Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-06-12
srlttt TaIe.
THE sEA-cAPrAlNs ADVENTURE.


cargo belonged TO them, and they not only
wished to do some business in England bu,
they also desired to travel some. Besides
the three owners, | had four passengers in
the cabin. The passage from New York 10
England on that occasion was the most Sc
we're aud stormy | ever made. have ex-
perienced heavier storms but not such con-
tinued hard weather. The old ship was on
a strain the whole time, and though ran in
to the Avon without losing a life or an i'm
portant spar, yet she had received much dam
age. Her main mast was sprung, her tim
bers strained and for the last week the
pumps had to be kept going all the time,
owners, passengers, and all, doing their
shares to work at the brakes.
As soon as we could get tho cargo out, the
ship was hauled up into the dock for repairs.
and we found upon examination that it would
be week before she could be fs for sea ;
and II she had all the repairs she absolutely
needed i. would take her nearer two weeks
a contract was made for the job, and one Of
the owners agreed to stay by and superintend
the work. This left me at liberty, and be-
gan to look round for some place to visit
had heard much about Salisbury Plain
The famous Stonehenge was there and so
were there relics Off Imln and British anti
quities. Accordingly to Salisbury Plain
resolved to CO. When went on board the
ship TO make arrangements with the owner
who had remained, informed Leeman. one
of the owners, of my purpose. He was a
man Of about thirty years Of age and from
his features and idiom, judged him to be
an Englshman. | told him | was going to
Salisbury, and he informed me that he was
going the same way.
Leeman had been intending to take the
stage at Devices, and then take some of the
cross coaches but resolved to take a horse
and travel where, how and when pleased
and he liked the plan we'll, that he imme-
diately went and bought him horse and
saddle.
1t was about the middle Of the forenoon
when we set out, and found that Leeman
intended to visit the curiosities with me and
/ then keep on toward London, by the way of
/ Ahdover and Chertsey, he having sent his
baggage on ahead to Salisbury by the great
mail route, which ran many miles off the
way. found my companion excellent COM
pany, and on the way he told me several pas
sages from his life. He was born in England,
but this the first time he had ever been
in the Kingdom since he was fourteen years
Of age and was LED to infer that was at the
time he ran away from his parents. During the
last six years of his residence in the United
States he had been engaged in western land
specuations and he was now independently
rich.
We took dinner at Bradford, large manu-
featuring town six miles southwark of Bath,
aud as soon as our horses were rested, we
set out again. Towards the middle of the
afternoon the sky b1gan to grow overcast,
md bad q Of Re-
o'clock the great black clouds were piled up
in heavy masses. and it began to thunder
At Warminister we took the direct road to
Albany, distance Of fourteen miles, and
when this storm gathered upon us we were
about half way between the two places.
was in no particsIar hurry, and as | had no
desire to get wet, | proposed that we should
stop at the first place we came to. la few
moments more we came to point where
small cross road turned off to the right, and
where a guide board said that it was five
miles to D4btford ion.
proposed that we should turn in this by /
way and make for Debtford inn as fast as
possible, and my companion readily assented.
We mad gone mile when the great drops Of
rain began to fall but as good fortune would
have it, we spied small cottage not more
than a furlong ahead through a clump of pop
lars. We made for this place and reached it
before we got wet. There was a good sized
barn on the premises, and long shed con-
nected with the house. Beneath this shed we
drove and just as we ahghted an old man
came out. We told him that we had got
caught ia the storm, aud asked him il he
could accommodate us for the night. He told
US that we should have the best his humble
place could afford. and said that if we would
put up with that, We were welcome.
As soon as the horses were taken care Of,
we followed the old man into the house. He
was grey-hesded man, certainly on the
down-hill side of three score and his form
was bent by hard work. His countenance
was naturally kind and other marks upon his
brow than those of old age. The moment
saw him knew he had seen much suffering.
il was neat room TO which we were led,
living room but yet free from dirt and litter.
An old woman was just building fre for
the supper, and as we entered she rose from
her work.
Some travellers, wife, caught in the
shower" said the old man.
"Surely gentlemen, you're welcome" the
woman said, in a tone so mild and free, that
knew she spoke from the depth Of hersoul.
" 1t is poor fare that wo can give, but the
heart Of the giyer must cen make up for
that"
thanked the good people, and told them
that | would pay them we'll for all they did
for us.
"Speak not Of pay" said the old woman,
taking the tea,kettle from the hob and hang
ing it on the crane.
"Stop wife, let not your heart run away
with ye,' uttered the old man tremulously. /
/" II the good gentlemen have to spare out of
their abundance, it becomes not such suffer
ers to refuse the bounty"
l saw the woman place the apron to her
eyes but she made no reply. The door close
by the Fireplace stood partly open, and ! saw
in the room beyond bed, and l was sure
there was some one in it. ! asked the old
maa il he had any sickness.
"Yes," he said, with shake Of the head
my poor boy has been sick long time--
tie is the only child have, the only helper
on the little farm, and he's been sick nearly
all the spring and summer I've taken care /
Of the sheep, but | couldn't plant. Its hard
but we don't despair. My good wife-God
bless her shares the trials with me, and |
think she takes the biggest share"
" No, no John, don't say so, uttered the .