Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-12-05

Adventure of Capt. Zcnns Pratt.
BosroS, Sept. rs.

BosroN Sept. rs.
Fps PoRrrR's SrrRGr: Win you permit me to
vary my usual budget 10y relating the following
posi- pa1ndiai story, which had the good fortune
To listen to on a recent conyivial occasion II 1t
does not prove mirth provoking one, the fault
is entirely in my narration, aud not in the sub
iect matter. | have prepared an account OF the
races at Frankltng Trotting Park, which | VIII
furnish, If your Chelsea correspondent does not
do it, next week The cry of hard times is now
in full blast, aud absorbs in point of interest all
minor matters. The great majority of Boston
houses stand firm, and the banks still redeem
with promptness
But now for the story, which we will call
CAPT. zGNAs rRArr's ADVENTURE,
Captain Zenss Pratt commanded the good ship
Sally Perkins, which sailed one tine summer
morning, in the year 1871, for Amsterdam. laden
with Yankee notions, consigned to the good house
of Schultz, Schimetzer Co. to be exchanged 10y
them for good article of Old HoH1nd
After u long. but safe voyage, and many stop
pages by the way. (the captain used to dicker II
loetle ON his own hook) the Sally Perkins
came safely to anchor in the Luyder Zee, to the
Infinite satisfaction of the worthy captain, in
creased only by the safe landing of the varied
cargo
Returning from the house OF Messrs. Shulz.
Schimctzcr 4 Co. to the Sally one morning, in
high spirits at bis good fortune, aud feeling, to
use his own expressive phtase, AS light as pan
cake he wRs not II little surprised to be met at
the gangway by his cook and RCtotum who. in
his eagerness to impart his message, had almost
run his superior down. and stood now with wide
distcnded jaws, and II cOuutemucc besmeared
with the SCOT of his culinary utensils, holding be
fore the astonjshcd gaze of the former note
neatly addressed TO Capt. Ienas Pratt, Amerl-
can sh D. Sally Jenkins Now, although the
Sally Jeukinks could not properly be termed a
ship in strict nautical phrase, dt being only a
good sized barquc0 yet ii always tic<led the
Captains fancy to have his Sally thus pomponsly
designated feeling not uncommon to our Tree
and independent citiieuS abroad ut this day --
Ute foreign papers P7Ss'm.
1t was the work Of II moment to rush INTO the
cabin break the seal and ascertain tue contents
OF the missive 1t was ~ follows
Count G--f presents his compliments to
Capt Pratt and desires his company at dinner,
at his residence, No. -, --- Street.
-- House, Aug. 7, lSi-.'
The Captain. having held his breath during the
peru-al of this document, here inflated, ON Il
small SCALE the spoutng Of that genuine old
salt. yclcpt whale aud them In broken elaculn
tjon> commented ut some length. pa good
English. that for this country Whn.d nave
guessed it Hes the very chap saw this mora
ing Mt the counting room of old Schultz seemed
to be sociabc like, for II Count, too We'll, Henas,
(soliloquizng) are you goingy To he sure I'm
going. Bound to see all that = out. Obed, say
here you son of Jehoshaphat J want you 10 be
on hand to morrow Curiosity now worked on
Obcd, like pop beer in August,
The Captain kept his counsel until the follow
ing day, when the note Of preparation was sound
ed in earnest. The blue coat with its wealth OF
tails was dragged from its resting place, the tar
niAhed buttons rubbed the drab lncNpresshes
busted. and sundry spots removed by Obed art
Poor Obcd he had now burden on his soul
One indispensable article Of the wardrobe yet
oJ NV hp al A
the summons came Obcd the shirt with the ruf
nc-auick-[ must be off in half an hour. Go nee
sir, to be did upu The devil it has well, 1t
Is too late to help it. bring me the next best -
Ou0th Obed. You haint got but three white
ones and they're gone to be did up too! The
Captain executed pigeons wing In his furyi yet
he was II punctual man, and time was now pre-
cuus. That good, prOverbial mother OF lnVen-
ton did not on this oCcas' on. desert him lie
had safely slowed away, in case OF dilemma, n
linen BOSOM with the dckey attached, as sort
OF supercargo fresh from the shop, and never
worn One struggle-conscience gave way-and
CAPTAIN Zcnas Pratt became guilty of that crime
known upon our statute books, as False Prctcn-
cea The old shirt could not be worn. The new
cloth could not In any way, be connected with
the old garment in consequence OF the Captain 4
portly dimensions and the result was Il dismissal
of the former altogether. To guard against ac-
cident the Captains coat and vest were stitched
firmly together, and thus formed q body guard to
the more exposed front.
At length equipped, the Captain sailed forth,
and in due time found himself enjoying the
Counts hospitality, aud the centre OF largo
circle of listeners and admirers. including his
fair hostess and other Amsterdam ladies. The
Captain, be it known, was bachelor, but very
much devoted to the fair sex.
AT dinner. our guest was compelled to take
many glasses Of wine with the company, that he
began to be exceedingly communicative, and
10, gt.1 mt of at Ip
clarng that he had but few if any rivals among
his associates at home.
The Countess C., upon being informed Of
this, when the gentlemen rose from .he table, in
vited her American friend to try game with
herself All accordingly adjourned 10 the Counts
billiard room, and the worthy Captain, thus chal-
lengcd by lady, burned to display his skill.
The fair Countess commenced the game, and
scored with such success that her opponent trem-
blcd for his laurels At length, turning to the
Captain with sweet smile, she said Now.
Captain Pratt, we wait for you
Conscious Of nothing but the game be fore him,
and obeyng a natural impulse, the Commander
Of The Sally Perkins stripped off his graceful
bue-tal, carrying with 1t the resplcudeni waist
coat. joined like Siamesc twins, aud grasping the
cue in his right hand piacef himseb an Ponhon
The raw recruit had performed we'll until in
spection revealed its capacity One yainly re-
pressed shout arose, ntermingled with hysterical
shriek4 and the musical cadcAce Of jingllng CO.
lOgue bottles
'Ah there was hurrying to and fro
One glance sufced to reveal to Captain Zcnas
Pratt his frst appearance on the stage.
With convulsye clutch he seized the once
cherished idols Of his wardrobe, and with tremen-
doas strides vanished from the scene Of his dis
comfurc.
The Sally Perkins sailed the next morning
for home ere the early bells chimed in the com
ing day and Obcd' was heard to declare. in af-
ter days, that he seed ghost in Holland, dress
ed ia Captain Pratt's e-tailed coat, 'cept he'd
got It on hind stds qfore.'
He is a bold man who dares ask the Captain
to this day about the game Of billiards he played
in Holland.-POrter's Spirit.
AZ indirect way OF getting glass of water at
boarding house, il to call for third cup Of tea.