The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1857-06-06
NO. 81
Miscellaneous
INNER LIFE OF A SAILOR.


walking the quarterback of fine ship rum
ming down the north east ira des. VIM.
Thornton, an old weather. beaten sailor was
, at the wheel, and could hear him occasion
ally humming the air "BIack Eyed Susan,"
when my back was turned towards him. He
was an excellent helmsman and kept the ship
to her course as true as the needle to the
pole. Although it is still, as it was then,
contrary to rule to enter into conversation
with the man at the wheel, yet observing
William sTn2Ie and raise his hat upon " nine
hairs, l asked him sympatheticaIly, "What
are you thinking about William :"
About my sweetheart, slr."
"Areyou going get married again when
you return?"
81 never was married, sir, nor never will
be il should live thousand years yet
havea sweetheart. It's just forty years this
day since | saw her, and never saw he, but
once. But what interest can you have in
an old Salts silly love dreams?"
go ahead, William, tell me about this
sweetheart. I'm in love myself; and can
sympathIze with YOU"
Well, sir, it is just forty years this day
since strolled into one of the big churches
in Broadway, and was invited to a seat in
grand pew by an elderly gentleman. Thefe
were two young ladies with him. One Of
them, the moment our eyes met, said, as
plainly as eyes could speak. " l am glad to
see you again." Twas sure ] had seen her
before ? 1 felt that We were old pIaymates';
but for the life of me could not tell where. /
could hardly take my eyes off her, she looked
SO good. When the services commenced, she
pui prayer. book in my hand and pointed
to the lesson for The day, but looked more
at her than did at the lesson. l was young
then, sir, and good looking, loo, and had as
much self conceft as most young ihen but
the more looked at that sweet gIrl, the
less thought ot myself When the services
were over followed her TO the door ofthe
carriage, and could not help saying, as the
gentleman handed her In. "Gud bless you,
my sweet angel /! and TO my surprise, instead
of being offended, she replied, IS Thank you,
sir, and may he bless you, too T. The gen.
ltleman raised his hat to me and smiled.
=" Good bye, Jack" he said, "good luck to
you." l. was the voice Of sailor be was, no
doubt, a retired sea. captain. Both the la.
dies, though had neglected one entirely,
bowed to me out of the carriage window.
In moment they were gone, and never
saw them from that day 10 this, yet, from
that day 10 this, have truly loved that
sweet GIRL"
"Did you never try to find out who she
was Z" Inquired. a-.s
"No, sir, what was the use? fell myG
self poor, ignorant sailor, hardly able to
write my own name, and was not silly
enough to think that such lovely girl would
care any thing about me. Thinking about
her took all the self.conceit out of me.
But you said you thought you had seen
her before how was that I" a..
1t was only dream, sir. never saw
her before. Now, as I'm growing old, have
been thinking seriously about trying to be-
good, that | may meet her in Heaven
Every Sunday for forty years, has the scene
in that very church been before me, and
every time think upon my sweet girl, she
looks more lovely than before. could never
think of marrying, with her image ever pre-,
sent in my mind. Do you think, sir, it is
possible for an old sinner like NE to be good
enough 10 60 to Heaven? I"
Why not, Wiliam?"
ELL tell you why. About eight years
ago left the sea---for then dreamed i saw
my dear angel 60 to heaven--and tried to
be good. worked along shore with riggers
and stevedores, and had over two thousand
dollars that had saved, SO got along very
comfortably. ljoined church and thought
| had got religion. when rascalIy deacon
cheated me out of fifty dollars. | was so
awful mad that | gave the fellow an awful
hiding. and before he could get the laws dogs
On me. was at sea again. Think now that
did very wrong; but I'm so hard hearted
that cannot, IN my soul, forgive the fellow,
even to this day. My sweet angel tells me
in my dreams that must forgive him, and
that if wish 10 join her must be good"
He said much more, but the above atfords
a glance at his inner life, and shows the
purity of his SOUL 1t must not be thought
hat he was whining old fool /; on the con.
trary, he was man OF undauhted courage.
bold evenfto reckessaess, and quick 10 re.
sent an insult. NO men are thrown more
upon their own resources for mental food
han seamen. For weeks and even nonths.
sky and water ars The only companions and
on long voyages, when they have watch.
and.watch, their labor is light 1t is then
their minds dwell upon the pleasant scenes
Of the past, and make the dross of earth an,
pear divine. Bill Thornton's case is not
singular. Almost every sailor has some
beanteous love-dream, and hence the reason
why so few of them marry. The ideal has
more charms for them than the real.
With all their faults sailors are not bad
men. AS class, ina rude way, they love
the true, the beautiful and the good, and are
proSerbial for their generosity May they
all go 10 heaven at last -Correspondencc
Of the Boston Post.