Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-05-23
nj | s C. Ell. l. a N Y.
THE TRUE HERO.

Not many years since the good ship Ponto
sailed from Boston, bound to Sumatra. She
was commanded by Captain Isaac Jacobs. q
good seaman, and a naturally good hearted
man /; but in his long career beneath the
uiden, Of Neptune he had Imbibed many OF
those fal.e ideas prevalent among scamen.
and be had come to look upon the sailors
lie as one which necessarily did away with
those warmer and finer traits OF character
tha, mark the humsne and generous lands
man. In thi. wise I.sac Jacobs sometime.
lost eight OF true merit where II actually
existed.
Among tho crew OF the Ponto. on her
present voyage wasa young man named Caleb
B'kcr. lie had shipped only three days b'
fore the ship aiied. lie was slender
framed man, with fair. prepo''c-.ine coun'
tenance. ligh, blue eyes. and light bro~n
hair. Though lish, In hi- build he va. ye,
we'll stocked with muscle, and hi' motions
were quick and energetic. lie appearance
VA. calculated TO predi-po'e beholder. in h'.
favor.
One day, shortly after the ship had lci,
port. as Baker was busy about some mat
ter, Of hi, own in one Of the saogway'. one
Of the men. a rough. uncpu,h fellow. by
the name o. Bunkton. came along and gave
the clo,he. BAG Of Baker kick out Of his
way, thereby scattering . number Of thing.
about the deck.
4 wish you'd he careful aid Baker, a.
he moved to gather up his ,hlng-.
Then keep your thing. Ou, o my way.
gruilly returned Bunkton.
They were not in your way
DO you mean 30 tell me lie =
Il -a,d my thing. were no, in your way
And I cay they were. Now don't you
dispute me again
Very we'll, have yonr own way. calm.
" replied Baker. as he drew his bag in tow
ard the bulwsrks.
And dun't you be impuieni, neither,
provokingly added Bank,on.
Look We, Buns,on, ii you've any bu.i.
Of your own. you'd better mind IL.
In. lubber' III show yc my business.
Take that
A. Bank,op spoke, he struck the young
man upon the lace. The crew had mos, OF
them gathered abou, the place. and arrange
menr. ~ere quickly made for fight.
jas, come forwari-come for~ard, AMI
III show ye my business cried Bank,on.
bri.'ling abou, With hi- f.,. doubled up.
a fight, ssh,!' cried balfa.doien Of
the men. 'Don't stand that, Baker.
The young mans eyes bad dashed a. he
received the blow and there was quick
qulyering Of the muscle. IN his hands, but
he made no motion To strike.
'Ain't you agoin' to take It up" said
Bunkton.
No. want nothing to do with you,'
rc,urci Caleb.
Then you are coward = uttered Bank.
ton. with a contemp,uous tone and look.
Young Baker calmly 2 piled 20 the 'aunt,
and Bunkion became still moro sA'ag".
Those who know anything abcui the OCEAN
life. will a, once understand the sentiments
Of the rough crew upon such matter. as the
present. They could comprehend bu, one
kind Of courage. and the momen, tha, Ba.
ser refused TO feh, they -e, him down as an
arrsnt coward. A. fr., they had been pre-
possessed IN hi. favor. for Bunkton was u
quarrel.ome fellow. and they hoped Caleb
would fos him; hut when they saw him
quietly turn away and resume his work.
they. too, began to tanni h'm.
What's all ihi. - asked Captain Jacobs,
who wa. attracted to the spot.
The matter was explained to him.
.Didn't resent n?' uttered the captain,
looking with mingled surprise and con-
temp, upon Caleb. why didp't you knock
him down. Baker,
Because I don't want TO fsht any man.
sir.'
And will you allow yourself to DO struck,
aud not resent it?'
Twill defend myself in case OF danger.
bu,.I will no, 50 abuse myself as to engage in
a brutal eight when it can be possibly AVOID
ed. have y., done wrong to no man
bu, were to 6gh, ono Of my 'hipmAte'. ]
should wrong him and myself both
Then you will have Yourself looked up
on a. one who may bs struck with impuni.
y.'
A quick lu'h passed over the young mans
face as the captain thus spoke. bu, be WAS
soon calm.
Il mean. sir.' he returned. to give no
one occasion to strike me /; yet Bunkton
struck me. and you can -cs that he already
-uiErr. more from the effect Of 1t than l do
Bunkton gave Caleb the lie. and again
tried 10 urge him INTO fight, but the cap
tain in,eriered, and quiet was restored.
From that time Caleb Baker was looked
upon by the crew Us coward.
At Gr.t they taunted him, bot his uni.
form kindness coon pu. q stop to these out.
ward manifestations. and the feelings OF the
crew were expressed by their looks. Bunk.
ton took every occasion he could find to an.
noy the young man, for bs had taken bic
oath that he would have q 6ght out Of the
coward yet Tho rest Of the crew might
have let the matter pass. had not Buntton's
continued behavior kept aliyo the idea OF