The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-01-15
The Captains Story.

When l was about forty years of age
took command of the ship Peterskam. She
was an cid craft. and had seen full as much
service as she was capable of seeing with
safety. But her owners were willing to trust
a valuable Cargo in her, SO | would not refuse
to trust myself We were bound to Liver
pool, and nothing unusual happened until
ab Iut the eighth day out, when We ran foul
of a small iceberg. 1t was early in the
morning. before sunrise, and not sbove six
or eight feet of ice was above the water,
having nearly all been melted in the warm
region of the gulf stream. | did not think
We had sustained much injury, 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 ii tile TO escape il.
My cabin-boy was named Jack Withers.
He was fourteen years OF age, and this was
his first voyage. | had taken him from ms
widowed mother, and had promised her tia.
| would see him weil-treated, that was. if he
behaved himself He was bright, quick.
intelligent lad. soon made myself believe
he had an awful disposition. | faucied that
he was the most stubborn pi ece of humanity
| had ever come across. had made up nv
mind that ne had never been properly gov
erned, and had resolved to break him in. |
told him Id curb his temper before I'd done
with him. In reply he told me might kill
him if liked; and fogged him with the
end of the mizzen top-gallant halliards til
be could hardly stand | asked him if he'd
got enough, aud he told me might fog him
more if | wished to. felt strong inelina-
ton TO throw the boy overheard, but at that
moment he staggered back against the mizzen
mast from absolute weakness, and left him
to himself. When reasoned calmly about
the boys disposition, | was forced TO acknow-
ledge that he was one of the smartest and
most intelligent and faithful lads had ever
seen. When | asked him to 90 anything, he
would be of ike a rocket; but when | rough
iy ordered him to DO it, then came the dis
position with which found fault.
One day, wheE it was very near noon,
spoke to him to bring up my quadrant He
was looking over the quarter-rail, and knew
he did not hear me; the next time | spoke
ripped cut an oath, anu inlimated If he did
not move I'd help him.
i didn't hear yol, ne said, with an indie
pendent tone
No words said |.
| suppose can speak, he retorted, NOV
ing slowly toward the companion way.
Speak to me again like that. and III fog
you within an inch of your life said |.
You can fog awav,' he replied, firm and
undaunted as a rock.
And die fog him. l caught up the enc
of rope, and beat him still my arm fairly
ached; but he never WINGED.
How's that " said |.
There's little more life in me, you'd bet.
ter iios it out was the reply.i
And beat him again. | beat him till he
sank from my hand against the .ail; and |
sent one of my other men for NV quadrant.
When it came, and | had adjusted il for OBJ
servation l fo1nd that the sun was already
past the meridian, and that | was too late
This added fuel to The fire of my madness,
and quickly seizing the lad by the collar,
led him to Inc main hatchway, and had the
hatch taken of. | then thrust him down,
and swore would keep him there till his
stubbornness was broken. The hatch was
tken put on, and went into the cabin. ]
suffered good deal that afternoon, not with
any cumpunctions of conscience for what !
had done but with my own temper and Bit
terness. 1t made me mad to think that !
could not conquer that boy,-that | could
not break down mis- cool, stern opposition.
But will do it, | said to myself; III starve
him into it, or he shall die under the opera-
ton.
After supper l went to the hatchway and
called out to him, but he returned me NO