New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-07-02
THE TRIP OF THE MARY ANN.

borne fruit, and now, after many years marc
labor he had his reward. He owned ana
commanded two Mary Anns-one the pest
of wives; the other the finest boat on the
line of the canal. For, like sensible man,
he had married sensible woman, ana
as mark of his appreciation for her ster-
ling qualities, he had named his chief pos
session after her. And, besides wife and
boat, he had as bright and pretty daugh-
ter as ever gladdened the heart of parent
1t was vacation now, and Dolly had come
home on a visit, and was going to the city
with her parents to get supply OF new
dresses and hats and ribbons for Dolly
liked to look pretty and be in the fashion,
and the old captain was so proud OF her
that, saving and economical as he was on
his own account, he never dreamed OF limit
ing her, OF grumbled at any expense that
she incurred.
The only persons attached to the Mary
Ann were the boy who drove and Joe-the
latter a youth, who, like his master, the
CAPTAIN. had risen in life from the very
humblest beginning.
Half dozen years before barefooted
little fellow, in torn straw nat, ana an I'M
mense pair of old trousers that almost
swallowed him up, they were so large and
he SO little, had applied to the captain for
work, and, after good deal of cross-ques-
tiopipg. had been taken on trial as the
driver of the Mary AIMS mules. This was
Joe: and Joe had driven well, and shown
himself so quick and bright, and good
natured withal, as customary III such cases,
the captain took him home to his own house,
and sent him to school during the winter
with Dolly. The next summer Joe proved
himself still more useful and in the winter
again went to school with the captains
daughter. She had been longest in attend
ance, and was the most advanced, and often
bent her brown curls over Joe's book or
slate, to help him out of some knotty prob
lem in arithmetic or grammar; and in re-
turn he carried her satchel OF books for her,
helped her on with her Overshoes, and over
the snow drifts, and was devoted little
cavalier in hundred other ways. So it
went on until Dolly was promoted from the
public school to the Young Ladies' Semi
nary" and henceforth he had to do his
ciphering alone, and Dolly had grown such
a little beauty that she had many besides
Joe to carry her books for her.
Dolly's going with them was a great treat
to Joe. And as soon as it was decided upon
he set TO work and tore down the old sail
cloth that had been good enough until then,
and out of his little savings bought and put
up a gay, bright-colored awning over all the
after part of the boat, and rearranged the
cabin. and trimmed and festoOned it with
evergreens and flowers. and in dozen other
WAYS so beautitied and adorned the Mary
Ann that she looked more like a bridal bark
than a sober craft laden with freight for the
Albany market. Her little after-cabin was
a wonderful example of the amount OF COM
fort and convenience that can be crowded
into the smallest space. 1t had two tiny
staterooms opening into II, and was sur
rounded with innumerable drawers and
closets, and was in all respects as neat and
bright and dainty as possible. All Joe 8
labor was expended here, for Dolly was to
occupy it, along with her father and mother,
although the cabin where he slept was as
rude and cherries as the other was coy
and hOmelike.
"Oh how nice! | should never have known
the old boat" exclaimed that young lady,
when she came aboard. 'Whv. papa, 1t
seems to me you have grown very gay Of
late"
ut amt me-it's joe replied the cap
tain. "Hes bin to work ever since he
knew YOU was comm told him it was all
waste and foolshness; but Joe thinks there
amt anything quite good enough for you,
Dolly"
Dolly blushed and tossed her pretty head,
as much as to say that although the senti-
ment was correct enough, she didn't know
what right he had to think about her at all.
Still, she couldn't help feeling tiattered and
pleased by this attention; and when Joe
came in to speak to her she put her little
white hand in his big brown one, and
thanked him for what he had done in such a
charming way that the foolish fellow, who
had spent all his spare time for a week and
large share of his summers earnings upon
it. felt a hundred tunes repaid.
All the way to the city Dolly was perfect
ly bewitching, and, notwithstanding all her
efforts, Joe kept getting deeper and deeper
in love. But although she was so gracious,
he was so modest that he did Rot dare to
breathe word of his passion Poor fellow,
his happiness was not destined to be OF long
duration. At Albany, where the boat was
detained a week, taking Off and on freight,
they were joined by Mr.. Augustus Stubbins,
commonly called Gus Stubs, one of Dolly s
most devoted admirers, and who happened
to be in the city then, as he always hap
pened to be not far off from where Dolly
was staying. Old Stubbins was the richest
man in the village. He bad made a fortune
in paper bags during the war, and young
Stubbins, who was busy spending it, was
most conceited; but as he had plenty OF
money, was tolerably good-looking, and
talked and dressed loud, and had the repu
tation of being rather a dangerous fellow,
all the girls were fiattered by his attentions
and Dolly was especially envied when he
Joined the list of her suitors.
Heretofore, the reception his advances
had met at her hands had not been very
fiattering to his pride, but on this occasion
she seemed better pleased. He came every
day, took her walking and driving, escorted
her on shopping excursions, and so monop
olized her society that Joe got scarcely {
chance to see or speak to her. Poor fellow
he watched all this with fierce, eager eyes
and heart inflamed with passion; for al
though he did not consider himself WORTHY
of Dolly, and scarcely had hope of eve
winning her love, he could not help being
devoured by jealousy, which Stubs in
creased by being very insolent toward him
never noticing him except to treat him a
an inferior. One evening he was loungin,
on the boat as usual, smoking and talking
to Dolly, when his cigar went out. Joe wa
busy at some distance, but he called out t
him; Joe, my good fellow, run and ge
me match.p
Joe looked up with flashing eyes, but di
not speak or move.
Dolly saw the look. and, apprehen din
trouble, she said, II will bring you light,
and ran into the cabin; while Joe, enrage
that Dolly should wait upon him, turne
away, boiling over with anger and bite
ness. But Stubbs, Who was a bully whe
ever he dared to be, was not at all col
tent.
Didn't you hear me, he continued: I"
asked you to get me matchn
Eyes, heard" said Joe, ssllenly; .'bu
don't wait ON such puppies as you.S,
what do you say, you miserable bes
gar!" said Stubbs springing to his feet, an
rushing wildly toward him with elihche
fists.
sBe careful" said Joe, between his s,
teeth; '.if you lay a finger on me, I'll pitc
You oVorboardm And as Stubbs raised h
hand lie seized him by the throat and woul
have carried the threat into instant exec
ton, SO Infatuated was he, had not Dolly
that moment sprang between them.
Stop she cried, imperatiyely, lookin