National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-12-23
THE WRECK OF THE PROSPERO.
BY AN Old SAILOR.

"
When the Prospero went down | was
higher death for longer at a time than
eve. vas afore or since Prospero was the
name of ship, You'll understand called
after one of the Roman emperors. She
wasn't good un to go, but she was good
nm to sail in She stood up out of the
water like barn, and her fo'c's'le was as
dry aS vour mas parlor. She was one Of
the old-iashoned sort that you don't often
see now; one of them with cro'iack, and
bows as bluff as her starn. Made by the
mile and cut off "a wanted, like a bar of
soap, is the sailors Joke about them old
craft, but they were a deal comfortabler
than these crack crank clippers they have
got nowadays, and deal safer, too You
could lay 'ern to, and they'd roll about like
cask without capslzlng. Some say the
clippers is handsomer, but Tor my part, |
don't like to see ships side without
mite Of white palnt-all a. black aS a
coffin. But safe as she was, the old Pros
pcro went down at last. Stll that wasn't
the fault of her build, you'll understand
ne was an old ship, and was ialr worn
out.
| shipped aboard her at Sidney She
wa' on the berth for London Wool, hides
and horns was her cargo. There wasn't
\ very many passengers, and Tor my part |
don't IKEA lot few ol EN- 'lveh sup
up, but when there's lot they're always
Quarrcling, specially the women, and com
u planning Of the crew. though it's the crew
Il that has better right to complain ofthef
'oaiing about for ever III your way For
N my part, can't see what call land-lubbers
N have on board ship. II don't seem to give
Y en- any pleaSure-they're always wishing
they were ashore; and it's aggravatlng OF
N men when they've been knocked up IN til,
Va middle ot their watch below to shorter
n sail all Of n sudden, lay, to see pack ot
bog idlor, dawdling about with their pipes
Il DO their mouths and their hands in then
II rocket,
But two Of the passengers aboard The
N Prospero got rated J the inmate they
came aboard. Everybody liked them, too
n from stem to stern. 1t was beautiful
Young widow lady and her son. VIM
A hHrar wa, their name. Charles Nilller
Nmboruc the little boy was called bu
Wc always called him Charlie, when his mi
weren't 10y, because he liked IT best shor
lkc that. \ fine handsome little hoy h
wns-uot over strong, hut As game as
Il Young lion. 1t wasn't long alorc he wa
'or ever ,warming up the rigging. Mild
as milk, and ~ merry as kitten, he wa
mostly; bat put bis monkey up, and hc,
ouk a, black rs thunder, and talk n bi
%, any grown swell Ns for Mrs Win
A borne, she was kind and gentle TO every
body. She'd do all sorts ot little odd Iol
n ''r Us, aud come INTO the foes, ,le Of SUI
lay afternoon, and read the Bible to II
uf week day, too, she'd talk to ns whc
,hc came acro>, us Just FOR n yarn som'
times. anl at other times about not Swea
ue, md 80 on; and yet not bit in
II r1achy sort of way. 1t amt often thi
n sailors ret any one TO talk to them lih
4 tNgt-as If they really thought they WEI
/ the same flesh and blood But when tn,
H ll they value it. I've seen man th,
n vt, m-t going to rap out an oath, VII,
i h. caught sight of Mrs Wimhorne, ste