Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1871-09-14
AN ANCIENT MARINER.
Two Hundred and Six Wears on
the High Seas.

.eDid Won saw YOU served your appren-
ticeship in the Arethusa
eyes. I served my time in the Are
thusa.''
to sea ?''
-sEI was sixteen
stPut down sixteen, BILL
The scene of the present dialogue was
the forecastle of collier brig at anchor
in the Thames, the speakers, an old sea-
man and three others scarcely arrived at
middle age, one of whom, behind the old
man, acted as clerk, with piece of
chalk, using the lid of his chest as
desk.
"Put down sixteen, Bi1l,'' whispered
one. and the number was put down.
s'Then, how long were you in the
Arethusa!'
81 served five years." said the old
man; ''then 1 stopped by her another
three; 1 was eight years in her alto
gether. 1 liked the ship very well, but
did not like the owner"
Bill, who was all attention, put down
an eight below the sixteen.
s.B1t you would be young fellow
then: I should think you would not be
long out of a ship"
81 got ship directly, and sailed for
North America. Well, as it happened,
we were water-logged as we were on our
passage home; all hands took to the rig
ging, were we remained days without
bite of anything, or as much as drink.
On the fourth day, got hold OF dead
bird of some kind that was floatlnS past
ate it feathers and all. Wen, have
not vet told you, all hands died but my
self, and the only way L could keep my
self alive was by sucking the grease out
of the ropes. Knocked about upon the
rigging for month. AT last l was
picked up by an American vessel, and
taken to America. The Americans used
me very we'll; so 1 traded back and for
ward among the American ports for a
long time"
''How long do you suppose you were
in America altogether ?"
- 81 was away ten years from leaving
home"
'Didn't you go into the Greenland
trade after that?"
tsNo; it was not till some time after. |
Was on board of a man-of-war before
was in the Greenland trade. Somehow
or other the pressgang got scent OF me )
+seood run we had; l was nimble on my
mas then; if 1 had not slipped and fallen
80 into an asb-midden, believe they
o1 1nevmrawould have taken me; but take me
they did. Well, l was seven years in his
Maiesty's service, and liked the service
very we'll; but one day the captain and
had a few words, and said l to myself,
eThe sooner we part company the better,
old fellow So [ ran aWay-it was in
the West Indies. L knew they would all
be after me, so L got myself slowed into
a hogshead of sugar, and sent aboard
of merchantmen, and got clear Oil that
way.''
Bill, who was listening in silence,
put down, "On board man-of-war. seven
years.
- ssThen did you get home all right 2"
- eyes; and then 1 went to Greenland.
My eyes! what sport we had there the
first ten years L was in the trade! was
- there that year when there wasn't a
whale to be seen, and we loaded the ship
with seals. A weary job we had; the
ice was short and hummocky, and the
seals as shy as foxes. Somehow we al
ways found one or two fellows, who'd
been fuddled the night before, that for
rot the way into the water. When the
brUtes make dive, they are out OF slSnG
in minute?"
GLOW long were you in the Greenland
trade ?''
eI was nineteen years altogether.
Then fancied would like to be in a
warmer climate; so got into an East
Indiaman, and traded to the East Indies
for a long time"
elbow long do you suppose?''
EsAbout thirteen years. At last the
ship was taken by pirates, and most of
the crew had to walk the plank; only
three of us saved our lives by consenting
to. be pirates with the rest. L never
liked pirates life; so one day, when
we were ashore on a large island watch
ing, took leg-bail and ran away. I'd
been with them three years, which was
quite enough. Well, 1 got among the
natives of the place, who were mighty
kind in their way; and, as was brisk
young fellow, / wasn't long in finding a
wife among them, so 1 lived there just
like a savage fol sixteen years; for there
%
was Just as we'll to make myself happy.
But at last an English ship put III for
water, and the longing came over me to
get back to my native land; so l SNUG
gled myself on board just as she was
ready for sea, and glad l was that my
wife didn't follow me-"
ssDid YOU get home all right and tight p
tsAI right and tight, boyH'
''Then suppose you would not lie UP
any time at home?'
EtI didn't lie up at all. When l got
home l found that my brother had gone
to America; so nothing would serve me
but would go and seek him, as had
not seen him for long time. So got a
ship, and off 1 went; but 1 never saw
him from that day to this, although !
wandered through America for five years
seeking him. 1 turned, tired of wander
ing and got into a little vessel trading
between Prince Edwards island and the
mainland; and L traded IN her Tor ten
years, can assure YOU"
sHaven't you been long time in tho
coal trade ?"
81 was thirty years in the coal trade
before 1 went to China"
ssHow did you like the China trade? p
"I liked it very well, but was only il
it about five years. After that 1 got int
the Baltic trade. 1 was seven years IL
it, but 1 tired of it, so l got ship ant
want off tO the West Indies. where [ wa!
put ashore sick, and lay in the hospita
for three years. When did get better
was better man than ever, so started
negro-driver on plantation, where
Whipped the poor fellows on for thre,
years, till at last the old fit came on me
and would be off to see again."
"Was that before you were captain
the old Clinker ?''
eyes; that was just before I rot to b.
captain of the Clinker.'
sFWeren't you long time captain O
the Clinker?"
GsI rac cantain of the ClinIler for ,;,,o