Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1855-09-06
THE CABIN BOY.

ing little whether the weather fair or foul and
accustomed to navigate his vessel thro' fogs as
well as through sunshine.
The Triton's deck presented busy scene. All
the crew were occupied in getting on board and
slowing away their sea-stock of wine, brandy, salt
meat -four lines, nets, hooks, leads, together with
a vast quantity ofsalt. Amid abundance of noise
hustle, and loud talking, the long boat made her
last trip from the shore and out of her stepped on
the deck, with a tinid, trembling air, boy of
about twelve years of age He went up to a sal
Tor who had just lighted his pipe. Sir, he began
twisting pretty cap of green velvet between his
small hands. The rough seaman interrupted him
with a loud laugh. "a.
Sir, indeed he repeated my name is Malan-
din. What dye want, young chapP
| DO you want a cabin boy on board?'
Il know nothing about it; you must go ask the
captain; there he is, standing near the mast, with
a large pipe and the bearskin' coat.
! The child approached the person thus described
but before he could speak, the Captain exclaimed
What do you want, you young scamp?'
TO be cabin boy on board this vessel, repli-
ed the boy courageously.
Did you ever 60 a voyage before y
No, but think should soon learn my bust
ness
:Bravo What's your name!'
| George
Il am an orphan cried the child, looking down
and blushing.
so much the better cried the captain. Here,
| Malandin, take charge of this new cabin boy
Secure the long boat and weigh anchor
Captain, take care of the icebergs,' said an old
white-headed sailor standing by. You are set
ting out too soon. In my time, we used only to
begin buying our salt in the middle of May, and
now we are only at the end of April
| Captain Varenne vOuchsafed no reply, but con-
tinued to puff forth immense volumes of smoke
from his pipe, as he TRANQUILITY watched the noisy
/ nrOPaSS Of wpiOhpr anchor AT laprth the sails
were set and the gallant brig left the port, amid
the farewell cheers of those on shore, while few
prophetic voices shouted aloud, Beware of the
iccbergs, captain beware of the icebergs'
| On the first day, very little notice was taken
ofGeorge, so he tho't the life of cabin boy most
charming one, but the next morning the captain
called him hastily and gave some order, which to
him was unintclligible; the boy hestated, and his
impatient commander gave him kick which sent
HIM to the other side of the deck George stood up
amid the dcrisive laughter of the crew, red and
furious, more from shame than pain, but when he
began to speak his mouth was rudey stopped by
the mate, who threatened him with good ropes
ending if he attempted to say a word. Silent sub
mission was all that remained for the child, but
from that time, how often would he creep into
retired corner of the deck and weep, Il watch the
waves, and call softly on the name of his mother.
so you have a mother said the mate, Malan-
din, who overheard him one day.
Ah, yes, and a father, also,' replied George,
and left them to become sailor. Oh, how
miserable l am
| You told the captain that you were an orphan
| L told lille, for was afraid that if mention
ed my parents / should be sent back to them, and
now am punished fer it,
! Then they don know where you are, George
No; WANTED to be sailor, and my father wo'd
not consent, so l took advantage of his and my
mothers going for day to the country, and
! came on board as Won know
And what makes you dislike being sailor?
! The blows and kicks that every one here seems
to have right to give me-
Bah! mere trife. All that will only make
you hardy, boy. The sea is a fine place-the
true home for man.
You mean for a fish, Malandin.
Wen, yes, for fish, for Goldfish. hope we
shall catch plenty this season.
! %, how always longcd to go cod fishing! ex-
claimed George. Il was quite baby when first
thought of it.
"1'is rough work child said the sailor shaking
his head; hard, cold work pursuing the fish for
months together, thro' frozen sea, and beneath
. n dark sky. Those who eat the cod at home little
know the sufferings of those who get it for them.
Only for glass of brandy now and then, we
should perish from cold aud exhaustion
Il wish, Malandin, that now, as you're not bu-
So, you would tell me all about it.
well, child, don't mind if / do Sit We down
take strong lines of from twelve to fifteen hun
bred fathoIns in length and at the interval of each
fathom we fasten n hook, baitcd with piece OF
cod Then, by means ofthe light shallops you see
on board, we plant the lines every morning all
along the coast. Next morning we draw up the
. lines, haul them on board, and generally find a
number of fish hanging from the hooks Then ev-
cry one sets TO work, some cut off heads others
cut the fish open take out the entrails, and care
fully place the roe and the liver in barrels. From
the latter sort of oil is extracted, which sells at
high price on shore as a sort of medicine for sick
people. Thank God! we seldom want any physiC
on board ship, except an allowance OF lemon juice
and potatoes, to orr salt junk and biscuit
Afterwards, the fish is placed in barrow and car
ricd to the salter who spreads them ont in the
hold, the stomach uppermost, and salts them thor
oughy with sort of wooden shovel. As soon as
this is over we clean the deck, and bait our lines
afresh, to have them ready again for the evening
weather permitting. And there's the whole pro
= cess for you now, boy
They were in 90 ; min, north latitude, anC
% 81 min, west longitude, when the mate fin
ishcd his recital. That same day-it was the 29tl
: OF May-they met floating icebergs. Suddenly
dreadful shock was felt cry of horror burst from
all on board; the vessel had struck upon an ice
berg and the water poured in thro' her cleft side
She began to sink rapidly, and terrible scen
ensued among the crew. Some ran about wildly
others fell on their knees and prayed aloud. SOM
. of the faint hearted wept and lamented like chill
: dren, while a few with more presence of mind
= lowered the long boat and asked the captain t
get into it with them.
Il must be the last to leave the vessel, reptile,
the bold seaman.
c Meantime the ships deck was nearly on a leve
with the waves, and poor George, pale and trenl
ling, kneeling near the mast, exclaimed, oh, IN.
; mother, my mother shall never see You again!
An is not lost that's in danger, said the grui
: voice of the captain Take a firm hold ofmy leg
e child, and trust to Providence
George, mechanically did as he was told TIL
: next moment dark wave swept over him, an
he lost all consciousness. When he revived, tn
' snip had disappeared, and he found himself wit
the Captain floating on two planks dashed togett
= er their situation was perilous in the extreme
nothing was seen around but the dark surface
the water varied by icebergs & floating fragment
OF the wreck Captain Narenne at length descrie
large lexel piece of ice, and with the assistane
: ola broken car, after long efforts heareached il
: His dress consisted of a wooden shirt pair {
: thick trowsers and stockings, together with hi
y hat, which he had had the good fortune to keep o
his head but poor George had scarcely any clothe
and was bareheaded. Thoroughly exhausted an
benumbed by the cold, they lay for some time o.
the ice without stirring, the captain bordering o
n the means of escape, and the boy thinking OF IN
II good mother, and the tears which she would she
If She know tho tim or OIL ar The dark