Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-01-05
Tates aud Sketthes.
THE WRECK OF THE "SIREN."

| III was Sunaay morning In June, ana tne
large ship, newly built for the African trade
by Messrs. M'Guffog and M'Cash, thriving
Glasgow merchants, stood ready in the
dock for launching on Monday. The
figure-head of the Siren, with its fair, be-
guiling face and long, streaming hair,
facing the Clyde, seemed smiling defiantly
at the thought of the adventures in which
it was to share. The fine lines of the ves-
sci, the strong, graceful curves, the mas
sive proportions of the untried ship, were
the crew, who were walking round her,
ton with which dealers eye blood-horse.
81 tell you, Mr. Mackay." said Patterson
the elder of the two, a grim old "Sandi-
manian" boatswain, .'that therell never be
luck with vessel that, instead of bearing
the name of one of the great prophets OF
kings in the Old Testament, is to be chris
tened after one of Satan's warlocks, a
grand daughter, nae doot, of that Scarlet
Woman mentioned in the Revelations, and
there so very deservedly censured."
Tut, tut, man!' said his companion, a
young, bright, frank-looking fellow, with
brown, curling hair, who was to be first
mate; ''don't you know it is the likeness
of Mary Cameron, our Captains young
wife? She is as beautiful as an angel, and
quite as good She would bring blessing
on any ship. She is going out with u.s."
"All the worse for us, Mr.. Nhckay ;
there's always mischief where there's a
woman. From Eve downward, they We're
always kittle-cattle. I'm sorry for it, Mr..
Mackay, very sorry. ] never sailed with
a captains wife but once and then we ran
on the coast of New Holland, and half of
US were eaten by cannibals. call it very
presumptuous, putting the face of real
woman on the figure-head of vessel. It's
joost making an idol of the girl"
"Stuff! only wish had been the man
who carved and gilded it. Hang me, but
I'd have kissed it at parting! She is the
sunniest, winsomest wee thing, tell you,
that ever trod the shores of the Clyde -
"And who may this paragon-Of yours be,
Mr. Mackay?n said voice which made
the young man start, turn round, and per-
eeptibly redden. 1t was Mr.. M'Cash, with
the captain and the captains wife. They
had at that moment come suddenly round
the corner of stack of timber.
II was only speaking of a young lady
know" said Mackay, land telling Patter-
son that she was rather like the SIRENS
figure head"
"Do you hear that, Mrs. Cameron ?'
said the old merchant, turning round, smil-
ing. "Why, there never could be two
people like our fair Siren. You really
ought to be jealous"
II dare swear, Mary" said the captain,
''that there will not be man on board who
will not fancy that the Siren is the exact
image of the woman he loves best-wife,
sister, or sweetheart You mustn't make
my Mary vain. Mr.. M'Cash."
''This is to be your last voyage, Captain
Cameron, am sorry to hear9" said the
merchant.
''Well, so l promised Mary when we
joined hands but | shall find it hard, l
think, to leave SO good ship. What a
beauty she sp'
''And holds more than any vessel we
have
''She'll skim like q swallow" said the
captains wife, Don't you think she II
be very fast, Mr.. Mackay ?"
A slight blush rose on the cheek of Mrs.
Cameron as she kindly put this question,
to prevent the young man feeling left out
of the conversation.
"Yes, think she'll be very fast" said
the mate, with an air rather OF veneration
than respect ''she has all the look of it,
cay | tell you she'll show thems the
way" said Nj Cash. "She'll be faster
than the Petrol. and that's saying great
deal, a very great deal, for the Petrel's the
fastest thing out of Glasgow" =
The launch took place the next day.
There was great cheering as pretty Mrs.
Cameron dashed the bottle of wine against
the ships side, and called out in her sweet
clear voice,
Il name this ship the Siren"
Then the flags flew rejoicingly, hats and
handkerchiefs were waved, six small ships
cannon were discharged to announce the
important event, and the new ship glided
down into the Clyde, eager to venture on
her new element. Everybody was smil-
ing, shouting, or congratulating somebody
else; but Patterson was still obdurate.
mae, nae," he said, ''it's apagan bust.
ness, and will never bring luck to Christian
people. Siren. indeed What was siren
but joost hizzie that ought to have beer
whipped at the carts tail I've no pa.
tience with sach nonsense. There's no
luck in it, l feel that Mono whiskey,
thanky I'll moi drink a drop at such a
heather christening, though mayhap I'll
take double caulker tonight to the ships
health"
"There's no moving Patterson" said q
sour looking creole, who was to be second
mate, and who had stood next Mackay
during the launching; '.he's such a pig
headed fellow. How pretty the captain
wife looked at the launch! By Jove! she's
far too good for an old salt like that; sht
ought to have married a dukep"
"Yes, she is pretty" said Mackay hal
reluctantly.
That's very cold praise; why maj
alive, you used to be far more enthusi
astic"
"Tis all the praise l care to give jus
now, Watson"
"Oh, please yourself" said the creol
with glance that made the white part o
his eyes become reddish yellow; ''but W
used to fancy you We're rather smitten wit
her, for you talked of nothing else afte
we first met her together at MGuffog'
office"
81 do not care to remember the foolisl
things then said"
"Oh, you DON'T" said Watson spitefully
"yery well, then, don't; but l shant for
ornt tka,,, AnI tLa, 20 b;r,oalr rs Ia