Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-12-18
SELECT TALE.
.. From the New England Farmer. s a.
THE SAILORS DREAM.
A NAUTICAL SKETCH OF REAL LIFE.
sii s'r--2 si' i- r..a-f.. .1ll
BY GEORGE s. RAYMOND.
BY GEORGE $. RAYMOND.

s.
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Keep her off east-south-east,' said Captain
John Harmon, commander Of the little Balt-
more schooner Harp, as he came on deck, af-
ter having worked up his chronometer time,
at three o'clock P. M, on the 18th of August,
1876. W.
East-south-east, SIR echoed back the old
weather-beateu man-ofwar's man, who sat on
cross-legged, canvas bcttomed, ultra marine
sea chair, which he had hauled chock up along
side of the weather bu1warks, so that with his
left arm flung carelessly over the rail, and his
right leg crossed over the left, he was quite
as much at his ease as though he had been off
duty altogether. 'East-south-east, sir and
rounding in on the bit of ratine stuff, which
he had made fast 10 the tiller head he brought
the helm two points a-weather, and the beau
tiful little clipper, which for the last hour had
been thrashing away at it, jammed close by
the wind, and plunging bows under as she
dashed madly into the long regular swells
of the Atantic-swung gracefully off until the
wind was brought square a-beam; and the
sheets were eased off, the little beauty darted
away, like the swift tag-hound just freed from
the leash.
For more than seventy hours the schooner
had been hove-to head to the eastward, nnder
just the smallest compass to which her main
sail could be reduced; heading up about south
east, in one of the widest gales of wind that
had ever swept over that part of the Atlantic
within the recollection of man; and it was on
ly about an hour previous to this order having
been given by her commander, noble looking
young man of four-and-twenty, that the gale
had sufficiently abated to admit of putting whole
sail on her. and hauling her to BY the wind on
the larboard tack. ...
What in blazes is up now,' exclaimed the
mate of the little vessel to himself as seated
at the cabin table busily engaged in writing up
his days log, he overheard the captain order
to keep the vessel off east-south-east. Here
we are,' continued the mate, as his eye ran
over the traverse table at the bottom of the
page; here we are in lat. 81 II, lon. "A 10
to the northward of Hatteras, and barely clear
of the gulf stream to the sou,hard and our
course 10 fetch Bermuda would be sonih.south-
east, when the old man keeps her off with the
wind square abeam, and goes flying away in
search of No Mans Land Here the mates
soliloquy was suddenly interrupted by the cap
tain xuhn antarad tho cabin and ,ftar ,,I,;,,r ,
long scrutinizing look at the chart, which lay
nnrolled before him he addressed his officer as
follows:
Mr.. Pennel, | am going to turn in for
couple of hours, and wish you to keep the
schooner on, just as she is going, and a man
on the fore topsail-yard with orders TO keep a
bright lock out for vessels If you discover a
sail. call me at once; if not, let me sleep till
SIX o'clock ..s. ..I .... ...r.f
The mate left the cabin to obey his superb
or's instructions, and the young commander
sought the quiet of his state-room in order to
snatch few brief hours of repose, he having,
with the exception of single hour, remained
on deck during the whole time the gale had
lasted; not that he feared anything for the
safety of his beautiful craft but his mind was
ill at ease, and for the last seventy hours had
he courted the drowsy god in vain.
Would you know what it is that has thus
deprived that young sailor of his natural
rest1 |-.
Ills answered in two wo.ds-a dream.
But you will understand it much better, if I
take this opportunity, while we are alone here
in the little scheoner's cabin, and tell Won
few words that know of the young mans his
John Harmon was the youngest of three
sons, his father being lawyer of considerable
eminence, and owning handsome property in
the city of Rochester, N. Y. At the age of
twenty, John graduated at one of the eastern
colleges, with the highest honors of the insti-
tuition, and on his return home, his father al
most Immediately hinted to him very pointed
ly, that he should be well pleased to see his
son commence at once course of studies for
one of the learned professions, and as his two
elder brothers were already established, one as
member of the Rochester bar, and the other
as medical practitioner, the choice for John
was of course rather limited, particularly as
his father declared that two lawyers and one
doctor in family were sufficient, and pointed
very significantly towards large family Bible
which lay on the parlor table, thereby indica-
ting the profession which he wished his son to
embrace.
But John Harmon felt that nature had new
or designed him for the sacred desk, and
frankly told his father that he could nos-would
not, enter upon the duties Of profession which
was too holy in lis nature to be triHed with,
and 30 totally at variance with his habits and
disposition. r-
The father was obstinate in his resolves, and
the son equally firm and determined in his -
and soon Tho controversy grew warm--on the
part Of the father angry; so much so, that
within an hour from the time tha, the subiec,
vas first introduced. Jefferson Harmon. ESQ.
beooming very much snraged at wha, he
ssrned the mulish obstinaoy of his son, order
I'd him 70 leave his presence and never show
bic fsos beneath the paternal roof again, until
10 wss willing 70 submit to his fathers will
snd pleasure, in the matter of 4 profession.