Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-01-17
Asa Knollin's Adventures.

ASA L. hnolllns was genuine specimen
OF the down east Yankee-a loo-bonn;no,
trading, fishing, sea going aInphibious AMI E
ma'' passing his time between the ocean and
the mainland, In one Of his voyages before
the mast, he went to Porto Rico, and bv
/ some chance it happened that his vessel
sailed without him. Asa felt somewhat
homesick when compelled to prolone his
visit, and watched eagerly for an opportunity 3
OF returning to his own, his native land
One evening as he was walking alono tBe
seaside in melancholy guise. he was snd.
denly surrounded by a gang Of British sailors.
belonging to the sloop-of-war Terrible, com,
manded by Capt. Bagshot and then busy
10 taking in water and other stores. prenara.
tory 70 a continuance Of her three years
cruise. Asa was disposed to show febt at
hrst' but as the press gang was armed with
cutiasses, he concluded bis 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 Law
awake, brooding over his misfortunes. he
chalked out his plain of conduct, which wa.
no other than to feigna simplicity, amount.
ing almost to idiotcy, and to display as little
knowledge of seamanship as possible. He
knew how to throw into his countenanco an
ar OF complete vacancy and Innocence cal
cuated to throw the shrewdest observer off
his guarG I.s-e,-D.s -. oo,'s' 20 ou
beans was set before him without aEv other
fixins. Our friend fared up at the
meagreness of the entertainment.
Billed beans and no pork he exclaimed.
This is leetle too mean, [ swow Taint
fit for dogp
Hadn't you better complain to the cap
tain! asked the bla, k-whiskered boatswain.
with sneer.
That's it, old sea-hoss,' remarked Knoll
lins That's bright idee! Complain 10
the cap'n! So will
And, regardless of opposition, he bolted
into the cabin, where Capt. Bagshot sat at
dinner with three or four of his officers.
Who the devil are you 2 asked the cap.
tain, ffercely fixed his savage eyes on the
Yankee.
Who be 2 calculated Knollins. why,
I'm Asa I. Knollins, cap'n. hope you're
well-and how's the folks to hum? Pretty
spry, eh?'
You're names Jonathan, I guess said
Capt. Bagsshot, mimicking the nasal tone of
! Knollins.
No it amt, it's Asa 7. Knollins, cap'n.'
Well, what do you want of me p
Seems to me you live pretty well here,
cap'n, said Asa, looking over the table
Pretty tall fodder, Chickens, ham, pine
apples, and o-be,joyful Your cook hant
did the clean thing by US, though. S'pose
you don't know nothing about it, so tho't
Ic step up here and let you know how they
serve US down stairs. Why, Cap'n, they
gin US beans without pork
Beans without pork Astonishing y
exclaimed the captain, willing to humor the
character
! Yes, cap'n, beans without pork. Don't
that beat all natur?'
What do youlive on when you're at home 2
asked the captain.
] Pork and beans, billed chowder, fapiacks
and doughnuts,' answered Asa.
What are fapiacksY asked the captain.
i Don't you know what aapjacks are why
thought e0ery fool know'd that? They're
made out o -four, and eggs, and milk, and
water, beaten up ker-slap, and then they're
slotted into fryin' pan and done brown, and
served up with butter and merIasses. or mer-
;. lasses and butter, whichever you choose, and
if they don't 60 down slick, there's no stuns
: in Roxbury'
g You seem to like molasses, said the cap
tain
: Well ! guess I du,' said Asa. But
rot raw, as your fellurs eat it.
How then !?
: Wall. | like to lun stick into the bupp
n hole of a hogshead, and then pull it eout anc
f dror it through my mouth. Amt it gooc
e thenl Wall | guess it is
? Well, Jonathan
y Asa, cap'n.'
D Jonathan, say, you can 90 now, and
}, III see about the pork to morrow
/ Asa went back to bis astounded shipmates
: reporting that the captain was pretty slicl
K sort of fellur'
c One day, when the men didn't tumbl
r up from below with the requisite alacrity
L the boatswain, rattan III hand, gave each 0
o them a reminder with his stick as be cam,
# on the deck. Asa was the last, as usual
but watching the boatwain's bamboo, b.
le caught the weapon in his hand and dexte
er rously twisted it out of the officers grasp.
IN : Halo /! whiskers 7 said he, | hope yo'
ie didn't mean to hit me, cause j: hurts fel
J. lur. No, you didn't-wall thought so
y forgive YOU and he threw the rattan over
le board, escaping the quarterback, where hi
5 originality and supposed imbecliity secures