to them !
Two of these men were those who begged me in
the first place to confine him, because their lives
were in danger ; and two of the others assisted
in rescuing him from drowning! Being part
owner of the ship, I was not allowed to testify.
My two mates and carpenter were only three to
seven, and Judge Betts accordingly allowed the
brother-in-law of Isaac Brown to libel the ship
for his wages. The offence was finally settled
at an expense of over three hundred dollars.
Now what, or rather who do you suppose in-
duced these men to perjure themselves ?
Three years afterwards I was about to
250 SAILORS
from New York, and Isaac Brown came down
on board of the ship. Mental and bodily dis-
ease had made sad havoc upon him, and he was
really too much an object of pity to be one of
anger. Though thus miserable, he appeared to
be at the time in his right mind. He came to
beg money.
"I have been miserable," said he, " ever since
that voyage I was with you. My landlord took
my clothes and put me aboard of a coaster, and
I don't know where I have been since."
Upon being questioned in regard to the order
for his wages, he offered to make oath before
heaven that he never knew of it, nor did he know
that the ship was libelled. He had not received
one cent of his wages or of the three hundred
dollars we had paid, and he had no brother-in-
law or any other relative in New York ! To
whom did the money go 7
The practice of prosecution is now so common
that many ship-masters who are frequently in
and out of port, find it cheapest to pay "black
mail" to the principal sailor lawyers, and when
a writ is presented it is always considered ad-
viseable to pay the lawyer a round sum to quash
it and this money the sailor never sees.
Let me not be misunderstood as asserting that
officers are always in the right, and sailors
always in the wrong ; for some might say that
am prejudiced in favour of the captains, from
ding that situation myself. I only claim a
SAILORS' RIGHTS AND SAILORS' WRONGS. 251
portion of public sympathy for all sides. There
may be tyranny and maltreatment on the part of
officers, in many instances ; but those instances
are far, very far, less numerous than people are
led to suppose. I do not wish to deal in hints,
but much prefer to speak out plainly. Such
books as Mr. Dana's "Two Years Before the
Mast," and Mr. Browne's "Whaling Cruise,"
however interesting in many particulars, convey
very wrong impressions as to the general treat-
ment of seamen. They do not assert in so
many words, that sailors are always abused (for
they acknowledge instances of the contrary,) but
they give people to understand that sailors are
rather maltreated by their officers than otherwise.
The reverse is the truth. I do not profess to know
much about whale ships; but no one can read
Mr. Browne's experience, without seeing plainly
that he has overshot the mark, and without being
amused at his project of establishing a democracy
at sea.
These remarks are not the result of " one
cruise," or of " two years before the mast;" but
of thirteen years in various stations from the
hawse-hole to the quarter-deck, and. without
boasting, 1 trust that I can call upon many sail-
ors to witness that I have not been their enemy.
Let the true friends of seamen be encouraged.
Their labours have not been in vain : but there
is a vast deal more to he done. Remodel th
laws, and see that they are enforced. Do not r
252 SAILORS' RIGHTS AND SAILORS' WRONGS.
till a law of apprenticeship is established, which
shall bring more Americans into the merchant ma-
rine. Urge upon owners to furnish libraries for
their vessels, and if they will not do it, do it your-
selves. Frown upon (I know no name so bad to
call them by as their own) sailor landlords and
sailor lawyers. Give sailors education, and make
them men.
Brother shipmasters, we have something to do
in this matter. Do not be discouraged because
of ingratitude and annoyances. If our pockets
suffer, let not our consciences suffer too. We
can aid the efforts and charities of those who
live on the land. If we wish to remove profan-
ity and drunkenness from sailors, let us not
swear nor be intemperate ourselves ; if we wish
to see them manifest a respect for religion, let us
render obsolete the saying of "No Sunday off
soundings." There is a Sabbath there as well as
ashore, and we are as much bound to regard it
as any men, to say the least, for none have more
reason for gratitude to its Insti tutor than our-
selves.
Let us all remember that " the sea is His,
and He made it," as well as that "His hands
formed the dry land."
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