The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-03-10
A Cannon Bali In the Hat.

'emVf0u Hom CVuuIty tOWu 10 DohtOu'- l.
Nothing Of all its sights produced upon me +,
such an impression as the ships. The out
lying Bay, the Ocean beyond, its mystery, +;
the ships coming in and going out, the masts
and rigging up against the sky these things
produced an indelible impressioh on my i'm.
agination. All the world rose up to my fam
cY. Real and fabulous things comningled-
voyagers and buccaneers, merchantmen and
pirates, fleets OF men.o oi-war, came before my
inward sight, and all distant lands and ia.
NOUS islands. Long Wharfhas taught me
good deal of geography and sea.history.
But the navy-yard in the adjoining town
Of Charlestown, separated only by Charles
river from Boston,, was ny especial wonder
and glory. became familiar with all its
marvels. ] crept down to the bottom Of its
huge and dismaptled Ohips; climbed up to
the decks of those which were building in
the covered ship-houses Watched the con.
struction Of its famous stoae dry dock;
ranged along the silent mouths of iti mas.
sivs cannon.
One day, visited soma ilI-constructed
vaults; ;.where shot seemed to have been stor-
ed. The six and twelve pound shot were
extremely tempting. had no particular
| use for them. | am to this day puzzled to
know why | coveted them. There was no
chance in'the house to roll them, and as
little in the street. For base ball or shinney
they we're too substantial. But was eeiz.
ed with an irresistible desire to possess one.
AS | had been well brought up, OF course the
first objection aroee on the score Of stealing.
But disposed Of that, with patriotic ia"
cility that ought long before this to have sent
( me to CongresS,) by the plea that it was no
} sin to steal from the government. Next
how could convey the shot from the yard
B without detection tied it in my hand
kerchief. That was altogether too plain
tried my jacket pocket, but the szeand
| shape of that alarmed my fears. tried my
| breeches pocket, but the abrupt protuberance
a was worse than all. had a good mind to
}. be honest, since there was no feasible way
of carrying it off. At length thought
struck me. Wrap handkerchief about ii,
+; and put it in your hat
II Now all the world knows that boys hal
o serves as universal pocket. There he car
ries handkerchief, papers, twine, letters tol
the post office, tops in short, whatever trap:
| A,l ID ,1tlt NJ ant r "a.
band thing would show through, goes to tht
ID hat. Is hens nest found ou', the hat take'
al it. Is the boy heaping up stones to lire
id cats, birds, dogs and strangers, the hat col
Il. lects and carries Their: !" The heap. Does
or Doy want butterfly, the hat is his net t
Ly cast over it. Would he sm1ck fly or bee
So his hat IS better than bat. 1t is his fa
IS when hot, and his protection when cold.-
le And as age gives it suppleness, it mounts in
of to air as foot ball, By that very signal
g too, you may know when school is let out
a. hats 90 up. And Sunday morning may b.
as detected, if one has los. his. reckoning, b
On the style and sobriety Of tcya1'. hats. 1t
ry the only day Of rest for hats, e7 we'll as fe
boys. -.
nd The iron ball was accordingly swaddle
e- with the handkerchief and mounted on m
oy head, and the hat shut over it. ! emerge
lis from the vault little less courageous tha
was pleasant, and began my march towar
he the gate. Every step seemed mile ; ever
man met looked unusually hard at me-
w The marines evidently were suspecting m
in hat. Some sailors, leering and rolling te
on wards the ships, seemed to look me through
lat The perspiration stood all over my face
is an officer came toward me. Now for it.
was to be arrested, put in prison, cat o'-nin
tie tailed, or shot for aught knew. l wishe
th the ball in the bottom of the sea; but no,
I'm was on the top of my head!
IN. BY this time, too, it had grown very heav.
I must have made mistake in eelecting J.
yht | meant six FOUNDER, but was sure it mu
he have been a FOUNDER, and before
got cut of the yard it weighed twenty-fo
yht pounds a! began to fear that the stiffne
WIFI WHlCu SotilCu hy hVNn "outu SnS'
Of suspicion, and so tried to timber up q, lit
OF which had nearly ruined, me, for the sh
me took a roll around my crown in mann
nat that liked to have brought me and my hat
oy. the ground. Indeed, felt like load
uf. cannon, and every man, and everything, W
INST like spark trying TO touch me of. 7
ON gate was great ways further off than I {
ess er found it before seemed likely never
der get there. -,e
My And when, at length, Eeart.sore and heJ
sore, with my scalp pretty we'll rolled,
to the gate all my terror came to q sum
, of tai as the sentinel stopped his marchi
tly. drew himself up, and looking at me smil
tai, expected him 10 say, "Oh, you little thi
tile ish d--l, do you think l do not see thror
ced you p--but, bless his heart, he cnly 81
the ''pass ~ He did notsay it twice. > wall
the a few steps further, and then, having gr
yag- bravery on my feet. pulled my hat off
over fore me, and carrying. it in that position
the whipped around the first corner, and m
,ton for the bridge with speed which Fl
Temple would envy. -. So.
When reached home, l had nothing
ssed do with my shot. dare not. show it in