St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-07-12
THE CABIN BOY.

She was an old crab, and had seen full as
much service Us she was capable Of seeing
with safety. But; her owners were willing
to trust another valuable cargo in her, so I
wouldn't refuse to trust myself: We were
bound to Liverpool, and nothing unusual
happened until about the Gig nth day out,
when we ran foul Of . small iceberg It
was early in the morning, before sunrise,
and not above six or eight feet Of ice was
above water, it having nearly all melted in
the warm waters Of the Gulf Stream T
did not think We had sustained much in
jury, for the shock was light; but ], was
very angry, and gave the lookout a severe
punishment, without stopping to inquire
whether he could have seen! the berg in
time to escape it.. .,:.::.:. r:>.ye4a .,3.sI
My cabin boy was named Jack Withers.
He was fourteen years Of age, and this was
his first voyage. I 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 a
bright, quick, intelligent lad. Tsoon made
myself believe that he had an awful dispo-
sition. Ifancied he was the most stub
born piece Of humanitysI had ever came
across. I made up my mind he had never
been properly governed, and resolved to
break him in. I told him I'd curb his
temper before I had done with him. In
reply he told mel might kill him if l liked;
and | Aegsed him with the end Of the
mizzentop- gallant halliards till he could
hardly stand. I a:ked him if he had got
enoug gh, and he told me L might fog him
more if l wished it. I felt strong incli-
nation to throw the boy overheard, but at
that moment he staggered back against the
mizzen-mast from absolute weakness, and
I left him to himself When I reasoned
calmly about the boys disposition; I was
forced to acknowledge that he was ono Of
the smartest and most faithful lads had
ever seen.r When I asked him to do any
thing he was of like a:rooket hut when
roughly ordered him to do it, then came
the disposition with which found fault.
One day when it was very near noon, ]
spoke to him and told him to go below and
bring up my quadrant. He was looking
! over the quarter rail, and j knew he aid
not hear me, and the next time Tipped
out an oath, and iptimated that if he'didn't
move + d help him. I~-*1i3 7s3'}'o o1'5
.'%"I didn't. hear YOU" said he, with an
independent tone: ~-':. -2Hi:f|@s; ~
'sNo words" said l. TH1:53 @6j }nAt ,
81 s'pose I can speak" he retorted, mo.
wing slowly towards the companion way.
His loose words, and the slow, careless
manner in which he moved, fred me in 8
moment and I grasped him By tie collar
s"Speak to- me again like that, and I'll
|aog you within an inch of your life; = said
~"You can ~ aog away be replied. firm
and undaunted as rock. '
f And I did fog him. Icaught up th<
end Of the rope, and beat him till; my arm
fairly aehed, but he never even WINGED.
o:"Hows that" said 7. .....s..~..,s -. ~
~There's = little more life you'd bette,
fog out" was the reply. ''s# s<'''1s.S:": .
And beat him again. beat him till
ha sank from my hand against the rail-
and then 7 sent one Of the men. for my
quadrant: When it came and I had. ad.
! jpsted it tor my observation, I found thai
|the sun wvas already past the meridian, and
that,I was too tate. Il <This added faeltotht
fire of:my madness, and qniekly seizing til.
led by the collar, ! led him % the mair
hatchway, and. had The hatch taken of.
then thrust him down and swore| I would
keep him there until his stubbornness va!
broken. The hatch ;w,s then put on, sane
vent into the cabin. I suffered > good
[derl that afternoon, not with any compano
lions for what r had done, but with With my
own tsmpor md bittsrneeii IL madeym,
lnad 10 think that I could not conquer tha
Iboy-tha& / could not break down his coo