Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1865-07-06

[ saw Jenny on the sly next day and
tried to get her to run away; but the
girl had will Of her own and knowed
her duty.
Says she, CT can't disobey my father,
Jack. | love you dearly, and I will
never marry any one else; but it must
be all over between us. I don't think pa
would have relented even if you hadn't
been SO violent; but now he never
will. You've done it yourself, Jack, ;"
she said, turning quite white, and look
| ing away from me. ''You liked the sea
best, and you've got it instead of me. J"
| Those were the last words she said;
and was going away when [ heard her
give little cry, and turning saw her
arms stretched toward me; then I went
back and folded her to my bosom, and
kissed her hundred times. And I'm
afraid I cursed her hard old father from
the bottom of my soul, though t wasn't
aloud; for, mind We, a woman is a wo-
man, and words good enough for mems
ears amt to be spoken before her The
sight Of Jenny as left her with her yell
low hair blown back under the bare tree
branches, all bright with icicles, haunt
ed me for many a long day; and though
l loved the sea, there were times when,
looking over the side, used to fancy a
voice deep in the waves whispering her
words over again:
you've done it yourself, Jack, you
liked the sea better than me, and you We
got it."
1t doesn't take long for the years to
! go by, either on the land or the ocean.
They went with me as with other folks.
got on we'll enough. Before knew it
| l was second mate, then first mate, then
captain. [ suppose should have sailed
| the sea until they buried me in it if it
hadn't been for my first mate, John
Hamlin. I loved that fellow as I might
brother, if I'd had better one than
Charles Augustus. At Gibralter, Ham
lin got into row with some English SOL
diers. They'd all been drinking togeth-
er; of course [ took his part. They had
firearms about them, and used 'em on
each Of us. [ didn't save Hamlin, for
they shot him dead; but got couple
OF bullets in me, and was picked up just
Us near Davy Jones locker as man ever
was who didn't go into it. I got well
again, but, as you may say, on the in
valid list; and as Z d laid by handful of
money, and was past forty, made up
my mind to stay ashore and take care of
Tom Hamlin's orphan children. He
had two Of them, both girls I settled
down in New York and fetched them
home, poor half starved creatures, fur
the woman they boarded with was given
to drink, and kept them on bread and
treacle; and as they told me must, [
put them in black frocks-tLey'd have
felt just as bad in red-and settled down
to be comfortable. Soon [ looked out
fora chaplain to spend Sunday as it ought
to be; and the Rev. Eben lockers
church being handy, [ shipped him
along with the gals, and as [ always did
my duty, never pretended not to see the
plate when the steward showed it up to
our pew. Rev. Eben Tooker was
soclable man. He used to drop in eve
nlngs and talk to me about my soul; and
though [ can't say but what dropped
asleep some times, he knowed his duty
when he did it. A captain duty is one
thing, and a chaplain's another.
One day he spoke of poor Hamlin's
gals. SAYS he, ''You send them to
school, 1 hope" Says [, 81 havn't
done it-gals are better without learn
ing, if they can read their Bibles and
cipher cut the butchers bills"
But be kept, on, and -r.ret saA1en lot
him examine 'em. Lord love We, they
hardly knew their letters The schoolin'
as well as the board had gone for gin.
''Ihe poor heathens are scarcely more
benighted," said our chaplain He in
sists on my saying pastor, but t'other
sounds the best
eve must find an instructress for
them, Captain
''Surely,' said II wanted to do the
best by poor Toms children that could
surely; just mention school-marm,
Chaplain,
Said he. my own are under the care
of the person who plays the organ-a
highly estimable lady in reduced cir
cumstances. Her school is close by
No. Broom street
So he wrote the name and address on
a card, and I promised to take the gals
there.
Monday morning we set sail. I bought
'em spelling books and satchels and
states, and by nine o'clock we were at
the door. Then looked for the card,
and behold We I'd lost it! However, [ |
was in port, and could hail the lady as
"schOol- marm."
Betsey was wiping her eye, and Peg
was bawling that she wanted to go home.
But says [,
mo. no, gals, 1 don't want we to grow
up benighted as the heather, and that's
what the Chaplain calls We now"
So lugged 'em in, and made my rev.
erence.
DUTY, ma'am," said I; 'here's two
gals as needs instruction. Rev. Eben
Tooker recommended you to Civ it to
EN-, and whatever extra it is for playing
let 'em learn ii for; if its you that works
it in the top lott o Sundays, you know
how to do it. Cappen Jack Ballast at
your service. Send the bills to him, an
he'll foot EN-"
[ amt bold with women. I'm bash
full afore strange uns even yet AS she
heard my name she gave a little scream
and started back. OF course I could
not help looking at her then, and she
was sitting down with her handkerchief
before her face.
Says /, ''beg your pardon, are you ill,
mum?"
Says she, still not looking up, did
you say your name was Captain Bal
last?"
Jack Ballast, at your service, said I.
Says she, "Oh, Jack, don't you know
me-"
Says /, 'Iook up, and I'll make