The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-07-24

OBEYING ORDERS.

hC OioCst Oilaitt EctlCttiy
bers the Widow Trotter, who used many
years ago, to occupy small wooden house
away down in Hanover street, in somewhat
close proximity to Salutalion Alley. Well
this widow was blessed with son, who
like Goldsmith, and many other men in at:
ter life, was the Ounce Of his class. M
merous were The foggings which his stu
pidity brought upon him, and the road to
knowledge was with him truly a vale Of
tears
One day he came home, as usual, with
red eyes and hands.
20, you blockhead' screamed his moth
er-she was bit of yiragn, Mrs. Trot-
ter was--'you'ye been gettin' another lick
ID, know
20. yes,' replied young Mr.. Trot,er;
that's one Nv the regular exercises-lick-
in me. 'Ar,er Nv licked Trotter' says the
master, sl'll hear the ri,hmetic class But,
mother, to change tho subject, as the Grim
nal said when he found the Judge was get
tiEg personal, is there are arrant can do
for you?
yes grumbled the Widow; 'only you're
SO eternal slow about anything you unde: :
take--go get a pitcher Of water, and be
tour wears about it, will ye?'
Bob Trotter took the pitcher, and wend-
ed bis way in the direction Of the street
pump; but he hadn't got far, when he en-
countered his friend, Joe Buffer, the mate
pf vessel, issuing from his house, and
dragging heavy sea-chest along after
him.
Come Bob,' said Joe, 'bear hand and
help me down TO Long Wharf with this
We'll, so ! would said Bob, 'onIy yon
see mother sent me ae::e:: : pitcher Of wa
ter
sWhat do you care for your mother--she
don, care for you. Come along
well said Bob first let me hide the pitch.
er where can find it again.
With these words he slowed away his
earthenware under flight Of stone steps,
and accompanied his friend aboard ship.
The pilot was urging the captain 10 cast of
and take advantage of the wind and tide,
but the captain was waiting the arrival Of
a boy who had shipped the day before, and
was wishing no good to his eyes for the de-
lay he had occssioned.
At last he turned to Bob and said
'What do you say youngster, TO shipping
with me? I'll treat you well, and give
you ten dollars month";
i should like to CO. said Bob hesitating-
ly, tbut my mother -s
sIlang your mother! said the Captain.
'She will be glad TO gel rid of You. Cume
will you go?'
q haint got no Clothes
Here's a chest full. The other chap
was just your size; and they'll fit you to q
r.,
'l'Il go.'
Cast off that line therer shouted the
and the ship fell off with the tide
and was soon standing down the bay with
a fair wind, and every stitch Of canvass
set. She was bound for the Northwest
via Canton and back again which was then
called the double voyage, and usually occu-
pied about four years.
In the meantime, the non-appearance CT
Bob, seriously alarmed his mother. A
night passed, and the town crier was call
ed into requstion, week, when she gave
him up, had note read for her ia the
meeting and Went into mourning.
Just four years after the occurrences,
tho ship got back 10 port, aud Bob and his
friend were paid off The wages Of the
Widows son amounted tojust four hundred
and eighty dollars, and he found, on squar-
ing his accounts with the capt ain, that his
advances had amounted 10 the odd tens,
aud four hundred dollars clear we're the
fruits Of his long cruise.
AS he walked in the direction Of his
honse, in company with Joe, he
scanned with curious eye tho houses, the
shops, and the people that he passed. Moth
ing appeared changed; the same signs in
dicated an unchanged hospitality on the
part Of the same landlords, the same lamp
ers were standing at the snme corners--it
seemed as If he'd been gone only day.
With the old sights and sounds, Boh's old
feeling revived, and he almost dreaded to
see, debouching from some alley, detach-
ment Of boys, sent by his ancient enemy,
The schoolmastcr, to know why he had
been play ing ,ruunt, and TO carry him back
10 receive the customary walloring.
When he was near home he said:
sJoc, | wonder if fany body's found tla,
Did pitchcr?'
He stopped down, thrust his arm under
the stones,ep and withdrew the Identical
piece Of earthenwnre he had deposited there
jns, four years before. Having rinsed and
filled it at the pump he walked into his
mothers house, and found her seated 10
her accustomed armchair. She looked a,
him for minute, .recagaized him, scream
cd, and exclaimed:
sWhy Bob where hare you been? What
nave you been doing?
'Get,n' that pitcher of water, answered
Bob, setting il on the table; 4 always obey
told me to be four years abou,
/ aud was.'
A correspondent of the Builder, has
very simple method oi
damp walls, by the mere out
side application Of a lalher ofsoap and hot
4 4 -