The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-09-15
What Dick Blake Found at Church

IeK ldI, IOT L UIuu UuS WIlell q leSu hts
been on three years cruise, and through
no end O gales, and come home safe an'
sound at last, it's only right he should re-
port himself at headquarters. Some don't
but had a good old mother once, and
she taught me a great deal that I've for
gotten now (more shame for mel besides
some things l remember. So, feeling tha
the Lords hand had been in my coming
homo alive, went to where they say he
comes oftenest, and that's to church.
1t was grand sort ofplace; but hac
my 'long-shore togs on, and my new sll
yer watch, and a collar as white as old
sail-and in l walked bold as brass. II
was evening, about seven bells, and the
glims were all alight. Chaplain, he wa,
there in the wheel house, and all the pas
sengers aboard. l sailed up the straits
looking for a seat, but, Lord love ye. they
all had state rooms, with the doors shut,
and though | said, once or twice, "Shove
up, shipmate," nary lad of EN- budged an
inch.
'Look-a-here, my man, says to a fel-
low acting as convoy to lot OF ladies jest
come in, "my opinion is you need mis-
sionary. I've been among the benighted
heathsn, in parts where they're nigh. as
black as your coat, and though they cat
each other now and then, them that's con-
varted never tries to keep the others out
in the cold when there's meetin'. Chap
lain wouldn't hear ont if they did
Well, the chap turned up his nose at
me, and said something about I" being un-
der no obligation to find seats for .trang-
ers," and | set sail for the door, when he
pints, and l looks, and, bless her pretty
heart. there was lady holding her door
open, and kind O bowling, as much ~ to
say, Cast anchor here, and welcome. =
SO | made my best bow, and went in
There warn't another soul but US two
there, and | felt sheepish, can tell you.
| warn't two-and-twenty then. and was
atore the mast yet. And she was such a
beauty like little yacht with stream
ers flying. and holiday sailing ahead If
she'd turned up her nose at me Id not
have wondered. But she didn't: she gave
me a book, with blue velvet on the bind
ing, to sing out of. and smiled when she
did it. And bless We, forgot what the
Chaplain was saying, looking at her. |
don't know where she got her eyes, unless
a bit O summer sky was used to make EN-.
for they were Jest as blue. Well, when
ii was all over, such time as had tread
ing on the women's long petticoats, and
being scowled at, coming out, was
making headway down street. when saw
a fellow halt seas over make up TO lass
and put his arm about her waist and try
to kiss her. She screamed. but before she
GLANDS of: you lubber..'' says l, and |
laid him sprawling.
And then | saw the lass was the very
one I'd been looking at all the evening
the only Christian according to my reck
oning) in church.
Says she. I'm very much obliged to
you, Sir"
Saws |, "You ain't-not at all. Miss ::
and now, if you've far to 60, I'll walk
alongside and pilot you. if you'll permit =
Says she, " | have very little way to
90: that's fathers house but thank you
a thousand times"
Well, she pointed to reg'lar frst-class
sort of place, all white marble, that knew
to be Cappen Jerseys. And Cappen Jer
sey was my cappen. I'd sailed with him
for years-'printicc at first, hand arter-
ward And, Lord love We. | felt almost
frightened to think of sitting and walking
alongside hS daughter. ! made my best
scrape bow, and somehow stammcred ont
about giving best respects to the Cappen,
and the honor of having sarved her,
Then says she, "Papa must thank you
HIMSELF And there, true as the sea-sar
pent, was Cappen jersey at the parlor
port-hole. She told him what had hap
pened, and he said, "My man, you've
done your duty" and made me come in
and have glass of wine, He called ii
wire, look ye, but I've my doubts of it,
for it was sour as swipes, and fixed like
soda-water when the cork came out.
should have took it for spilled cider. How
ever, cappen's wine isn't to to be sneezed
at by foremast hands, and | took it,
Well, took myself home arter that
but | took her along O me. could Sc,
her eyes and her mouth and her hair
'twarn't gold, nor brown, yet haxen-sort
O like moonlight with shadow in it-as
well as if I'd been in one O them daguer
reotype machines and had her picter took
off on my heart, and at night dreamed
of her.
Look here, shipmate, if you'll keep darE
I'll tell you what l dreamed: That l.
Dick Blaize-k1ssed Cappen Jersey
daughter. don't believe in a man step
ping out of his place. Nobody under {
first mate had right to dream that, anC
| own up was to blame.
That wasn't the worst-I VOW it wasn't
| thought of her arter | was awake .jes
the same; and | did think if / could b
cappen. and have her for my wife-Ev'
her name was: I'd heard the Cappen cal
her Sod not want to die, nor yet to q
to heaven Life would be SO happy t.
me.
If any youngster reads this l want +
tell him that's wrong, for the Chaplain
told me so, and I'd do no harm if ! kne1
it) to anybody. Good advice it's my du
tv to piye. but all the samo whom | sni