Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-10-26
4 Sailors Love.

One little act ul pOllteness Will sometimes
pave the way to fortune and prciermcnt The
following sketch illustrates this fact.
A sailor roughly garbod was strolling
through the streets Of New Orleans, then in
a rather damp condition from the recent rain
and rise Of the tide. Turning the corner Of a
much irequented aud narrow alley he obscrv-
ed young lady standing in perplexity, APP
parcnty measuring the depth of the muddy
water between her and the opposite sidewalk,
with no very satisfied countennncc.
The sailor paused for he was great adj
miTer Of beauty, and certainly the fair face
that poeped out from under the little chip hat,
and the auburn curls hanging glossy and un-
confined over her muslin dress, might tempt O
curious or an admiring glance Perplexed,
the lady put forth one little foot when the
gallant sailor with impulsiyeness, exclaimed,
" That pretty foot, lady, should not be soilcd
with the filth Of the lane wait for moment
only, and will make you path
So, sprngiug past her into carpenters
shop opposite, he bargainei Tor plank board
that stood in the doorway, and coming back
to the smiling girl, who was just coquetlish
enough to accept the services Of the handsome
young sailor, he bridgcd the narrow black
stream aud she tripped across with merry
Thank YOU and rogush smile making
her eyes as dazzling as they could be.
Alas ! our young sailor was perfectly
charmed 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 " walk
ing the plank" and each time thanking him
with one Of her eloquent smiles Presently
our hero saw the young lady trip up the mar.
bic steps Of palace of a house, aud disappear
within its rosewood entrance. For full
minute he stood looking at the door, aud then
with wonderful big sigh turned away, dis.
posed Of his drawbridge and wended his path
back to his ship.
The next day he was astonished with an or.
der Of promotion from the captain. Poor
Jack was speochoss with amazement. IL,
had not dreamed Of being exalted to the dig
nifty of second mates office on board one o.
the most splendid ships that sailed out Of tn,
port Of New Orleans He knew he was COM
potent; for instead of spending his money for
amusement, visiting theatres and bowling
alleys on his return from sea, he purchaser
books, and had become quite a student, bu
he expected years to intervene before his am
bilious hopes would be realized.
His superior officers seemed TO look upoI
him with considerable leniency, and gave hin
many fair opportunity to gather martini,
knowledge, and in year the handsome, gen
tlouanly young mate had acquired unusua
favor in the eyes of the portly commander
Captain Hume who had FIRST taken the smar
little blaok-eyed fellow, with his neat tarpau
lin and tidy bundle, as the cabiu-boy.
One night tho young man, with all the 9th
er officers, was invited to an entertainment a
the captains house. He went, and to his as
constituent, mounted the identical steps that
two years before, the brightest vision he ha
over seen, passed oyer---a vision he had new
or forgotten. Thump, thump, went his bray
heart as he was ushered into the paror, an
! like sledgo hammer it beat again when CAP
tain Hume brought forward his blue-eye
daughter, and with pleasant smile sale
" The young lady was once indebted to you
kindness for a safe and dry walk home" -
His eyes were all ablaze, and his brown cheek
flushed hotly as the noble captain sauntere
away, leaving Grace Hume at bis side. Au
in all that assembly was not so handsome
couple as tho gallant sailor and the "prett
lady"
1t was only year from that time thai tn
second mate trod the quarterback, sccon
only command, and part owner with the CAP
tain, not only in his vessel but in the lllc,
tions Of his daughter, gentle Grace Hum,
who had always cherished respect, to sa
nothing Of love, for the bright-eyod sailor
His homely but earnest act Of politene,
toward his child had pleased the captain an
though the youth knew it not, was the caus
of his first promotion, So that now the oil
man has retired from business, Henry Wei
is captain, and Grace Hume is, according
polite parlancc, Mrs. Captain Wells" !
fact the honest sailor is one Of the RICHIE
mon in the Crescent City, aud he owes perbal
the greater part Of his prosperity to bis tai
and politoness in crossing the street.