Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-04-13
MisrelIaueous.
The Lion Not the King Of Beasts.

Who that has sailed upon that vast
aqueous solution of various salts
known rs the briny deep docs not re-
member the indeterminate intervals.
now and then. when the novelties of
the ship hal become exhausted. aud
the weary heart. half crushed between
the oppressive mysteries of sea be-
meath and sky above, yearned eagerly
for something or other. To relieve its
extreme ennm: There was the rest
less ship tossing up ahd about under
the fixed glance of the grey sky. like
japanese top or ball before His Sub
Unity the Mikado. and this restlcs =
ness became contagious.
Y; such times we found relief in Wis
isng the ships carpenter. He had a
small shop abaft the galley, which wa,
To him a kind of hermitage, and there
he would repair the breaks and strain,
by the tugging winds or pounding
waves. These were not few for this
was in the days of white-wirged pack
cts. when landsmen were not forced.
as now. 10 snuff up the combined
stenches Of bilgewater and engine
grease, but endured bilge-water only,
or mingled it with the aroma of tar,
and when captains would let loose the
white pinions until siaunch ships
groaned and shuddered in remon.
STRANGE. Our inoble captain thought
hara w autlt,.r l.. -
you couldn't carry sail" and some
times torn mainsail or snapped cathead
showed that they were
Not ninis. and hnis are rent-."
SO there was plenty of mending To be
done, and the post of Chips" was no
sinecure.
lie was from an Eastern Down
eastern cline. The '.pent-up Utica"
of his early days was not. however ad-
equate to his ambition ami. like many
country boys. he had cast bucolic as
sociations behind him, and bent his
journeyings toward the clamorous
town. At one time gaining subsi>t-
ence by doing odd bits of work which
came in his way, at another plying
his vocation behind the scenes Of a
theatre. he had at last assumed the
grave responsibilities of carperter on
the ship Meribel. He was about forty
years Of age, with professional stoop
keen black eye, and possessed of
that knowledge OF human nature
which is acquired by rough and tum-
bic in the world. Moreover, he was n
man Of strong common sense, and had
full consciousness Of the important
position which he occupied. As pas
sengers, we were always welcome Wis
Rors, and one afternoon found our lit
tie party within his hospitable walls.
Alas just here the thought comes
that that little party can never meet
again on ship or shore, for the flying
years have not gone by without bear.
ing with them at least one Of the num-
Der, and he SO good and gifted.
We sat that afternoon, some on the
workbench, some on boxes, and indulg-
ed in that pleasant mood, calm, kindly
and confidential, which follows the
midday meal. He, as our host, made
every effort TO amuse his guests. Al
first. he took down sad violin from a
wooden peg, and rehearsed sonorous
reels, such as moderate spirits seem tO
play with bound hands in locked Da-
venport cabinets, and with which he
had long ago galvanized his domestic
corn-huskings.
''Tell us a story, Chips"
This was from Sands, who knew al
ready the carpenters penchant fol
storytelling, and had grown tired o.
the discordant notes which proceeded
down the ''engine of vile noise, and
wished for relief.
The carpenter crossed his legs which
had been at slight variance before
leaned back against his table, wipec
the perspiration from his rugged brow
put his violin tenderly under his arm
said that he didn't know any stories
and commenced:
You know they cali the lion thu
king of beasts"
We assented, inquiringly; the sug
gestion Of q doubt was somewhat star
ling, for what child does not have th'
fact indelibly impressed upon its ten
der mind-does not spell out in hi
first book of natural history the sen
tence appended to wood cut o
Afric's monarch:
"T-h-i-s is the king of beasts
So we waited, with ears erect.
swell, l used 10 think 50 but you'll