The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-10-13

not And once at party, servant, handing
refreshments trembled on approaching him -
Norwood, knowing the cause, suddenly put
forth his hand to steady hers she started, trip
ped, tumbed, and over her head went the tray,
with all its contents-smashing in promiscuous
ruin marble statues, costly vases and articles of
ueatu, on the mantel- piece and tables, and for
ever defacing valuable family portrait, which
hung upon the wall.
Some whose dresses also were put into sad
plight, angry accused him of design to scald
the domestic; and this aroused his temper, and
general rumpus ensued.
"Blockhead !! 2
"Knave! ~
mischief maker!"
Rogue!n
Such were the epithets which added to his
misery; and having destroyed the good time
which all had been having, covered with confu-
sion, be fastened home in disgrace.
Departing in such precipitation, he took a
wrong hat and handkerchief, which happened to
be a little better than his own. But the mistake
he cid not discover till the next day, when the
latter were returned to him by two of the enraged
guests, who waited upon him. with the atrocious
accusation of design to steal
He succeeded in sending them away somewhat
Modified but wild resolution now secretly
seized upon him.
Can escape this fate, or can not Some
thing must be done Perhaps my star would
shine more benignantly upon me, if [ left these
parts and went to roam. | will. I viii cheat
fate and go to sea- Misfortune may lose track
of me. I can't tell mother, however. / will
write after am gone. If she should cry, |
should stay and a dreadful fate would be sure
to await me- Perhaps / should be hung"
In desperate haste, with but handkerchief
full of clothes, Norwood Butkins rushed from
the homestead and before the sun went down,
he had shipped as a common sailor aboard a yes
sci bound for a Spanish port.
Now Neptune befriend me he implored,
when the ship spread her sails on the blue sea.
But of course, there were various disasters on
the voyage, with such fellow on board. A
tremendous tempest did great damage to the
vessel and blew one man overheard A long
calm came next; and next contrary winds; and
two days before they entered port, Norwood
nearly set the ship on fire by an accident in the
cooks department.
"Confound the chap!" said the captain.
He told me he was always unlucky. What a
fool was to ship him, at the last moment out
tory and grum looks, that he would prove a
regular Jonah.
While the vessel lay in harbor, Norwood
was one evening entrusted with boat to go
upon some Grand. Fancying himself adroit, In
stead of sculling he endeayored to row. Both
oars slipped from his hands; and in spite of his
cries, in the darkness he rapidly drifted out to
sea-
But Norwood was no craven Evils had
been hardening him from his cradle. So he kept
a bright lookout in the dark, as the ocean bill
lows began to toss him, for some inward bound
vessel. Before daylight broke upon the sea, it
calmed; and in the calm his watchful eye at last
beheld the close approach of slow-moving
brig-so close that he was enabled to Chamber
aboard without hailing. Indeed, be feared to
hail, lest his star might hear, and interpose
against him.
He touched her deck seeing and seen by no.
body, leaving the boat to float away.
"Poor wretch! /" thought he; and just then
he tumbled headlong down the cabin stairs
"My star has found me out ~ thought he'
as he was going down. But it happened that
the mate was just coming up The descending
man pitched against the ascending one, and with
groans and curses both rolled upon the cabin
foor the mate being severely injured, and Worm
wood Butkins but little.
The noise brought all on board to the spot
/ Wormwood made what explanation he could,
which was received with extreme rage and en-
tire disbelief; and the mate, half killed, was put
into bis berth, not before he had ordered Worm
wood to be put in irons. He was thought to
be an intended thief or some escaped criminal.
(. Port was reached in the morning, and our
hero subjected to an official examination on