Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-12-18

ing, Olu bTeeLer mas 10 pun ike gtdmpus 10
keep up with her, and she is afraid OF salt
water than porpoise is. And there's our captain,
regular-but forecastle sailor he never crept into
the cabin windows me- that1 know by the
roll Of his walk and the cut Of his whskers These
fresh-water dandy captains like the last l sailed
under who can't tell sheet-anchor from a cat
hook, instead Of cracking on and combing the
snarls out of old Nep,une's hair, would now be
laying too under close-Eeefed main-topsai, blast
the cowardly-"
THE STORM
The speaker was interrupted by the green hand
almost paralyzed with fright, "Aint none Of you
aeer'd we shall all sink aud be drowndedP'
"Sink, you horse-marne, sink 7 did you ever
hear Of sailors being afraid Of sinking, you white
liver'd, Varmounterl say, cook, Just rub your
black paws over this baby's face and give il some
color, or curse me we shall all be sea sick togeth-
er."
"Oh dont--don't-I amt frighiened--no amt
a bit
"You lie, you are your knees shake worse than
piece OF bunting in a hurricane. Clap a stopper
on your jaw, tell you, youngs,er," as The boy
was about TO interrupt him, "or III make you find
soundiugs in the lee scuppers"
This threat, however severe il may have seemed,
was thrown out only to create laugh among the
older sailors, in accordance with that right which
all jack tars assume of brow beating and frightening
every green hand. But it was sufficient. The
poor fellow withdrew himself from the circle, and
leaning his head the windlass pitt grasping il
at the tine with both hands to secure HIMSELF
began TO repent the step he had taken in leaving
his home.
Darn my eyes il l amt sick Of this business.
guess il hant made plaguy mistake in coming
10 sea, don't know. ! wish was back on the
farm again hoeing potatoes. III ever get back
there safe Ill give any man the best wood lot in
the whole state if he catches me on board ship
again. oh dear" las the ship made a heavier
| plunge than usually "what a wicked man that cap
tain is TO lfghten | mean to go and ask
him take down those sails little while o dear,
how bad begin to feel abou, the"
Before he could close his sentence, n heavy sea
| striking the ship on the weather bow, dashed its
spray completely across the iorecasile weiiing him
TO the skin, and frightened he, that letting
go his hold upon the biz, the ship at the same time
/ heeling down from the shock, the luckless fellow
was pitched backwards into the water that lay
\ in the waist.
| IT was now evident TO the captain and officers
that il impossible to carry such press Of sail
any longer. The conversation Of the sailors there
i fore soon interrupted by cry from the chief
mate. IAN hands aft come my boys. what we do
must be done al once and in true sailor style-siand
by those maintoP-sail halyards-man the reef tack
les-are you ready !"
! AYE, aye, sir"
"Slack away on your halyards then-round in
the clue lines--sway away on those reef tackles
give them another pull aud then jump alof, my
/ good fellows"
How many reefs shall we pu, in" enqured the
second mate.
put in two-mnd that you haul the earrings
chock out and knot your points well, as we may
want 10 carry on that reef for some time"
la few moments the topsail was reeied and
hoisted, the foretopsail and spanker were also
double reeed, and as the ship carried stiff wealth
/ er helm the mizen topsail was handed. BY the
time this was accomplished the sun had set The
| gale still continued regularly to freshen and the
seas, under its influence, to increase in size. The
rain too had commenced falling aud we had the
| prospect for the night before OF encounterng
one of those violent equinoctal gales which usually
arise at this of the year. At eight bells the
first watch for the night came on deck well protec-
| ted with their pea jackets and tarpaulins against
| the Storm The rest Of the we're permitted
TO go below. after having been reminded by the
mate that their nap would be short one The
captain and second mate had also retired TO their
state rooms. So intense was the excitement crea-
ted by the gathering storm, that had no inclina-
ton TO leave the deck and seating myself upon the
weather side Of the companion way regardless of
the rain with which was completely dTenched,
| gave full scope 10 my feelings.
Possessing Lively imagination 10 which the spur
rather than the curb had always been applied, low
cd, when on the land, TO stray away 10 some COM
handing elevation and there watch the rise and
progress OF the storm, when grasping in its hand
the lightning, with blackened brow aud giant step
it came rushing down the mountains sides and
4 through the valleys, leaving everywhere the impress
of its fury. could sit for hours listening 10 its
wild scream until fancied il a living being and
longed TO Join in its reVery Much more was my
Imagination aroused, aud far more wantonly did il
sport as | watched for the first time the move
mens of a storm upon the sea- Led on step by
step had forgotten the ship, the ocean, and the
whistling of the blast among the rigging, and had
created around me, under the inspiration Of the mo-
ment, an ideal world, in which was reyelling in
all the wildness Of fancy.
swell, Charles" said the mate, who had seated
himself by my side, show like you old Boress' lul-
laby while Neptune is rocking Us in our cradle r.
started from my revere with feelings strongly
akin anger the sudden destruction ofthe beau
tifu bubble upon which had been gazing. While
endeavoring TO recollect myself, | replied somewhat
sharply, "what did you say"
"Are you asleepf Have you been dreaming
about the bright faces at home il So hang me if you
not the preitiest dreamer have ever seen upon
3 ships deck. asked how you liked this north
easter that is playing such pranks with the bill
D lowsp'
Like 1t 7 like il much, would that we had
E more Of IT, Do you cali this a severe storm 7"
y "Indeed do, and can tell YOU that this i;
! none Of those baby blasts that 60 creeping along
9 over the land like duck in shallow water. II il
n one Of Old Siormer's real boys and he will let US
know il too before he Quits u.s."
e "Do you think" said ], catching with delight
his last expression "do you think that the wind will
continue 10 increase until we have one OF those tire
$ mendous gales Of which you were speaking few