The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1866-12-15

INN WFsfNHf H# DTli fhI hIHHiHf
bog fa haI mulfi t4fa ilafH, Hhd
tn naw WlInf iIHhR Hmlsf rhne
nafi iunHIs ani Hb. mH fia
iHafy lsla MI Af0ItHun HHniM
w iheIf Ffw r mekfh. me- mfn
would Htlh tho dephs bffhlg, rm.
aantIf danalna 1mulnr sia No
Lep fIHmIfa vlfm ! need h
dmne myuIf hf hour watching
tlalf movements hru my taai WI
observation ob the NulHef mIi
where frIIfd pp io ny iapumnut
unl ! bowed M Ht and smoke my
ivory mpa made " whales tooth
Nm uHllr1uenily ome antloua
itf would e1me up ffm NE anus
Ionmsilc ~ pko look NJ bis
hrt clothes, recently washed. and
nov whipping about ou tlio line c,.
iouilug nafoa tie deck
Nha' lhe poor clothes, incapable
" keeping themselves warm by ~
excise, were VII frozen as din NJ
mstcboatd 80 that their owner must
curry them to The galley in bis half
bcnnmbcd fingers, aud lhaw them by
the stove, " he wished to have them
ready for Sunday.
The captains wife was aboard she
was neat little body, with hair
combcd very smooth, kind blue eyes,
brisk manners, and q sweet voice
Tho rough fcllows-eycry man Of
them--lovcd her, and believe would
have gone through fire aud water 10
serve her; for she WIS always send
ing forward something nice for them
to eat, aud there was no end to the
unexpected watches below which
were accorded them through her IN
hucncc. On pleasant days--therc
were few of them lately--she would
bring up her sewing, and sit near the
blnnacle chatting TO the man near
the wheel and coaxing the skipper,
in her own peculiar way, whenever
he was disposed to find fault with the
steering ] remember one delicate
lad of sixteen, with brown hair and
a white gentle face, who was saved
many times from the blows of Il
"rope's end" by the "littlc lady"
She seemed TO take quite fancy to
this boy, who hadn't a single chum
aboard the ship. In fact, he was so
reserved, so devoted to few old
books which he had brought with
him, that there was no chance for the
men to cultivate his acquaintance.
He seemed well disposed, however,
never interiercd with his shipmatcs'
business, and was always ready to
give away a part Of his allowance to
the man who was not satisfied with
his own.
Well, as ! said, the "littte lady"
so we called hcr-scemcd to like
the lad. Not one of the officers
dared to say cross word to him
when she was near. She felt for him
sort of mothcrly interest, think,
because he had nobody but her to
watch over and protect him; but he
alas, poor boy !--he had some OF the
feelings of man, young as he was,
and so loved and cherished her with
his whole soul.
One cold, moonlight night, while
he was steering, she brought him a
pair of mittcns which she had made
with her own pretty hands. One OF
these soft hands he kissed by some
uncomfortable impulse as he took the
mittens; but he soon had reason to
repent of his temerity. The captain
saw that kiss; furious with jealousy,
he ravcd like madman.
"Whatl cried she, "jcalms OF
poor little Derrick Pa mere boy2'
"Ay, ay," he replied, grinding hi,
teeth, "but / don't believe this is the
first Of your billing and cooing
with him."
"How ridiculous." answered the
little lady; and by every art in her
power she exdeayored to soothe her
angry lord.
For the first time since her mar
riapc she was unsuccessful. The
captain ordered her into the cabin,
and shut her up in her own room.
And now il farcd hard with poor
Derrick. Day after day, night after
night, with but little intermission, he
was kept hard at work by the cruel
skipper. Thinner and paler grew
the lad every hour. / believed th,
absence of the woman he loved
affected him fully ns much as hi.
hard tasks; for he would often
glance toward the quarter deck
robbed Of that gentle form, anc
breathe heavy sighs.
Many of us demonstrated with th'
captain, but he needed us not, anc
went on over working the boy. soor
the sufferer was reduced TO a mcr'
skclcton-a walking shadow-ant
then the skipper relentcd little
His victim was permitted to go be
low once in a while to rest himself
lie kept pining, however, and wa
+ finally unable to leave his bunk. Tn
/, men were not surprised one morninI
when the mate, entering the forccas
2 tie, looked at the sharp white fac'
D the damp brown hair, and said tha
c the boy was dying.
: Then the captain, struck with re
: morse, sent for his wife.
What a strange power there is J
: a woman's hand. The moment ii
j little lady touched the invalid's bro
= he seemed to revive.
r A week later he was able to {