The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-01-30
great ball on board The ship. How they ever

great ball on board the ship. How they ever
did II ON board the Warren I nm sure do not
know. Perhaps Il was not the Warren. or per-
haps ladies did not take up 90 much room as
they do now. They wanted to use Noland's
stated room for something, and they hated to do
II without asking him to the ball; 30 the cap
tain said they might ask him, II they would be
responsible that he did not talk with the wrong
people, "who would give him intelligence -.
SO the dance went on, the finest party that had
ever been known, dare say; for never heard
Of man-ot-war ball that was not: For ladies
they had the family Of the American consul.
ono or two families that had venturcd 80 far,
and nice bevy Of English girls aud matrons.
perhaps Lady Hamilton herself.
Well, different officers relieved each other In
standing and talking with Noland In friendly
way, 30 a. to be sure that nobody else spoke to
him. Tho dancing went on with spirit, and
after while even the fellows who took this
honorary guard Of Noland ceased to fear any
eonfre-temps. Only when some English lady
Lady Hamilton, as I said, pcrhaps.called
for set Of ''American Dances, an odd thing
dances. The black band, nothing loath confer
red as to what "American dances" were and
started of with "virginia Rec" which they
followed with "Money. Musk, }" which, In its
turn In those days, should have been followed
by "The Old Thirteen" But just rs Dick. the
leader, tapped for his addles to begin, and bent
forward, about to say, in true negro state,
"'Thc Old Thirteen, gentlemen and ladies'" as
he had said, "Virginny Reel II you pleascf
and "'Money- Musk II you please ~ the cap.
tain's boy tapped him on the shoulder, whis.
percd to him, and he did not announce the
name Of the dance; hc merely bowed, began
on tho mir. and they oil fell to.-the officers
teaching the English girls the figure, but not
telling them why It had no name.
But that IS not the story started to tell.-
As the dancing went on, Nolan and our fellows
oil got ut ease, as said,-so much b, that It
seemed natural for him to bow to that splendid
Mrs. Graf. and say
"I hope you have not forgotten me, Miss
Rutleige. Shall have the honor Of daucing!"
He did It SO quickly, that Shubrick, who was
by him, could not hinder him. She laughed,
and said,-
81 am not Miss Rutledgc any longer, Mr..
Nolaud; but will dance oil the same," just
nodded to Shubrick, as II to say he must leave
Mr.. Nolan to her, and led him of to the place
where the dance was forming.
Nolan thought he had got his chance. He
had known her ut Philadelphia, and Mt other
places had met her; and this was q Godsend.-
You could not talk In contra.dances, 40 you do
in cotilons, or even In the paus,s Of waltzing;
but there were chances for tongues and sounds,
rs we'll as for eyes and bushes. lie began with
her travels, and Europe, and Vesuvius, and the
French, and then, when they had worked down
the set, he said, boldly,-a little pale, she said
rs she told me the story, years after
"And what do you hear from homo Mrs,
Graifg'
And that splendid creature looked through
him. Jovc! how she must have looked through
him!
"Homc !! Mr.. Nolan u! I thought you were
the man who never wanted to hear OF home
again!'-and she walked directly up the deck
to her husband, and left poor Nolan alone, as
he always was. He did not dance again.
nobody can now aud, indeed, I am not trying
to. These are the traditions, which sort out
as believe them, from. the myths which have
been told about this man for forty years. The
lies that have been told about him are legion.
The fellows used to say he was the 'Iron Mask"
and poor George Pons went to his grave in the
belief that this was the author OF "Junius,"
who was being punished for his celebrated libel
on Thomas jefferson. Pons was not very
strong in tho historical line. A happier than
either Of these have told Ia Of the war. That
came along soon after. have heard this af.
fair told In three or four ways.-and. indeed.
II may have happened moro than once. But
which ship II was un cannot tell. However,
In one. at least, OF the great frigate-duels with
tho English. In which the navy was really bap-
tiIed, II happened that round shot from the
enemy entered ono of our ports square, and
took right down the officer OF the gun himself,
and almost every man OF the guns crew. Now
you may say what you choose about courage.
but that Is not nice thing to see. But, as the
men who were not killed picked themselves up,
and rs they and the surgeons people were car
rying of the bodies, there appeared Nolan, IN
his shirt sleeves, with the rammer In his hand
and, Just as II he had been the officer, told them
of with authority y,-who should 60 to the cock.
pit with the wounded men, who should stay
with him,-perfectly CHEEKY, and with that way
which makes men feel sure all Is right and Is
going to be right. And he finished loading the
gun with his own hands, aimed II and bado the
men fire. And there he stayed, captain Of that
gun, keeping those fellowsin spirits, till tho en-
cniy truck,--sitting on the carriage while the
gun was cooling, though he was exposed all the
time.-showing them easier ways TO handle
heavy shot,-lnaking the raw hands laugh at
their own blunders,-and when the gun cooled
again, getting It loaded and fired twice as often
as any other gun on the ship. The captain |
walked forward, by way Of encouraging tho |
men, and Nolan touched his hat and said. -
artillery. Sir"
And this Is the part of the story where oil |
the legends agree that the Commodore sale, 81
81 see you do, and thank you, Sir; and
shall never forget this day, Sir, and you never
shall, Sir" Nh .a...
And after the whole thing was over, and no
had the Englhhman's sword, In the midst Of
the state and ceremony OF tho quarter deck, ,.hct
said,-
"where Is Mr.. Nolan, Ask Mr. Nolan to
come here"
Concluded next week.