Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-12-28
From the Sailors Magazine.
A Leaf from a ChapIain'S Log Book.
THE COOK.

81 am as a weed
Flung from the rock on Oceans foam to sail,
Where'er the surge may sweep, the tempest
breath prevail"


Flung from the rock on Oceans foam to SAIL
Whereer the surge may sweep, the tempest's
breath prevail"
How aptly do these lines describe the seeming.
y fortuitous wanderings of the sailor. He is
carried now in this direction, but the next mo-
ment in another ever looking at the compass,
but rarely having one of his own. In his own
rough phraseology, the sailor is ever Knocking
about the world" AT first, perhaps, in a man
of-war, then a merchantman, and finally bring
ing up in whaler; or as likely, entering upon
his career in the latter, and ending in the form.
er. Oft have met with old seamen, who had
served on board all descriptions of vessels, from
the noble three-decker, to the single masted fish
ing smack.
Some months since, the cook of an Englis h
merchantmen thus addressed the writer:
"Mr. Damon, want to have a word with
you"
$50 do with you; I should be glad to have
you call at my study"
"When shall GOMEZ"
cat O'clock"
The day and hour came and passed, but it was
10 fault of the cook that he was not punctual
to comply with the invitation. The captains
dinner must be hurried.
Another opportunity being more favorable,
the cook gave the chaplain call at his study
Belonging to an English vessel, l certainly
thought my visiter was an Englishman, born
perhaps in the West Indies, for his complexion
indicated African descent, but to my surprise,
in tho question 'fNUhoro woo ,ou bo1ra'
he replied, 81 was born in New Jersey, about
twenty miles from Burlington
My curiosity was now awake, because being
somewhat acquainted in that region, was con-
| fdent that | should be able to test the correct
ness of his statements. Not unfrequently do
receive hint, that sailors must certainly impose
upon my credulity, they are such good fellows
at spinning "a yarn" Sometimes this may be
the case, but Jack has so much of sober truth
to relate about himself that he is under no ne
cessty to draw upon fiction to make good story
With the sailor, most emphatically, "truth is
stranger than fiction"
at was the 9Th of July, 1897" continued the
cook, cater | had spent glorious 9TH, in New
York, (for you must remember that was great
time with US colored people,) shipped in brig
for Mobile, Fifteen days out, gale carried
away all our sails, and we were obliged to put in
at Norfolk, Va. There our vessel was condemn
ed. An English ship was lying there at the
time. The captain of her was every day dining
with the old man. He bought some of our spars
Now had my choice to return to New York
or ship as cook on board the English ship.
thought on it, and seeing I had never been in
England, thought would 60 We arrived in
the fall, and our ship was laid up during the win
ter, and had hard time. spent my time
among some salor,chaps down at Graves End
We got IA pence per day, and our grub In the
spring | shipped and went to Ireland, after tina
to Africa, next to North America was knock
ed about for several years, drinking and living
like other sailors. When paid of, L always wen
to the grogshops and never came away sober
My conscience all this time told me | was doing
wrong. Even when was the vilest, my con
science would reprove me. During the Chin
war was cook on board a transport, the
While lying at Chusan, rccollect once readin
my Bible, and | was so miserable that trem
bled, shook, did not know what TO do.
however promised to lead better life; but 500
forgot my promises The ship was paid off a
the Isle of France. had f57 due me. drew
Gl2, and took bill, then shipped for Lon
don, and when in London, presented my bI
for payment, but was told that the owner wa
bankrupt. So there was, and the ship woul
INV iCIuAh lol tNo JOuloj pClhdPo' hC NCCPo
of the Sailors Home allowed me to live anon
the servants of the establishment, for my worI
remained there 10 month, and then was ab
to retain my money Next shipped on boar
Hudson Bay Co.'s bark, bound to tn
North West Coast, engaging for FIVE years. o
leaving England, resolved to live differently
After visiting the Sandwich Islands, Columbi
River, and trading about, we are here again"
"But tell us how long since you knocked o
your old habits, and began to live another kin
of life"
at is about IL months We were comm
down the Columbia, l had been drinking; ar
l when came to myself l was wretched indee
l went by myself prayed to God, and ont
: more promised to lead different life. The 81
S rious light now entered my soul. I read my
: BILE, also a little book that Mr. Douglass gave n
, at Fort Vancouver, called the "Sinners Friend
| also read some tracts. Those and my bib
are all read. For am no scholar, only VIII
L., o1rnJ.