The Portland daily press., 1864-06-14
HU M OROUS
Sam and the Negro.


Practical jokers are nusances, wherever
found, and laugh is never more keenly rel
ished than when enjoyed at their expense
The following by way of Illustration is quite
amusing:
Some eight years ago when had command
OF the ship Lightheart, there happened on
board an incident over which have laughed
many time, whenever 1t has been brought
up to my memory. Among my crew was a
man named Rannot-San we always called
him. He was one of the largest men ever
saw, and came from New England. He stood
six feet four inches in his bare feet, and was
stout and bulky in proportion. He had one
fault, and that was inordinate pride OF strength.
lie was not quarrelsome, nor revengeful, and
yet he was continually Fostering the crew.
Hardly day passed that he did not give one
or more of them bodily pain by his freaks
He would catch poor fellow by the legs and
swing him over his head, at the imminent
danger Of dashing his brains out against the
masts or bulwarks, and then would laugh
heartily at the mans fright Sometimes he
would seize a sailor by the arms and lay him
upon the deck, and in no very easy manner,
either. 1t was OF no use for the men TO re-
monstrate, for he would be sure to punish
them in some way. His love OF "fun," as he
called 1t, was too strong for him TO realize
how unpleasant his pranks were, nor did he
know that the crew had begun TO dislike him.
he was, In fact, the worst practical joker /
ever saw, and not whit did he cafe, SO long
as ne exhibited his herculean strength and
broke no bones.
Previous to my return voyage to Liver
pool, shipped negro as a common sailor.
His name was Cato. He was about thirty
years OF age, built very much alter the fashion
OF Devon Bull, and had tile reputation Of
being the strongest man in Mobile, the port
from which l sailed. The muscles OF his
enormous arms were like iron, and those up
on bis breast and shoulders clustered firm and
hard as cords of steel. He was not over five
feet ten inches tall, and though thickly built,
his appearance did not indicate unusual mus
cular power.
On the day Of sailing brought Cato on
board. At first the men exhibited signs of
dislike, but when they found what a good ma
tured old fellow he was, their prejudice was
overcome. Sam R&nnot winked prodigiousy
when he saw the new man, and more than
once whispered TO those near him: "there'Nte
fun afore long,"
On the afternoon of the third day out, after
we had got everything snug and trim, Cato
sat upon the comings Of the main hatch. Sam
slowly approached him, in q manner not un-
like that Of dog approaching q smaller ami
NAL 1t never before saw.
Say, blackey, get up" ordered Sam with
agrin, at the same time looking around TO see
IL the rest Of the crew were ready to enjoy
the sport
"A-yah-yah-wouldn't make poor feller
"Yes, git up"
"Don'to
II say-git upp
"Wha' for ?"
"Fuu."
"Now you jes' look aheah, Sam; you s'pose
you fool wild dis chile, EN-? II you do, its all
right. But specs you'll git hurt, and den
you'll git mad, eh?"
This was spoken with the most imperturba-
BILE gravity, and the negro slowly arose while
he spoke, looking as demure as child.
who'll git hurt ?" asked Sam with -four
ish.
II specs YOU
"How?p
.FooIin' wild me-"
Nov you jest set right down on them
combin's agin," uttered Sam, at the same
time laying both his hands on Cato's Shout
ders.
The negro's brown eyes sparkled, and a
broad grin broke over his face as he felt Sans
hands upon him; but without speaking he
placed one of his huge black paws upon the
joker's jacket collar, and with the other he
seized him by the trowsers. One deep breath
came from Cato's throat like the puff OF To-
comotive-then the great cords Of his neck
started out like hawsers, and when he lifted
himself up, the giant form of Sam Rannot was
swayed aloft above bis woody head. A mo-
ment he looked about; there was the long
boat behind him nearly half full of rain water
"A-yah-yah, mss'r SAM Cool 'um OFF,
And as spoke, he dumped the astonished gil
ant into the long-boat, and as he let go his
hold. the massive body splashed in the deep,
dirty water.
All the night before 1t had rained and as the
long boat had not been covered, and the plug
being In, she was of course well filed. At any
rate, there was enough water to completely
submerge Sam. In an instant all hands gath
cred about the boat-u.>First we hea-s. terrible
suffering, and putting and blowing like a hip
popotamus just come to land, and in a moment
more Sans sandy head, soaked and dripping
appeared above the rail- He saw us standing
there with conyulsions OF restrained mirth up
on our faces, and for some seconds he didn't
move an inch. have never seen such an ex-
preston OF mingled surprise and modification
as dwelt upon his face.
aspect didn't hurt you much, Ell ?n utter
ed Cato, with becoming gravity.
But IL was too much for us. Poor Sans
look at the black conquerer upset the cup, and
we burst into loud laughter. The vanquished
man slowly crept over on the other side OF the
boat and got out, without saying word, and
then made his way below. Half an hour az
forwards he came on deck with dry clothes,
and having hung his wet ones on the rigging
70 dry, he turned to where Cato Stood He
surveyed the negro from head to foot several
times, and finally placed his hand upon the
arms that had lifted him so easily. He grasp
ed their cable-like surface q moment, then
shook his head obviously. saying:
ITS no use! You're great nigger!"
And that was the last OF Sam Rannot's mis-
chief. His pride Of physical power was brok-
en-, for he had found a superior, and he settled |
down into quiet orderly seaman. l feared |
at first that he might seek some revenge upon |
Cato, but he was too noble for that. He knew |
that he had invited the attack, and as soon as |
the first smart of pain was gone, he and his |
conquerer were firm friends.
The WESTERN editors begin 10 turn tho I