Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-06-17
NO. l44.

ing listener whenever wanted to let my
tongue run on, don't think ever thought
OF esteeming him the less for his reticence
as to his past life. merely thought that he
must have some good reason for wishing
to conceal his true history and was too
conscientious to invent false one.
One of Johns eecentricities-I know not
what else to call twas that he always
kept his sea-chest locked. This is unusual,
in a whaler's forecastle, and always SUBJ
jects the man doing it to unpleasant re-
marks, as implying a want of confidence
in the honesty of his shipmates. 1t is
common to say of the man who does it,
that she is either thief himself, or else
thinks the rest of us are thieves" But
John Merrill only blushed, without max
ing any audible reply, when such cut
ting insinuations were thrown out, as they
occasionally were in his hearing. They
had no effect whatever in producing any
change in his habits. Even myself could
never get a peep at his inventory. He was
generous, even to fault, in respect to Civ
ing or lending little matters but he always
kept his chest in the darkest corner of our
little triangular quarters, and when he
took out or put in any thing, was careful
never to leave it unlocked.
As concerned his duty, he did not ap-
Dtdl W Ut tHc SUN VI WHICH ClaCh
are made But he won upon the good
opinion of the officers, even of gruff Mr..
Baldwin, our executive, Il tar1y old Triton,
whom current report declared to be web
footed.
II can't haze that boy" he would say.
''We must ease him in, till he has eaten Il
few barrels of salt-horse to harden his
snews'
could not tell why, but don't think |
was ever envious of my comrade because
the mate favored him in this way while he
drove me up to my utmost capacity. Both
of us were respectful and willing, and
tried hard to do our duty, and as he eN-
pressed it, ''make men of ourselves"
And think felt rather elated to know
that Mr.. Baldwin discovered that there
was tougher material in me than in John
Merrill, and worked us accordingly. 1t
was an honor to be selected to pull the
mates tub-oar, while he was enrolled in
the real rank of the ''ship-keepers." And
| never complained, even when, in reefing
topsails, the old salt would say kindly.
''Step down John Merrill, | want you to
help me-" while, at the next moment, he
! roared at me on the yard, in a voice of
thunder, ''Lay out there you Bill, and take
up that dogs ear! What are you tar1ng at
in the bunt?"
| think | may have assumed q patroniz-
ing air in all my intercourse with John, in
consequence of all this. Feeling pro-
fessonal superiority, could not avoid let
ting it appear sometimes. But if so, he
never seemed to notice it. If there was
sudden call, in our watch. for one of the
!. boys to jump aloit and reeve studding-sail
hal-yards, or loose royal, John would
r start sometimes, but | would gently push
him back and jump in ahead of him. Twas
proud of my ability to take the lead, and
there was no gratitude, or shame, in his
clear, blue eye on such occasions. Some of
the men standing near would perhaps inti
mate that he was wanting in pluck, to let
me do this. But | don't think 1 ever
thought so, though of course ! felt flat
tered by such remarks, as any boy would.
Butt ohm Merrill made sure, though slow,
progress in his duties, and his sinews har-
dened up, as Mr.. Baldwin had prophesied.
Though delicate in frame, his health seemed
perfect, and in some respects we had no
better man among us. He was always
ready to take an extra trick on the look
out, for he seemed to like being alone
where he could commune with his own
thoughts. And he was soon acknowledged
to be the best helmsman on board Did
the sturdy old Amphion show determina-
ito to carry her wheel an extra spoke to
windward at. ''full-and-by," or to make
wayward sheers and yaws when off before
it; no one could manage her like this quiet,
timid youth.
He was always ready to take my turn at
the helm for me indeed, would have TAX
en- them all if | would have let him. He
could have done me no greater favor than
this; for no duty, however laborious or
dangerousswas so irksome to me as steer
ing the ship. To do it well, required an
abstraction of the mind tor two hours from
all other matters, with a touch and kind
of foresight, or rather fore-feeling in
which John Merrill exceTled, but which
few gh-and-tumble sailors possess.
Mr.. Baldwin used to declare that ''he
never knew right-down smart fellow
who could steer more than fair, decent
trick; and that he never an A extra
helmsman who was good for much else.n
And, after an observation of many Years,
| think his statement was not tar from the
truth. s'
We made our first port at Talcahuana
after doubling Cape Horn, and here John
and |, being in the same watch, were
much together on shore. But he would
never stay after dark, and appeared utter
ly insensible to the destinations OF the
Chilian brunettes. He would drink no
liquor, and his example, in this respect,
had a good effect upon myself
We sailed for "a cruise on the coast of
Peru, after short stay in port. Among
the men shipped to fill vacancies was one
: known as California Tom,n fellow of
unbounded assurance and infinite ''gas,"
to whom John and both took an instinct
o i've aversionat first acquai ntance. But he
i, found some congenial spirits on board the
h Amphion, as spch fellows will in any ship
k where they may east their fortunes.
S We had not been long at sea before it
n appeared that we had some one in our cir
If Gle who disdained the nice little distinc-
n tions of mean and teuna. Several articles
: had been mysteriously missed by differ
). ent parties, and complaints We're loud and
h clamorous.
# A ships forecastle is as unfit place for
d a thief as he can well find his way into.