The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-11-22

yaru, IN voice OF thunder, clay out
there, y0u Blu, and take up that dogs ear.
What are you staring at, in the bunt?"
think may have assumed patroni-
zing air in my intercourse with John, in con-
sequence of all this. Feeling profession
nj superiority, could not avoid letting 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 aloft and reeve studding- -sail-halyards
or loose royal, John would start some
times, but would gently push him back
and jump in ahead of him. I was proud
OF my ability to to take the lead, and there
was gratitude, instead of indignation or
shame, in his clear, blue eye on such occa-
sions. Some of the men standing near
would perhaps intimate that he was want
ing in pluck, to let me do this. But l don't
think ever thought so, though, of course,
l felt flattered by such remarks, as any boy
would.
But John Merrill made sure, though slow,
progress in his duties, and his sinews hard
ened up, as Mr.. Baldwin had prophesied.-
Though delicate in frame, his health SEEM
ed perfect, and in some respects we had no
better man among us. He was always
ready to take an extra trick ON the lookout,
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 determination to car
ry her wheel an extra spoke to windward at
"full-ard-by," or to make hayward sheers
and yaws when off before it, no one could
manage her like this quiet timid youth.
lie 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 OF
dangerous, was so irksome to me as
steering the ship. To do it well, required
an abstraction of the mind for two hours
from all other matters, with touch, and a
foresight, or rather forefeeling, in which
John Merrill excelled, but which few rough
and tumble sailors possess.
MY. Baldwin used to declare that "he
never knew right-down smart fellow who
could steer more than fair decent trick
and that he never knew an A 1 extra helms
man who was good for much else." And,
after an observation Of many years, think
his statement was not far from the truth.
We made our first port at Talcahuano
after doubling Cape Horn, and here John
and l, being in the same watch, were much
together on shore. But he would never
stay after dark, and appeared utterly insen-
sible to the destinations Of the Chillian brr,.
nettes. 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 ol
Peru, after short stay in port. Among
the men shipped to fill vacancies, was one
known as g California Tom," a fellow OF
unbounded assurance and infinite 'gas, tc
whom John and both took an instructive
aversion at first acquaintance. But he
found some congenial spirits on board the
Amphion, as such fellows will in any shir
where they may cast their fortunes.
We had not been long at sea before it ap.
peared that we had some one i'll our circle
who disdained the nice little distinctions OF
meWm and tenn. Several articles ha6
been mysteriously missed by different par
ties, and complaints were loud and clamor
ous
A ships forcastle is as unfit place for q
thief as he can well find his way into. As
much uneasiness is caused by his presence
as by the knowledge that powder maga
zine is located somewhere under the deck
without knowing exactly where. Woe tc
him if he is caught for though jack.
standard of morality is, in many respects
no higher than it ought to be, he has NJ
mercy for pilfering shipmate. He has, il
may be said, one code of morals to regu
! late his dealings with his own comrades