The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1857-07-16
Selrrt Migfrllnnu.
A Curious III ode ofGetting Wife

/ One little act Of politcness will some
times pave the way TO fortune and pre-
ferment.- following sketch illustrates
this fact:
A sailor, roughly garbcd, was saunter-
ing through the streets OF New Orleans,
then in rather damp condition from re-
cent rain and the rise of the tide. Turn
ing the corner of much fraqucnted al
ley, he observed young lady standing
in perplexity, apparently measuring the
depth of muddy water between her and
the opposite sidewalk with no very salts
1 fed eountenauce.
The sailor paused, for he was great
admirer Of beauty. and certainly the fair
face that peeped eutfrom under the little
chip hat, and auburn curls hanging CLOS
sy and unconfncd over her muslin dress,
might tempt curious or admiring glance.
Perplexed. the lady put forth one little
foot, when the gallant sailor~with charac-
teristic impulsiveness exclaimed:
''That pretty foot, lady, should not be
soiled with the filth of this lane; wait for
moment only, and 1 will make you a
path.
So, springing pasther into carpenters
shop opposite, he bargained for plank
board that stood in the doorway, and
coming back to the smiling girl, who was
just coquettsh enough to accept the SER
vices of the handsome young sailor, he
bridged the narrow black stream, and she
tripped across with-a merry "thank you,"
and roguish smile, making her eyes as
dazzling as they could be.
Alas, our young sailor was perfectly
charmed. What else could make him
catch up the plank, and follow the little
witch through the street to her home; she
twice performed the ceremony of ''twalk-
ing the plank" and each time thanking
him with one of her eloquent smiles.
Presently our young hero saw the young
lady trip up the marble steps Of a palace
ola house, and disappear wibinits rose
wood entrance; for full moment he stood
looking at the door, and then with won
derful BIC sigh turned away, disposed Of
his draw bridge and wended his path to
the ship. es -
The next day he was astonished by an
Eorder, of promotion fnorn the Captain.
Poor Jack was speechless with amaze
ment; he had not dreamed Of being exalt-
ed to the dignity of the second mates Of
fee on board one of the most splendid
ships that sailed out of the port of New
Orleans. He knew he was competent,
for instead of spending his money for
amusements, visiting theatres and bowl
ing alleys on his return from sea, he pur-
chased books and became quite student,
but he expected years to intervene be-
fore his ambitious hopes would be real
lied.
His superior officers seemed to look
upon him with considerable leniencv, and
gave him many maritime knowledge J;
and in year the handsome, gentlemanly
young mate had acquired unusual favor
in the eyes ofthe portly commander, Cap
tain Hume, who had first taken the smart
little black-eyed fellow, with his neat tar
paulin and tidy bundle as cabin boy.
Ono night the young man with all the
officers, was invited to an entertainment
at the captains house. He went, and to
his astonishment mounted the identical
steps up which two years before had trip
ped the brightvision he had never forgot
ten. Thump went his brave heart as he
was ushered into the great parlor. and
like sledge hammer it beat again, when
Captain Hume introduced his blue-eyed
daughter, with pleasant smile, as 'the
young lady once indebted to your polite
ness for safe and dry walk home.' His
eyes were all ablaze and his brown cheeks
flushed hotly as the noble captain saun-
tered away, leaving fair Grace Hume at
his side.-And in all that assembly there
was not SO handsome a couple as the gal
liant sailor and the ''pretty lady"
1t was only year from that, the sec
ond mate trod the quarter deck, second
l only in command, and part owner with
the captain, not only in his vessel, but in
| the affections of his daughter-gentle
t Grace Hume who had always cherished
t respect, to say nothing of love, for the
i bright-eyed young sailor.
Ills homely, but earnest act of polite
ness towards his child had pleased the
S captain, and, although the youth knew i
not, was the cause of his first promotion
! So that now the old man has retired from
, business, Harry Wells, and Grace Hume
according to the polite parlance, is Mrs
> Captain Wells. In fact our honest sailo
is one of the richest men in the Crescen
City, and he owes, perhaps, the greate
palt OF his prosperity to his tact and DO
likeness in crossing the street.