The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-12-21
MISCELLANEOUS IS
Tho CABIN BOY

wa W. way Htlu>~ ~ Nouhu ell IN
with mo I'D ea captains John Strceter
aud Asa Morou-with whom bad some
slight pcqua ajntahco Capt. Streetel was
about three score, and had followed the
sea during most OF hls life lorton was
| considela' " younger, but still seaman
| Of murh experience. The subject of the
abolit'on ol floeging in our navy came up
III course of con,ersation, and Capt Nor
ton expressed himself very decidedly in
favcr OF that time hopored institution,
the cat-o niue-tais.
| am rot prepared 10 saw remulfed
{ a.. Su,ct.i 10 l,plv that til, condi-
t"' Co. oub inau.o' wars men will be IN ev-
u} cas'' benefited by the abolition of
t,agirg though am sure that it might
be- 50. mean that the officers have il
" .in lhei' power 10 DO away with all
ln.., OF punishment mean, OF course,
fo' such offences as are usually punished
O" >hpboHrd.
Fer my pant, returned Morton, |
shonidu'' care to take command OF ship,
II 'he power OF punishing refractory sea-
M" a. thought proper, were taken from
me-
Veil, said Capt. Streete', 8 used to
think Just so. In fact there were but
i.w masters more passionate Or severe
than | was. Men usei to run away from
mo and, ON more than one occasion, my
life has been in danger from the violence
Of men whom | had abused used the
cat and the ropes end almost as freely as
| used my tongue; and [ used TO wonder
how it happened that | always had the
luck to get such bad men
When was about Iorty years of age
took command of the ship Petersham
She was an Old craft, and had seen full
as much service as she was capable Of
seeing, with safety. But her owners were
willing to trust valuable cargo in her.
so | wouldn't refuse to trust myself. We
were hound to Liverpool, and nothing un-
usual happened until about the eighth day
out when we ran foul of a small iceberg.
1t was early in the morning, before sun
rise, and not above six or eli ipht feet of ice
was above water. it having nearly all been
melted in the warm waters Of the Gulf
Stream. did not think we had sustain
ed much injury, for the shock was slight
but was very angry and gave the look
out severe punishment, without stoppinp
to inquire whether he could have seen the
berg in time to escape it.
My cabin boy was named Jack With
ers. He was fourteen years of age, and
this was his first voyage. had taken
him from a widowed mother, and had
promised her that | would see him well
treated--that was, if he behaved himself.
He was bright, quick, intelligent lad,
but soon made myself believe that he
had an awful disposition. [ fancied that
he was the most stubborn piece Of human
1t had ever come across. made up
my mind he had never been properly gov
erned, and resolved to break him in. |
told him I'd curb his temper before | had
done with him. In reply he told me that
| might kill him if | liked; and fog
ged him with the end OF the mizzen-top-
gallant halliards till he could hardly
stand. asked him II he had got enough,
and he told me ! might fog him more if
| wished it. felt strong inclination to
throw the boy overheard but at this mo-
mont he staggered back against the miz-
zen mast from absolute weakness, and I
left him to himself. When | had reason
ed calmly about the boys disposition, [
Was forced to acknowledge that he was
one OF the smartest and most faithful lads
| | had ever seen. When asked him to
do anything he would be off like rock
ct; but when roughly ordered him to
do it, then came the disposition with
which | found fault
One day when il was very near noon,
| spoke to him and told him to 60 below
and bring up my quadrant. He was
looking over the quarter rail, and knew
he did not hear me, and the next time /
spoke | ripped out an oath, and intimated
if he didn't move I'd make him.
| didn't hear ye, said he, with an in
dependent tone.
No words said l.
| spose can speak, he retorted, NOV.
ing slowly towards the companion way.
is looks, words and the slow, care.
Ieos manner in which he moved, fred me
in moment, and | grasped him by the
collar.
Speak to Inc like that again, and 1ll