, 1860-06-01

nv feet, and looking around, | discovered
cabin in an old field hard by, and feeling
like man-of-war after a hard battle,
made all sail and hauled into port, where |
was admitted by the old woman and her
little daughter. Madam, said l. l am a
poor shipwrccked mariner have been
hanging to some fence rails all night, du.
ring the pelting Of the pittilcss storm, and
| beg of you a blanket to roll myself in be.
fore the fire, as | am nearly frozen; aud il
/ had a little rum it would assist me in
thawing the sooner; when-great guns!-
the old woman said she never kept the ar
ticle. Here was broadside that made my
timbers shiver again for, though l was
wet as rat, was dry as powder horn.
But, to my inexpressible joy, her little girl
said, as she started up from her seat:
Mother, | will 60 to old Tom Bowlin's
and get some rum for the gentleman
And, sure enough, in a short time here
she came with jug full-God bless herl-
Of which drank freely, and in three hours
after, half seas over put out to sea and
steered for the widows"
"But why didn't you carry your liquor
on board ~ inquired midshipman, "as
you were so often on short allowance"
Maybe | did. ] saw in the old wom-
ans cupboard one Of those thin, eight
ounce medicine phials SO | bought it of
her, and filled it with the Boston particu-
lar, by way Of keeping my spirits up while
popping the question to the widow, for
didn't expect to get any there, and it
wouldn't do even to mention rum"
Well, go on with the story" said the
surgeon; did you 60 there 2"
Yes, with the phial Of rum in my pock-
ct ! dropped anchor, after being politely
towed into the parlor by the young widow.
| OH how it would have made your mouth
water just to have seen that trim built
craft with her curly streamers flying, and
her two bright portfolios flashing fire at
you every glance The very first broad
side from her eyes shiVered my heart COM
pletely TO atoms"
Go on, go on said several voices
We'll, as | was saying, was about half
seas over, three sheets in the wind and the
other shaking, and couldn't walk plank
to save my soul. My tongue was SO thick
that couldn't have spoken the words,
three thin sapIins,' if my life had been for.
feited, and to hide matters from my charm
er, took hold Of the chairs and tables
when moved about. After getting thor
oughly thawed, cleared the deck for ac-
tion, and made preparation for popping the
awful question. l had to keep lookout
that didn't break the bottle in my pock-
ct, for knew that if got lee lureh the
bottle might go by the board and betray
me. This dreaded, for was getting on
swimmingly. So watched my opportuni-
ty, rose up gently, see-sawing like a ship in
the trough of the sea, and held on to the
back part of thsAehair.
'Madum-madSAa4s said /, having heard
of your fame, goodness of heart, and above
all, your bank sIock-I mean you-your
beauty, have visited you for the purpose
Of asking you whether you would accept Of
one Of Commodore Trux-hic-Trux-h -hic-one
Of Commodore Truxton's lieutenants as a.
companion for liie?
We'll, what do you think l got?'
We'll, she struck her colors, Of course,
aud surrendered answered midshipman,
with coarse laugh.
'I'll tell you what got-I got fiat
without paddle to steer me home
What thenP inquired the surgeon, as all
hands burst into loud roar of laughter.
We'll, | followed the adYice Of the brave
Lawrence, aud didn't give up the ship. But
confound it, what a blunder made with
her bank stock! She smiled and simpered,
and invited me to dinner. Thinks /, my
honey, I'll give you another broadsde be-
fore l surrender. So when she went out
to tell the servant to bring in dinner,
whipt the eight ounce phial out Of my pock-
ct, and took little comfort, but, by the
holy spoons, she came very near catching
me in the act'
But the dinner, the dinner; give US the
dinner roared out one Of the otliceSs,
We'll, you see, another drink made>me
glorious; aud, as good luck would have it,
there wasn't soul at the table but her
ladyship aud your humble servant; so had
first-rate opportunity to pop the question
again. But l thought | would flourish
awhile, by way of coaxing her over; for
young widows are wonderfully susceptible
to the tender passion, and the last drink
had made me quite eloquent, save that my
tongue was rather thick, aud an occasional
hiccup spoiled some of my most sublime ef-
forts'
Madam, said |, giving her what l call
soul-cheering glance, though no doubt my
eyes were rcd aud sleepy, Madam, this fork
| hold in my hand is not more firmly plant
ed in the breast OF this chicken than is the
dart Of love shot from your beau-beau-
hic-beautiiul eyes fixed in my breast!
She smiled bewitchingly, and, encour-
aged, | proceeded
Dearest madam, there is nothing 1 prize
so highly as your bank-I mean your beau
ty; and if there is anything l admire more
than your pers-personal charms, it is your
money! beg pardon, mean your per
per-what was 1 saying, madam
The widow roared out in hoarse laugh,
and was so confused that, seizing one leg
Of the chicken with my fingers, l sunk down
in my chair aud commenced tearing it with
my teeth like hungry wolf; and the truth