Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-07-05
Asa T. KnoIIim's Adventures.
BY THE OLD 'UN.

a .lr BY THE OLD 'UN. s. T. .E
Asa T. Knollins was a genuine specimen of the
of the down east Yankee--a log-chopping trad
ing, fishing, sea7going omphibous animal pass
ing his time between the ocean and the main
land. In one Of his voyages before the mast, he
went to Porto Rico, and by some chance it hap
pened that his vessel sailed without him. Asa
felt somewhat homesick when compelled to pro-
long his visit and watched eagerly for an oppor-
tunitJ of returning to 'his own native land"
"a. One evening, as he was walking along the sea-
side in melancholy guse, he was suddenly sur
rounded by gang OF British sailors, belonging
to the sloop-of-war Terrible, commanded by Cap
tain Bagshot aud then busy in taking in water
and other stores, preparatory to continuance of
her three years cruise. Asa was disposed to
show fight at first, but as, the press gang was
armed with cutlasses, he concluded his best policy
was to submit quietly, and so he entered the barge
without opposition and was taken on board the
sloop. That, night as he lay awake, brooding
over his misfortune, he chalked out his, plan of
conduct, which was no other than to fein sim
plicity, amounting almost idioty, and to display
as little knowledge of seamanship as possible
He knew how to throw into his countenance an
air of complete vacancy and innocence, calculated
to throw the shrewdest observer off his guard
The next day, at noon, dish of boiled beans
was sat before him without any other '6xins."
Our friend 'hared up at the meagerness Of the en-
tertainment. o -..... .-, -... .......... .
"Biled beans and pork!' he exclaimed. "This
is little too mean swow! Taint fit Cor dog!"
"Hadnt you better complain. to the captain"
asked the black-whiskered boatswain, with a
sneer. ., l4...t-.ss, ...t....l..-. s.-.frs.
"That's it, old sea-hoss," remarked Knollins.
"That's bright idee! Complain to the capt'n!
So will" .:-.-.s.t .....
And, regardless of opposition, he boltcd into
the cabin, where Captain Bagshot sat at dinner
with three or four of his officers. ..s ...+....
".Who the devil are you!'' asked the captain,
fercely fixing his savage eye on the Yankee.
"Who be I!'' calculated Knollips, "Why, I'm
Asa T. Knollins, cap'n. hope you're we'll
and how's the folks to hum! Pretty spry, eh!"
"You're names Johnathan, guess said Capt.
Bagshot, mimicking The nasal tone of Knollins.
''No it aint it's Asa T. Knolins, capn."
"Well what do you want of me!' .....
"Seems to me you live pretty well here, cap'n,"
said Asa, looking over the table. "Pretty tail
fodder. Chickens, ham, pine-apples and o-be-
Joyful. Your cook hant did the clean thing by
US, though, spose you don't know nothing about
it, SO thought I'd step up here and letyou know
how they serve up down stairs. Why, cap'n,
u they gin us beans without pork!"
E'"Beans without pork! Astonishng!' exclaim-
ed the Captain, willing to honor the character
ayes, capn, beans without pork; don't beat
all natur!' " .
b. "What do you live on when you're at home?"
asked the captain. +..' ".
"Pork and beans, billed chowder, fapjacks and
dohghnuts,' answered Asa.
"What are fapjacks!" asked the Captain.
| ."Don't you hnow what fapjacks are? Why
| Ii thought every fool know'd that9 They're made
out O. flour, aud eggs, and milk, and water, beat
en- up ker-slap, and then done brown, and served
up with butter and and merasses, or merlasses
and butter, whichever you choose, and they don't
, 90 down sliced there's no stuns in Roxbury!"
, aYou seem to like molasses," said the Cap.
3 tain ..... ..,.. ....
"Well, guess du,' said Asa. But not raw
/. as you fellurs eat it.
4 "How then!"
"Wall, like to run stick into the bung-hole
o of hogshead, and bull it eout and dror it through
!. my mouth. Aintit good then! Wall guess
q itis!"f aai M n'9 .g"a@ F'
\ swell, Jonathan" hes ssas su-.a
:. casa, cap'n." ss 3a 5taa3- ar vi }a4r~
j Jonathan, say, you can go now, and I'll Sc
about the pork tomorrow 'e - :, q,
: Asa went back to his astounded shipmates, re
porting that the Captain was '.pretty slick sort G
a feller." is4ssi aa3.hHi 2p. fateEad a3E s.
:. One day, when the man didn't tumble up frol
below with the requisite alacrity, the boatswail
, rattan in hand, give each, of them 'reminde
= with his stick as he came on deck. Asaiwas tn
- last as usual, but watching the boatswan's ban
- boo, he caught the weapon in his hand and de1
= ,terously twisted it out of the officers grasp.
u "Hallo! whiskersn' said he, ~ hope you didn
mean to hit me, cause it hurts fellur No, yc
did'nt--all thought SOL forgive you," and
y threw the rattan overheard, escaping to the qua
ter deck; where: his originality and supposed ii
- becility secured himimpunity. = In fact he W
" treated as privileged buffooB by the officers.
~ Taking up u cannon ball. day, he askeds
nWhat'n the world is this yere hap'n!" aia4o
O, q "Thats what wei keep to- pepper the Yanke
I've with,'' answered Bagshot. a@s5sa97 ae fl.15s
", 'sWant to know! said Asa "How DO
work it!'I5sa aa8 b eaiAsx4faa a