Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1851-11-20
BY +. CLINTON HARRINGTON.

was at home otter cruise OF three years,
enjoying the leisure ofa two months leave,
with all the gusto which a seaman knows how
to spice this rare privilege of his rowing life
with. What with riding in bugges, smashing
one per week, irolicking with the pretty girls,
falling in love with one per diem, shooting
snpes on the marsh with cousin Tom, and
Knocking over one in fifty shots; and what with
fishing, dining about among all my relatives,
smoking cigars, spinning long yarns, and spen-
ding freely my flush money, | managed before
the two months were up by week TO have en-
hausted all the sources of shore amusement,
and was signing for the freedom and the steady
habits Of the quarterback and mess-room again.
There were no more girls to fllrt with, and
swear eternal fidelity to last twenty-tour hours;
| had ceased to be a wonder to my uncles and
aunts, had bursted my snipe-gun, had lost my
fishing rod, had broken up all the livery stable
horses, and got out Of powder, that is, out of
money. So started one sunny morning from
my native village Oh board the topsail schooner
Polly Bean, for New York, to rejon my lrg-
ate.
The Connecticut river, at that time, was a
lovely stream, for an idle summers day sail
down under an easy sheet. The pretty green
banks, with herds browsing almost within reach
of the end of the main boom; the neat farm
houses in their vegetable gardens; tly leveln
teryalos dotted by the stately and pum-Iike
elm tree, with hocks whitening the upandS and
here and there distant splte being visible
through depression IN the distant hills, all
were objects Of interest to a careless, idle, ci-
gar-smoking passenger like myself. Sometimes
we would meet sloop with boom as long as
the equator, beating up, and how are ye,
cap'n; WE'LL thank zee. how do ye do' inter
changed nasaiIy between the rural shippers as
we gllded past.
Towards sunset, altera charming sail down
the river, we came in sight Of the open Sound;
and as the channel was deeper, and the PcrIIs
of navigating the narrow river were over, our
skipper began to show himself quite soclable
old gentleman in his way. he lett the helm to
his mate, as the blue sea swrIed about the bow.
and the little vessel began to rock upon the rol-
ling waves of the sound.
He was man who had seen full siXty-fve
winters. His head was gray, and he wore his
locks long about his neck, as old men love to
do. His costume was something between that
of an independent farmer and coasing cap
tain, and he had followed all his life both voca-
tions. He was intelligent, talked well, know
ing how to describe what he had seen and pass
cd through.
After supper, as took my seat upon the
companion-way, with my heels upon the hen
coop, after having first lighted cigar at the
light in the pinnacle, he called to little club
Of carotty-headed boy to bring him coal Of
fire from the caboose, which being done, he
dropped the coal into the bowl of his pipe, and
took his seat opposite me in comfortable arm
chair with eathern back, which he always
carried with him for his own convenience.
SO you are lieutenant OF irgate, ne
said, after he had pufed the third time, all the
while regarding my face by the pleasant moon
light as if he wondered how such beardless
youth as was could be a lieutenant.
Yes, captain, ] answered, How long have
you been coasting on these waters"
well, man and boy, upwards of forty years
ever since | escaped out O. the old Jersey
'Out of the Jersey prison ship, do you mean' ?
I asked with awakened interest. Were you
ever in her.
4 was there a prisoner six months. sir, and