The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-28

Mr.. Moncure d. Conway, now Of London,
tells the following story in the last Har-
pers:
ADMIRAL HOBBY" THE village of
Crab Niton) is not without its romance.
Early in the last century Il little orphan
boy named Hobson was brought here from
Bonchurch, where he was born, and ap-
prenticed to tailor. lie did well, and the
tailor and his wife became very fond Of
him, as also did the neighbors. In fact,
Hobby" was general favorite. was par
ticularly good at singing, and often went
out with the fishermen in their boats.
Great, therefore, was the grief when he
was one day missed after a time his hat
was washed up on shore, and boat in
which he was wont to paddle WAS picked
up off the coast empty. Hobby was given
up as lost. The fact was, however, that
the lad, as he sat with his needle, had seen
the English squadron sailing majestieally
in the channel, and it was too much for
him. An hour or 20 later the admiral
of the squadron was called to observe
q boy in boat making for a ship. The
boy was Hobby, who entreated to be taken
on board. His request was granted, the
boat was cut adrift, and the boy was taken
up with no loss except that of his hat,
which the wind had blown off soon after he
had left shore. The squadron was going
to fight for Queen Anne against the French
fleet, with which it soon was engaged. At
ter two hours of desperate fighting, the
young volunteer naively asked sailor for
what object the fleets were contending.
edo you see that rag there ?" said the
sailor, pointing to the French flag on the
flag ship. "Ay," said Hobby. "That
must come down" "0h :" said the boy,
"if that's ali, I'll see what l can do"
The ships Of the two admirals were touch
ing their yard-arms, and enveloped in
smoke. The boy climbed the shrouds,
crossed the main-yard, and, under the
cover of smoke, actually seized the flag and
returned to the deck. ....
The disappearance Of the flag was soon
noticed; the British cried "Victory I" the
French thought that their officers had sur
rendered, and in the confusion the British
boarded the hostile ship and captured it.
The boy, unconscious Of what he had done,
was found by the Admiral with the French
flag round his arm, and was ut once pro-
NOTED. From that time he rose rapidly to
be Admiral IIobson. OF course the hum
BILE folk of little Crab-Niton knew nothing
of all this, and the tragical tradition of the
little prentice was almost forgotten, when:
one day, the knighted Admiral and some
other officers paid visit to the place. They
went straight to the house of the now aged
tailor and his wife, and asked for dinner.
The ham and eggs-all they could provide
were set before the distinguished guests,
who, however, had brought with them wines
and other luxuries, which their entertain
ers were invited to partake.
When the dinner was over, the admiral
struck up an old ballad which he used to
sing when q boy Of Niton. The old woman
was touched, and, bursting into tears, ex-
claimed, :" Poor Hobby!h The admiral
forgot all his magnifcence, and soon had
his arms round the old lady's neck. The
hamlet was given up to Joy. which still
kiDdles the village story-tcllers as they
pass the romance on from generation to
generation snd point to the comfortable
dwellings of the tailor's descendants as
monuments of the old admirals gratitude.
This story is as old as the hills" but
has not been 80 we'll told before.