Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1842-11-09


form. | then led hln To my chest in The Steer
age, and in low, confidential tone told him as
lollows:-
| You see, Green, you must he very particu-
lar about making those signs, for If YOU make IA
mistake YOU will be worse off than il YOU never
made them at all, for the first lieutenant will
suppose that you are trying TO persuade him
that you are mason when YOU are not Now,
uhserve you must not attempt to make the first
sign until he has scolded you well; then at any
pause you must make it; thus, you see, you
must Put your thumb To HE Zip of your nose, and
extend your hand siral ght from il, with all The
fingers separated as wide as you can. Now, do
it as | dld it. SiOp--wat lnle ill that ma
rine passes. Yes, that is il. We'll, thai is con-
sdered first proof of your heing mason, bur il
requires second. The frs, lieutenant will.
tell you frankly, be- or rather pretend to be, in
a terrible rage, and will continue TO rail at you;
you must, therefore, wait IiHie ill he pauses,
and then, you observe, put up your thumb TO
your nose, with The fingers of your hand spread
out as before, and then add 10 it your other
hand by joining your other thumb 10 The lilie
finger OF the hand already up, and stretch your
other hand ont like The first Then you will
see The effects of the second sign. Do you
think you can recoecl all this! for as | said
before, you must make no mistake"
Green put his hands up as | had told him,
and after three or four essays declared himself
perfect and left him.
1t was three days afterwards that Mr. Green
upset kid of dirty water upon The lower deck,
which had been dry holys,oned; and the mate
of The lower deck when the first lieutenant
wen, his round, reported the circumstance 10
exculpaie himself. Mr.. Green was consequent
ly summoned upon The quarter deck, and the
first lieutenant who was very angry commenced
as usual, vo!ley of invelerae abuse on the un-
fortunate youngster
Green, recolleclng my instructions, walled
rl The first lieutenant had paused, and then
made the first free mason sign, looking up very
boldly al the first lieutenant, who actually drew
back with astonishment at this conlemptuous
conduct hitherto unwinessed on board of a
man-nl-war.
what sir" cried The first lieutenant. "Why
sir are you mad,-you just come into the
vice treating me in this manner! can tell you
sir, that you will not be three days louger in
The servce--no, sir, not !hree DAYS, for either
you leave the service or | do. OF all the I'M
pudence, of a.! the insolence, Of all The con-
such little animal as you. Consider yourself
as under arrest, sir, ill The captain comes on
hoard, and your conduct is reponed--go down
below, sir Immediately"
The lieutenant paused and now Green gave
him sign The second, as reply thinking that
they would then come to a right understanding;
but 10 his aslonishmenl, the first lieutenant was
more furious than ever, and calling the SER
gean, Of marines, ordered him to take MIR.
Green down, and put him in irons, under the
half-deck.
Poor Green was handed down, all astonish-
ment al the want nl success Of his mason's signs
Keene who stood ahalt was delighted at the
success of his joke, while The first lieutenant
walked hastily up and down The deck, as much
aslonished as enraged at such insulting and in
soleni conduct from a lad who had not been
week in the service.
After time the first lieutenant went down
below. when Bob Cross, who was on deck, and
who had perceived my delight at the scene,
which appeared 10 him and 10 all others so in
expllcable, come up 10 me anc SAID,
"Maser Keene, am sure, by your looks,
thai you know something about this affair. That
foolish lad never had dared do so, if he knew
whai il was that he had done. Now, don't look
SO demure, but tell me how il is.
| walked aft with Bob Cross, and confded
my secret TO him; he laughed heartily, and said:
swell, Tommy Dou did say that you were
up 10 anything, and so think you are; but you
see this is very serious affair for poor Green,
and like the fable of the frogs, what is sport 10
you is death TO others. The poor lad will be
turned out of service, and lose his chance Of be-
ing post captain, so you must allow me 10 ex-
plain The matter so that it gets To the ears Of
the first lieutenant as soon as possible
"WeIl," replied |, "do as you like, Bob; if
any ones 10 be turned out of the service for
such nonsense, ii ought TO be me, and not Green,
poor snob."
'No fear Of your being turned out; the first
lieutenant won't like you the worse, and The
other officers will like you the better, especial
ly as shall say that it is by your wish that |
explain all TO gel Mr.. Green out OF The scrape.
I'll to The surgeon aud tell him; bu. Master
Keene, dent you cali such matters nonsense,
ar SoI eaIf aEnn Of fhHSR