Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-06-10
EVENING STAR,
THE sEA-CAPTAINs ADVENTURE.
| THRILLING SKETCH

| they also had q desire to travel some. Be-
| sides the three owners, L had four passengers
IN the cabin. The passage from New York to
| England on that occasion was the most Sc
we're and stOrmyI ever made. L have expe-
| rienced heavier storms, but never such con-
tinued hard weather Tho old ship was on a
strain the whole of tho time, and though I run
her into the Avon without losing life or an
| important spar, yet she had received much
| damage. Her main mast was sprung, her tim
| bers strained, and for the last week the pumps
had to be kept going all the time, owners, pas
sengers, officers and all doing their share of
work at the brakes.
| As soon as we could get the cargo out, the
ship was hauled into the dock for repairs and
| we found, upon examination, that il would be
a week before she could be fit for sea, and if
| she had all the repairs which she absolutely
needed, it would take her nearer two weeks
A contract was made for the job, and one Of
the owners agreed to stay by and superintend
the work This left me at liberty, md L began
to look around for some place to visit 1 had
heard much of Salisbury Plain. The famous
| Stone hege was there, and so were there other
| relics of Roman and British antiquities Ac-
cordiDgly to Salisbury Plain L resolved to 20.
| When went on board the ship to make ar
| rangements with the owner who had remained
there, found one of the passengers just leav-
| Ing. His name was Nathan Leeman. He was
| a young man, not more than thirty wears of
! age, and l supposed him from his features and
| idiom, to be an Englishman. 1 told him W as
| going to Salisbury, and he informed me he was
| going the same way.
Leeman had been intending TO take the stage
| TO Devices, and thence take some of the cross
coaches; but had resolved to take a horse
and travel where, and how, and when pleased
and he liked the plan 30 well that he went i'm
medlately and bOug ght him good horse and
| saddle.
1t was about the middle Of the forenoon
when We SGT out, and 7 found that Leeman in
tended to visit the curiOsities with me, and
then keep en- towards London, by the way of
Andover and Chertsey, he having sent his
baggage on ahead to Salisbury by the great
mail route, which ran many miles of the way
L found my companion excellent company,
and on the way he told me some passages
from his own life. He was born in England,
but this was the first time he had been in the
Kingdom since he was fourteen years of age,
and was led to infer that at that time he
ran away from his parents. During the last
six years of his residence in the United States
he had been engaged in western land spec
ulatlons, and he was now independently rich.
We took dinner at Bradford, a large manu-
featuring town, six miles southeast of Bath
and as soon as our horses were rested, we set
out again. Towards the middle Of the after
noon the sky began to grow overcast, and we
great black clouds were piled up in heavy
masses, and it began to thunder. At War
minister we took the direct road for Albany, a
distance of fourteen miles, and when this
storm had closed upon US we were about half
way between the two places. L was in no
particular hurry, and as L had no desire to
get wet, proposed that we should stop at the
first place we came to In few moments
more we came to point where a small cross
road turned of to the right, and where a
guide board said it was FIVE miles to Debtford
Inn.
proposed that we should turn into this by-
way and make for Debtford inn as fast as
possible, and my companion readily assented.
We had gone mile when the great drops of
rain began to fall but as good fortune would
have 1t, we spied a small cottage, not more
more than furlOng ahead, through a clump
OF poplars. We made for this place, and
reached it before we got wet. There was a
good d-sixed barn on the premises, and long
sheep shed connected it with the house. Be-
meath this shed we drove, and just as we
allghted, an old man came out We told him
that We had got caught in a storm, and asked
him If he could accommodate US over night
He told US that we should have the best his
humble place could afford, and that if we
would put up with that, we should be well
como.
As soon as the horses were taken care of,
was grey headed man, certainly on the
down-hill side of three score, and his form
was bent by hard work. His countenance
was naturally kind and benevolent, but there
were other marks upon his brow than those
of old age. The moment 1 saw him, knew
he had seen much Of suffering. 1t was a neat
room to which we were led, a living room but
yet free from dirt and litter. An old woman
was just building fire for the supper, and as
We entered she arose from her work.
Some travellers, wife, caught in the show
er," said the old man.
" Surely, gentlemen, you re welcome, the
woman said, in a tone SO mild and free that
know she spoke only the feelings of her soul.
"It's a poor fare We can give, but the heart of
the giver must G en- make up for that"
thanked the good people, and told them
that would pay them well for all they did
for US.
"Speak not of pay" said the old woman,
taking the tea kettle from the hob, and hang
ing it on the crane.
lously. "Let not your heart run away with
ye. If the good gentlemen have to spare out
other abundance, it becomes not such suffer
ers as we to refuse the bounty.
saw the woman place the apron to her
eyes. but she made no reply The door close
by the fireplace, stood partly open, and
saw in the room beyond, a bed, and was
old man if he had sickness.
Yes,' he said, with shake of the head
my poor boy has been sick long while
He's the only child / have-the only helper
on the little farmland he's been sick now all
the spring and summer I've taken care of
the sneep, but 1 couldn't plant. It's hard,
but we don't despair. My good wife-God
bless her-shares the trial with me, and /
think she takes the biggest share"
NO, 10, John, don say ss,' uttered the
wife, % no woman can do the work that you
do"
81 don't mean to tell too much, Margaret,
only you know how you've kept me up"
A call from the sick room took the wife
away, and the old man then began to tell me,
in answer to my questions, some of the pecu
liarities of the great Plain, for We were on it
now; and 1 found him well informed and in
telligent. At length the table was set out
the clean white cloth spread, and We were in.
vited to sit up. We had excellent white
bread, sweet butter, some fine stewed damsons
and capital cup of tea. There were no ex-