The Portland daily press., 1870-10-12

One little act of polteness will sometimes
pave the way to fortune and preferment. The
folio wing sketch illustrates this act:
sailor, rough CARRIED, was strolliug through
the streets of New Orleans, then in a rather
damp condition from recent rain and rise of
the tide. Turning the cc1ner of a much fire.
quented and narrow alley, he observed Young
lady standing in perpleXity, apparently meas
uring the depth of the muddy water between
her and the opposite sidewalk, with no very
satisfied countenance.
The sailor paused, for he was great adj
mirer OF beauty, and certainly the fair face
that peeped out from under the little chip hat
and the auburn curs hanging glossy and I'M
confined over her muslin dress, might tempt
curious or an admiripg glance. Perplexed,
the lady put forth one little foot, when the
gallant sailor, with mpulsiveness, exclaimed,
3Tbat pIelty foot, lady, should not be soiled
with the filth of the lane; wait for moment,
only, and will make you path"
So sprngine past her into carpenters
shop opposite, he bargained for plank board
that stood in the doorway, and coming back
to the smiling girl, who was just coquettish
enough to accept the services of the hand
some young sailor, he bridged the narrow
black stream. and she tripped across with Ia
mery 9Th; nk you," and a roguish smile
making her eyes as dazzling as they could be.
Alas! our young sailor was perfectly charm
ed. What else would make him catch up and
shoulder the plank, and follow the little witch
through the streets to her home She twice
performed the ceremony of walking the plank
and each time thanked him with one of her
eloquent smiles! Presently our hero saw the
young lady trip up the marble steps of pal
ace of a house, and disappear within its rose
wood entrance. For a full minute he stood
looking at the door, and then with wonder
full big sigh turned away, disposed of his
draWbridge, and wended his path back to his
ship.
The next day he was astonished with an
order Of promotion from the captain. Poor
Jack twas speeches. with amazement. He
had not dreamed of being exalted to the dig
nifty OF second mates Office on board one Of
the most splendid ships that sailed out of the
port of New Orleans. He knew he was COM
petent; for ms cad of spending his money for
amusement, visiting theatres and bowling
alleys on bis return from sea, he purchased
books, and had become quite student, but
he expected years to intervene before his am
bilious hopes would he realized.
His superior officers seemed to look upon
him with considerable leniency, and gave him
many fair opportunity to gather maritime
knowledge, and in year the handsome, gen.
tlemanly young mate had acquired unusual
favor in the eyes OF the portly commander
Captain Hume, who had first taken the smart
little black-eyed fellow, with bis neat tarpau-
lin and tidy bundle, as the cabin boy.
One DlSht the young man, with all the other
officers, was invited to an entertainment at
the captains house. He went, and to his as
tonishment mounted the identical steps, that
two years before, the brightest vision he had
ever seen, passed over-a vision he had never
forgotten. Thump, thump, went his,lbrave
heart as he was ushered into the parlor, and,
like sledge hammer it beat again when Can
tain Hume brought forward his blue-eye ed
daughter. and with pleasant smile said, "The
young lady was once indebted to your kind
ness tor a safe and dry walk home." His eyes
were all ablaze, and his brown cheeks flushed
hot'y as the noble captain sauntercd away.
leaving Grace Hume at his side And in ali
that assembly was not so handsome a couple
as the gallant sailor and the ''pretty ladie."
1t was only year from that time that the
second mate trod the quarterback second on
y in command, and part owner with the can
tain, not only in his vessel, but in the affec-
tions of mis- daughter, gentle Grace Hume.
who had always cherished respect, to saw
nothing of love, for the frightened sailor.
his nomeiy but earnest act of politeness to-
ware ms child had pleased the captain, and
.Eougn Inc youth knew it not, was the cause
u us nfst promotion. So that now the old
man mas retired from BUSINESS Henry Wells
captain, and Grace Hume is according to
polIte parlance, Mrs. Captain Wells" In
Iact the honest sailor is one of the richest
men IN the Crescent City, and he owes per-
tnaps tue greater part OF his prosperity to his
Iacs and politeness in crossing the street.