Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-11-24
A Sailors Love.

One little act of politeness will some
times pave the way to fortune and prefer
ment The following sketch illustrates
this fact
A sailor, roughly CARRIED, was strolling
! through the streets Of New Orleans, then
in rather damp condition from recent
rain and the rise Of the tide Turning the
corner of much frequented and narrow
alley, he observed young lady standing
in perplexity, apparently measuring the
depth of the muddy water between her
and the opposite sidewalk with no very
satisfied countenance.
| The sailor paused, for he was a great
admirer .of beauty, and certainly the TAR
face that peeped out from under the little
chip hat, and the auburn curls hanging
glossy and unconflned over her muslin
dress, might tempt curious or an admir-
ing glance. Perplexed, the lady put 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 moment
only, and will make you path" -
So springing past her into carpenters
shop opposite, he bargained for plank
| board that stood in the doorway, and COM
ing back to the smiling girl, who was just
coauettish enough to accept the services
of the handsome young sailor he bridged
| the narrow black stream, and she tripped
across with merry THANK you" and
roguish smile, making her eyes as dazzling
as they could be.
| Alas! our young sailor was perfectly
charmed. What else would make him
catch I'D and shoulder the plank, and fol
low the little witch through the Shiny
| streets to her home, she twice performing
| the ceremony Of walking the plank and
each time thanking him with one Of her
eloquent smiles
Presently our hero saw the young lady
trip up the marble steps of palace of
house and disappear within its rosewood
entrance. For full minute he stood look
ing at the door, and then, with a wonder
full sigh, turned away, disposed of his
drawbridge and wended his path back to
his ship.
The next day he was astonished with On
order Of promotion from the Captain.
Poor Jack was speechless with amaze
ment he had no dream of being exalted
to the dignity 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 competent, for instead of
spending his money for amusement, visit
ing theatcrs and bowling alleys on his re-
turn from sea, he purchased books, and
had become quite student but he expect
ed years to intervene before his ambitious
hopes would be realized.
His superior officers seemed to look upon
him with considerable leniency, and gave
him many fair opportunity to gather ma
rine knowledge and in q year the handsome,
gentlemanly young mate had acquired I'M
usual favor in the eyes of the portly COM
mander, 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 the
other officers was invited to an entertain
ment at the Captains house. He went,
and to his establishment mounted the iden-
teal 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 he
sledge hammer it beat again when Captain
Hume brought forward his blue-eyed
daughter, and with pleasant smile, said:
",rhis young lady was once indebted to
your Kindness for safe and dry walk
home"
His eyes were all ablaze and his brown
cheeks flushed hastily as the noble Captain
sauntered away, leaving Grace Hume at
his side And in all that assembly was
not SO handsome couple as the gallant
sailor and the pretty lady"
II was only year from that time that
the second mate trod the quarter deck,
second only in command, and part owner
with the Captain, not only in his vessel
but in the affections of his daughter, gen
tie Grace Hume, who had always cherished
respect, to say nothing Of love, for the
bright-cyed sailor.
His hnmely but earnest act Of politcness
toward his child had pleased the Captain,
and though the youth knew it not, was the
cause of his first promotion. SO that, now
the old man has retired from business,
Henry Wells is Captain, and Grace Hume
is, according to polite parlance, Mrs Cap
tain Wells. In fact, the honest sailor is
one of the richest men in the Crescent
City, and he owes, perhaps, the greater
part of his prosperity to his tact and po-
likeness in crossing the street.
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