The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-02-01

| passenger
This aint your woman, find ?"
"Oh. no |" was the reply "only ;
chance passenger"
Il thought you was qucerly yoke,
when / first saw YOU" said the captain
"im thinking I shall give you the oil,
sail, which is the only thing to sleep on
on board, and let her have the soft sid,
of the plank | was gong to give you.
by no means Give the poor woman
the best accommodations you can Al
for me. / shall do well enough"
The wind was falling, the tide turned
and the sloop was brought to anchor
the jib hauled down, aud the mainsail
left standing, skipper fashion-when the
captain and his adjunct made prcpara
ticn for reflection.
Il say, ma'am," said the captain. "Tvc
a notion that you can lend us lift Will.
this ere supper"
Il shan'L do no such thing" was the
reply. Il expect to pay for my passage
and ifyou've got any supper to get, get
it yourself
The captain did not out-do the Nib
los or Dclmonicos of the time and his
beef steaks would have been far from
tempting to the palate of even a hungry
man. Nor was the hyson of the first
quality, or the sugar the whitest, and.
although the lady grumblej, the strang-
er took everything kindly.
When it was time to retire, the lady
took possession of the best berth, and
the old sail, while the stranger, wrapped
in his cloak, turned in. taking the soft
side of the plank already spoken of by
the skipper.
1t was past midnight, when, from a
horrid dream that he was undergoing, in
consequence of the novelty of his posi-
tion, probably, the passenger was aroused
by being rudcly shaken by the shoulder.
IL say, mister, aint you a doctor !n
asked the skipper.
A negative was returned.
"I'm sorry for it," he continued
Here's my mate has got the awfullcst
stomach. ache ever man had. / was in
hopes you had something in those sad
die bags which might do him good. Do
see if you can't help him"
The passenger arose, and assuring the
captain that there was nothing medici-
nal in his portmanteau, went to the man,
who was grooming heavily.
Have you any gin and peppermint on
board ?" he asked.
Yes" responded the captain, "I've
tried that, and it don't help him"
Have you any psarl-ashcs then ?" he
inquired.
"Oh, yes" said the captain. IL always
keep that. With hard cider, IN a
morning, it is capital drink"
"Well, then," said the stranger,
bring it, and get some hot water, as
quickly as possible"
"Tbe kettle must have boiled by this
time" said the captain, for put it on
some time ago !" and going forward to
the caboose, he returned with the neces-
sary Ingredients for a drench.
Putting the proper quantity of alkali
into pint mug, and pouring the water
upon it, leaving sufficient "sky light" for
the infusion of due measure of schiedam,
swcctening the dose, and qualifying it
with peppermint, the stranger admins
tered the dose to his patient, which, in
4 short time, essentially relieved him
and dose number two, half an hour af-
terwards, having been imbibed, the suf-
fercr, who was entirely prostratcd BY
the pain, fell into quiet slumber
The stranger Eow again turned in
but had scarcely gotten into dream,
as uneasy as the first, when the captain
was again at his side.
Mister" said he, "thc tide is now
high food, and there is a smart breeze
getting up ! want to get under way,
and Higgins here is too sick to help
Now, do just get up and haul in the
slack, while l rouse up the anchor--do,
that's good fellow p'
The passenger was not obduratc and
after proper application and the usual
"Yo. heave ho |" at the windlass, the
ring of the anchor was hove chock to the
hawse holes, the jb was hoisted, and the
sloop was tearing down before it.
The passenger again resumed his
berth, where lie remained until the day
had broken, when the captain once more
made his appearance.
IL say, mister" said he, ''thc wind has
chopped about | want hand to tend
jib-shects-Higgins can't do it so just
you bear hand and help me, and a few
stretches will bring us to the dock"
Up got the passenger and took the
station assigned him, performing his du.
ty with great alacrity receiving the
orlers-"hand aft !" "be spry w-"pull
away r'--"another pull, and belay IL
at every tack ; and by dint of hard la
Dor on his part, and good steerage on
the part of the captain, they got into
the slip, and let run his halyards
"Now heave en- rope ~ shouted the
captain, Bear a hand now haul in !!
haul in r.
These orders were promptly obeyed ;
and the sloop was safely in tho dock.
While the captain was slowing the sails
the stranger went below, and soon re.
turned in his cloak--valise in hand.
"Well, captain, what is to pay?" he
asked of the skipper.
Pay !" said the skipper "if there's
anything to pay, I'm the chap that's got
to do it, SO, mister, just tell us what's
the damage, and I'll shell out directly
and thank you into the bargain. / nev
or want better Jack at'a'pinch thar
you are. Just say how much, and her,
it is"
"Poh, poh I" said the stranger, "yo'
are welcome to all | have done but
must pay my passage. Is this enoughl
handing him bank note.
"Why, this here" said the captain