Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-11-28
A LITTLE TOO PUNCTUAL.

from her berth at New York, and the
usual crowd of passengers and friends OF
passengers, newsboys, fruit venders, cab.
men and dock loaters, were assembled
on and about the boat
We were gazing at the motley crowd,
from the foot of the deck stairs, when
our attention was attracted by the singu-
lar action of tall, brown Yankee, in an
immense brown hat, chocolate colored
coat and pantaloons, and fancy vest.
He stood near the starboard paddle box,
and scrutinized sharply every female
coming on board, every now and then
consulting an enormous bulls eye watch,
which he raised from the depth of
capacious fob by means of powerful
steel chain. After mounting guard in
this manner, he dashed furiously down
the gang plank and up the wharf, re-
appearing again on board almost in
simultaneously, expressing the most in
tense anxiety. This series of operations
he performed several times, after which
he rushed about the boat wildly and hope.
lessly circulating:
Whats the time of day ? Wonder if
nv repeater is fast Whar's the Cap'n ?
Whar's the Steward ? Whar's the Mate ?
Whar's the boss that owns this shipY'
Whats the matter, sir 2 we ventured
tn ask him, when he halted for a moment
for breath. =. -,
"Haipt seen nothin' of gal in a blue
sun-bonnet. with Canton Grape shawl
(cost fifteen dollars), pink gown, and
brown boots, hey 2-come aboard while J
have been looking for the cap,n at the
hind part of the ship-have ye, hey
mo such person has come on board. "
"Tormented lightning-she' s my wife T.
he screamed; married her yesterday
All her trunks and mine aboard, under
the pile of baggage as tall as Connec-
.;cut steeple The darn old black mig
a. GOV sor- he won't hand it out and won't
@ Isave s NV baoU-.ge, anyhow. Ny wife
only think Of twas :" :" nave come e,oi on
board of half past four, and its mo- I'VE
What's become of her? She cant have
eloped We havn't been married long
enough for that. Yeou don't think she's
been abdicated, do We, misterY Speak
-answer-won't ye? Oh I'm ravin
distracted What are they ringing that
hell for? Is the old ship on fire 2"
at is the signal for departure-the
first bell; the second bell will ring in just
four minutes. ,,
Thunder yeou don'tsay sol Whars
the cap'n z
nThat gentleman in the blue coat"
The Yankee darted to the captain S
side.
"Cap'n, stop the ship for ten minutes,
will you p
Cant do it, sir.
but you must, tell ye; I'll pay ye
for it. How much will ye take
81 could not do it. -,
"Cap'n, I'll give yeou tew dollars,
gasped the Yankee.
The captain shook his head.
"Tll give you five dollars and half
and a half-and halfl' he kept re-
peating and dancing about in his agony
like a mad jackass on platter. 81,
This boat starts at five precisely, :,
said the captain shortly, and then turned
away. -,
"OL, yeou stunny-hearted heather ~
murmured the Yankee, almost bursting
into tears :" Partin' man and wife, and
we Just one day married
At this moment the huge paddle-wheels
began to paw the water, and the walking
beam descended heavily, shaking the
hinge fabric to the centre. All who were
not going to New Haven went ashore.
The hands began to haul in the gang
plank. and the fasts were already cut
loose.
Leggo.that plank J" roared the Yam
kee. collaring one Of the hands. Drop
il, like hot potater, or I'll throw you
into the dock.
Yo-yor e shouted the men in chorus,
as they heaved on the gangway. -,
Shut up You brayin donkeys
velIed the maddened Yankee, "or therell
be ugly sort of work -,
But the plank was got aboard, and the
boat splashed past the pier: In an ln-
slant the Yankee pulled of his coat
flung his hat beside it on the deck, cry
ing for the guard.
"Are you drunk or crazy cried
passenger, seizing him.
al am going to fling myself into the
dock and swim ashore I" cried the Yam
kee. 81 mustn't leave Sairy Ann alone
in New York city. You may divide my
baggage among ye-let me go-l KIN
swim.
He struggled so furiously that the con-
sequence Of his rashness might have
been fatal, had not sudden apparition
changed his purpose. a very pretty
voupr woman in blue bonnet, VII ite
Canton Grape shawl, pink dress and
brown boots, came toward him. Ihe big