Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-10-16


'iust you pull your boat between the steam
or and the brig, and if there is any dam
age done, I'll make it all right; only pull
rs near the briggs stern as possible, so as to
give no chance to the French officers for
reasonable complaint"
1t frequently happens that on board gov
ernment vessels, while lying in port, the
scamen contrivc to get considerable rum
smuggcd off to them, and consequently
very strict measures are adopted TO prevent
the evil; but in many cases they arc more
nice than wise in their restrictions, as, for
instance, in the present case. Now there |
was no earthly reason why tho officers of
the steamer should assume tho authority of
shutting up tho only convenient passage
way from large number of vessels to the
shore, merely because in one or two instan-
ces the shore boats had smuggled off rum,
and Tom was determined that nc wouldn't
stand it; for he considered that the waters
of the basin were free to all honest men
After some hesitation, the boatmnn brought
| his skiff about, and was soon nearly under
the steamers bows.
"Diton," shouted n French Lieutenant,
who stood upon the forecastle.
t'If you are going to take me, just speak
| English, will youl" answered our Yankee
sailor, as he rose up in the stern-sheets of
the boat.
"Yes | can talk English" returned tho
Frenchman. "Now Just turn your boat
about and go some other way"
"No, sir" said Tom, who felt little cut
by the insolcnt manner of the officers. "This
water is as free to me MS it is to you, and
am in hurry to 90 ashore. You may
watch me as narrowly as you please, and if
l trouble you in the least, let me suffer for
it; but under your bows | go"
Just as the boat was shooting harmlessly
by, down came torrent of water upon
Toms devoted head, completely saturating
his clothes, and almost binding him; and
hearing broad laugh from the steamer he
raised his eyes MS soon rs he could get them
clear of the salt water, and saw the Lieuten-
ant standing with an inverted bucket in bis
hand, his face being graced by broad grin
Tom could have leapcd overheard and swan
to the steamer, so great was his rage at
this unprovoked insult, but he soon smother.
ed his feelings, and kept on to the shore.
Along about the middle of the afternoon
our hero entered one of the cafes which arc
situated on the square, opposite to the Op
era House, and the first person on whom hi'
eyes CHANGED to rest was the identical Lieu
tenant from whom he had received the indg
nifty fthe morning The Frcnchman, how
ever, did not at first recognize the victim, a,
he had procured new suit of clothes; bu
= Tom was not long in making himself known
He called for a bottle of wine, and thel
seated himself in such position that tn
Lieutenant would have to pass him when h
went out, taking good care to have a waite
pitcher, ready in case of emergency.
r was not long before the desired time arrived
a. for the Freedman arose from his seat an
L. started.
g "Hallo there" exclaimed Tom, as he ar
d preached the passage between the hero
&c table and the wall "you can't pass here sir.
ne "Eh? Whats" calculated officer, perfect
N astoundcd at what he had heard.
ar Il say you can't pass here, sir," coolly ar
IN swercd Tom.
IS. 81 don't understand exactly what yo
IN mean" said the Frenchman, who had some
sh what recovered from his surprise; "but
ID believe these passages are free"
10 "Just about rs free rs the waters of you
n hnrbors are, replied Tom, whose lips bega
ir, to culver little, "and now if you pass th
es table I'll give you tho same compImer
k that you gave me this morning" at tho sam
I'd time scang the large water pitcher in h
of hand.
b. The Frcnclman stood for moment i
&C. resolute. He recognized Tom as the pc
l., son whom he had washed down in the m0rr
nd ing, and he felt sure that he would rese
H. it; but number of brother officers we
he present, whom he did not wish should W
lat moss any thing like cowardice on his par
as so he boldly stepped forward; but Tom W
ed true to his word, for no sooner was Il
ok Frenchman opposite his table than he W
y; deluged with tho contents of the Yal
he KEGS pitcher. For moment the drippir
re- man assumed n death-like hue, and turuir
,o- to his tormentor, he hissed between
ret clenched teeth:
MS ave shall meet again. SIR"
!y, "There is not the least need of that" !
as piled Tom. "You grossly injured and
as suited me this morning. without provocatic
Ter We are now square,"
lat 81 tell you we shall meet again." repei
en- cd the Frenchman in a deep tone, and tn
in turning away he left the cafe.
ed In the evening, our hero concluded to {
.le, to the opera, Accordingly, at the prop
lg. hour he entered the building, and after
he vast deal of patient waiting, he got his tu
nd at the ticket window, through which
he showed five-franc piece.
nd Bon ton% asked the cerk-a word Fl
a quen;ly used to designate the first class
boxes.
ON "Om," answered Tom; he knew tn
arm much of French, though he was totally
est norant Of what the the ticket seller mea
,at, and cared less.
off. "Bontez en- apant," shouted tho Gro,
hat behind, and siczing his ticket, our Yank
lif- pushed on to the entrance.
led Tom passed on from one guide to anoi
er, until he at length found himself in t
an, midst of the most superlative sets of p
'ad fumed and frIzzled men-monkeys that it b
der ever been his fortune to meet; but he ?
eat a bold face on tho matter, and quietly TO
his seat near the front of the tier. He so
zen found himself in hot water, for no soor
of had he become comfortably seated, than
his noticed that every opera glass was broug
to bear upon his sunburnt face, and he |
. 80 -, ,.,..oL la-...l Al