Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-10-15
a'-o-
WALKING THE PLANK.
A Sailors Love.

q One little act of polteness will some
Atimes pave the way to fortune and pre-
dferment. The following sketch illus
3trates the fact:
4 A sailor, roughly garbed, was strolling
Through the streets of New Orleans, then
in rather damp condition from recent
lrain and the rise Of the tide. Turning
1.-The corner of much frequented and
3narrow alley, he observed young lady
STANDING in perplexity, apparently meas
{uring the depth of the muddy water be
Ntween her and the opposite sidewalk
3with no very satisfied countenance.
4 The sailor paused for he was a great
4admirer of beauty, aud certainly the fair
fface that peeped out from under the lit
Stle chip hat, and the auburn curls hang
ling glossy and unconfned over her mus
Him dress, might tempt curious or an
h sadmiring glance. Perplexed, the lady
Sput forth one little foot, when the gallant
Sailor, with impulsiveness, exclaimed ::
. That pretty foot, lady, should not be
soiled with the filth of this lane; wait for
Z moment only, and i will make you d
path.
SO springing past her into carpen1
ter's shop opposite, he bargained for a
5plank board that stood in the doorway
] and coming back to the smiling girl, whoI
was just coquettish enough to accept theI
services of the handsome young sailor
he hridged the narrow black stream, and|
: she tripped across with a merry "Thank|
you" and a roguish SMILE making herr
3eyes as dazzling as they could be.
Alas our young sailor was perfectly
i charmed. What else could make himl
Z 3catch up andl shoulder the plank, and
follow the little witch through the Shiny
( trees to her home; she twice performed
2the ceremony of walking the plank,
and each tims thanking him with one of
, her eloquent smiles.
Presently our hero saw the young LADY,
"trip up the marble steps of palace of al
5house, and disappear within its rosewood
entrance. For full minute he stood
Hooking at the door, and then, with Al
! iwonderfll sigh, tArled away, disposed of
/ his draybridge, and wended His path
. back to his ship.
The next day he was astonished with
I an 9fdSF Of promotion from the captain.
. Poor Jack vas Speephless with amaze
ment; he had not dreamed of being eX7l
Halted 10 the dignity of q second mate )!
office on board one of the most splendid
IsbiIs that sailed out Of the port of New
Orleans. He kLnew he was competent
for instead of spending his money :9F,,
amusement, visiting theaters and bowl
ling alleys on his return from sea, he|
purchased hooks, and had become quiteI
i a student; but be eSpecis4 years to in.
}tervene before his ambitions hopes wonldI
be realized. i
His superior officers seemed to lookl
upon him with considerable leniency,
and gave him many fair opportunity
to gather maritime knowledge; and in Al
year the handsome, gentlemanly yonng|
mate had acquired unusual favor in theI
z eyes of the portly commander, Captain|
Hume, who had first taken the smart
! little black-eyed fellow, with his neat
tarpaulin and tidy bundle, as his cabin
. boy.
One night the young man with all thel
other officers was invited to an entertain
ment at the captains house. He went,
. and to his astonishment 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 brave heart as
Z he was ushered into the parlor, and like
siedge hammer it beat again when
Captain Hume brought forward his blue
eyed daughter, and with pleasant smile
said: "The yeunglady was once indebted
( to your kindness for a safe and dry walk
homo"
His eyss we're all lsblaze, and his brown
cheeks flushed hastily as the noble cap
tain sauntered away, leaving Grace
Hume at his side And in all that as-
sembly was not so handsome couple as
the gallant sailor and the pretty lady. I
ID vas only year from that time that
the second mate trod the quarterback
second only in command. aud part owner
with the captain, not only in the Ves1
sci but in the affections of his daughter
gentle Grace Hume. who had always
S Cherished respect, to say nothing of love
4 for the bright-eyed sailor.
His homely but earnest act Of politel
ness toward his child had pleased the
captain, and though the youth knew id
not, was the cause Of his first promo
ton; so that, now the old man has re
tired from business, Henry Wells is oap1
tain, and Grace Hume is, according toI