Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-04-09
From the Drawing-R Room Companion.
Asa 1Snolnns,s Adxenture-rr THE OLD ,rn.

by some chance it happened that his vessel sailed
without him. Asa felt somewhat home sick when
compelled to prolong his visit and watched eagerly
for an opportunity of returning to.his own native
| land.
/ One evening as he was walking along the seaside
IN melancholy guise he suddenly surrounded
by gang OF British sailors belonging 10 the sloop
of-war Terrible, commanded by Captain Bagshot
and then busy in taking in water and other stores
preparatory to a continuance of her three years
cruise. Asa was disposed to shoT fight at first, but
as the press was armed with cutfasses he con.
eluded his best policy to submit quietly and
he entered the barge without opposition and was
taken on board the sloop.
That night as he lay awake, brooding over his
misfortune, he cbalked out his conduct. which was
no other than to feign q simplicity amounting al
most to ldlocy, and display as little knowledge of
seamanship as possible He knew how to throw in
to his countenance an air of complete vacancy and
innocence calculated to throw the shrewdest OBJ
server off his guard.
The next day at noon, dish of billed beans was
set before him without any filings Our friend
hared up at the meagerness of the entertainment
Billed beans and no pork !" he exclaimed. This
is a leetle too mean, | swow Taint fit for dog +!
:" Hadn't you better complain to the Captain q
asked the black whiskered boatswan, with sneer
That's it. old sea-horse,' remarked Knolns-
" That's bright idea! Captn So will"
And regardless of opposition, he boted into the
cabin, where Capt. Bagshot sat at dinner With three
or four officers.
"Who the devil are you ?'' asked the Captains
fercely fixing his savage eyes on the Yankee
"Who be e. calculated Knollins "Why I'm
Asa T. Knollins Captain. hope you're weli-and
hows the folks at hum Pretty spry, eli q,
You're names Jonathan, guess said Captain
Bagshot mimicking the nasal tone of Knollins.
No it amt, it's Asa T. KnolIins Captain
"Well what do you want of me o.
g. Seems to me you live pretty well here. Captain
said Asa: looking over the table. Pretty tall fod
der Chickens, hams: pine apples and o-be joyful.
Your cook hain't done the clean thing by u.s. thoupb
SDOSo
step up here and let you know how they serve us
down stairs. Why Captain, they give us beans
without pork ~
''Beans without pork Astonishing !" exclaimed
the Captain willing to humor the " character"
Yes, Captain, beans without pork Don't that
beat all natur 2"
What do you live on when you're at home ?'
asked the Captain.
'Pork and beans, billed chowder. hap-iacks and
dOughnuts,' answered Asa.
What are fap-jacks 2" asked the Captain
Don't you know what fap-jacks are! Why, [
thought every fool know'd that They are made out
of -four, and eggs, and milk, and water, beaten up
ker-slap and they're slotted into fryin' pan and
done brown. and sarved UP with butter and nolas-
ses, or molasses and butter which ever you choose
and 1t they don't go down slick, there's stuns to
Roxbury!;
It You to like fnoiasses.' said the Captain
"Well, guess du:' said Asa. " But not raw,
as you fellers eat it.'
| =" How then !'' ...-.
"Wall, like to run stick into the bungho1e of
hogshead, and then pull it eout and dropit through
my mouth: Amt it good then? WaA, guessiti is.'
! ''Well, Jonathan"
Asa, Captain" ..-.
Jonathan, | say, you can 60 now, and I'll see
about the pork tomorrow"
| Asa went back to his astonished shpmates re-
porting that the Captain was pretty slick sort of
| a fellow"
One day, when the men didn't tumble up from
below with the requisite alacrity, the boatswain,
rattan in hand, gave each of them a reminder
with his stick as they deck. Asa the
last, usual, but watching the boatswaihs bamboo.
he caught the weapon in his hand and dexterously
| twitched it out of the officers grasp.
L" Halo! whiskers !" said he, /" hope you didn't
mean to hit me, cause it hurts feer No, you
didn't-wall. | thought sol forgive you,' and he
threw the rattan overheard, escaping to the quarter
deck where his originality secured his impnnty-
In fact, he was treated as privileged buffoon by
the officers. s='
| Taking up cannon ball one day he asked:
| " What in the world is this yere, Captain ~
'Thats what keep to pepper the Yankees
| WITH answered Bagshot.
{" Want to know said Asa, how do they work
| it,"
ave put EN- into those guns and fire 'cm off"
g Swow you don't say Do they travel pretty
fast, Captain ?"
$50 you can't seem 'ern'
Hurt a fellow if they hit q
eyes, when they're fired cut Of guns
I" Not otherwise p
emo"
" Then here goes!'' cried Asa and handling the
missile like bowling ball he let it drive among the
legs of the officers and men; shouting 'hurrah let
| her rp!' ....
Cries of rage and pain followed.
''Secms to me. Captain" said Asa coolly. " them
ere things does hurt eller even if they hant fred
out of gun"
One day Capt Bagshot called Asa aft "Jona-
than" said he, there's boat alongside you may
get your traps together, and 60 ashore think his
Majesty do WITHOUT you.'
/ 'Wall, Captain" replied Asa. " fore you spoke
! I'd pretty much made up my mind to Quit. kin
make better wages fshin. by great sight. Besides
| I want to go hum and see the folks. Good by, Capn
| | shall see You again"
| C | think not" said the Captain.
/ "Guess shall Good by said Asa, and with a
light heart he bid adieu to the Terrible.
/ More than three years afterwards, during the
of 1912, British armed vessel. LAYING at St Johns
was boarded and carried. in dark night by dar-
ing band of American privateersmen. The men
were secured, ore by one, they came up The
leader of the expedition then sought the commander
and demanded bis sword Indignant and confoun-
ded Capt Bagshot asked the name of his captor
! Lord bless yGd. Captain answered familiar
voice, st don't you know me I'm Asa T. KnoIlins,
| that boarded along O you. spell back, at Porto
i Rico. | told you guessed ! should see you again
and when Yankee guesses anything, it's sure to
happen. Make yourself comfortable Captain, and
| excuse me for moment cause I've got to haul
down your flag. up the stars and stripes, and
work the vessel into Portland"
| WHAT COUNTRY! The Cincinnati Commercial
piles up the agony and goes it with rush in shout