The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-10-14
Fer the Girls and Boys,
The Sailor and his Dog.


for long voyagc-men picked mp from the
boarding-houscs aud along shore-of the or
binary class, who had walked up sober to find
that their money was all gone, and they
must pillow the seas for more. Taking ono
months pay in advance, rhey put their straps"
into the forecastle of the Ivanhoc, and
made themselves acquainted with each other
without delay.
One there was, however, who did not so
readiIy umngamute with the rest. Suspicious
eyes were cast upon him from The first; for,
among n certain class of people, he who can
not enter into tho spirit of the conversation
is looked upon with jealous eyes. But there
avas nothing ominous in the personal appear
ance or the manners of Bolen, for that was
Ghe pnrscr's name by which he had been ship
ped. lie answered ciyiIly enough when he
was spoken to, bur his thoughts always
seemed to he far away, or he dweIt with the
past instead of the present. ! know not
Suffice it that he seldom laughed NJ our jokes.
Perhaps he heard them not. He brought
middle-sized dog on board the ship with
dim, and his dog was as unsocal as himself
1t was harmless dog but he played with
nobody but his nnster, or | might say his
friend, for the two were always seen togelh-
ver, except when Bolcn was olot, and then
1he dog would nestle in the chains outside
Ilie bulwarks and wait till his human corr
panion sheuId descend, sometimes casting
nm eye aIofi wisen Bolen stayed longer than
usual.
A part of Bolen's meals always went to
she dog and there were sometimes surly
whispers that this could not he, five Glanced
70 find ourselves on short allowance. Some
times piece of meat would he cast to the
clog Icy one ofthe other scamcn but the ana
NAL, though he quietly swallowed it, evinced
$40 sense of obligation, save light look Of
gratitude into the face of the donor; he show
ed no peculiar satisfaction but return to Bo-
Ien, and placed himself between his knees.
In the night watch the dog came regular
ly on deck, and then he and Bolcn were uni
Nersaiiy alone together. Then, reclining on
The deck, Bolen seemed to hold intercourse
with his dog, as man with man. A black
cook declared that he had heard Bolen adj
were either distant or slumbering on the
watch. But Bolcn never slept. lie and his
dog kept awake through the Whole watch
On one or two occasions petty officer had
shone some disposition to annoy the animal.
Then peculiar flush for moment H.
lumned the eyes of Bolen, followed by nh
expression of grief so deep and overwhclm-
ing that every one synpnthized with his fee
Kings, but without knowing exactly their M
1ure. For Bocn was bold sailor: md when
we scudded before gale, shortly after Ieav-
ing port, lie was placed at the helm, and his
steadiness WINS noticed by The captain aud
applaudcd by an old sea-dog named mott
who went ont with us as cabin passenger.
The petty officer still maintained his en-
vIfity sgainst the dog which had been greatly
Increased by the fact that lie was afraid to
harm the dog in Boen's presence, and it was
not easy TO catch the animal separated from
him. At length we reached the equinocla
c,nnd then whispers were observe to pass
between the aforesaid petty officer and the
anate afterwards the captain seemed to be
Introduced into the mystery, and the eyes of
the latter glnred rather wildly as he gazed
forward at the forecastle. The dog seemed
80 perceive that something was going forward
5n which he was interested He lowered his
tail and skunk more closely 10 Boen, and The
lntter appeared to feel that his dog was dis
dressed and apprehensive, for he drew his
hard hand softly over the yellow coat Of the
animal, and looked about him for the cause
of this change in the former meek confidence
ofthe solitary favorte.
AT length, OH one calm evening, when the
heavens were piled with heccy clouds, and
all hands We're enjoying the GOODNESS or the
might air on deck, some one limited 10 Bolen
that the officers believed his dog was going
mad. More than that the inlormer had heard
but he mentioned no more. BoIen's inag-
nation supplied him with the rest. He sat
bolt upright, and the sudden paeness of his
countenance was plainly visible through the
gloom of evening. All that night Bolen did
not close his eyes in sleep. The dog and he
svere not separated for moment. BoIeu sat
against the MINDLESS, and the dog lay at his
side with his head resting on the thigh ofhis
owner, aud occasionally looking up in Be-
lens fuce with mournfill air. as if for pro-
7ection, and yet with latent knowledge that
Bolen's influence was not sufficient to ward
off his coming fate.
Soon after breakfas: on the next morning.
the steward came forward and asked for Boz
lens dog. Bolen was there, but his dog was
not at his side. The steward went aft and
reported progress, aud soon afterwards, the
.hasty, snnppish tones of the aforementioned