Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-02-16
WOODSTOCK. W., THURSDAY, FEB. l6, 1871.


mood, downcast looks, deep drawn sigbs,
and 'banished lord sort of aspect, formed
a fair prey for their gibes and ridcuIc.
This behavior frequently borlercd on
downright rudenoss, and little elT,rt was
made to subdue their voices indulging
in their comments.
Many such expressions as poor old
moody.mugp don't disturb him 'hc's
in love, you know!' 'have pity! dear
old sobcr.sides y ETC., must frequently
have been overheard by him. However,
he was either unconscious, or unwilling
TO take any notice of what was going
on. Itappearcd to m Ike not the slight
est difference to him; aud, for aught
one could tell by the expression Of his
face, he might have been deaf, dumb,
and blind for any effect that this qne8-
tiouabo conduct seemed to produce.
The more questionable from the fact
that, at the outside Of our voyage, Mr..
Dolworlhy, as he was called, cvincod
strong desire TO be civil to the unpro
tcctcd girls in q most courteous and re
specfuI manner. For the first few day.
his attentions were received gratefully
enough but after that, the advances
made by Mcssrs. Binks and Bagmau
the two fast young men above referred
to, seemed to possess greater attractions
for the Misses Smith, and gradually
poor Dolworthy was snubbcd and put
aside.
Modest and retiring, he accepted the
conditions apparently as matter of
course; but one could not help feeling
that it was the old story of brilliant,
dashing superfciality, with plenty Of
brass and self-conccit, outwcighug, in
the eyes of thougbtless women, sterling
worth and true chivalry.
IIoweycr, Dolworthy accepted his
position in the stoical manner l have
described; and the only distraction in
which he ever INDUCED was in occasion,
ally joining the sailors in hosting, low
ering, Or re-setting the sails, aud other
emp'oyments incidental to nautical life,
showing therein considerable knowledge,
and keen zest for vigorous exercise.
NOW the weather was so fine that
the boats instead Of being always made
snug on deck, were sometimes Contrary
TO the usual custom at sca) for the sake
of giving more room, thrust outside the
bulwarks, hanging, as we landsmen
commonly see them, over the water
from the dayits. Into one of these, the
smallest, (I forget what it is callcd) our
two young ladies were frequently in the
habit Of mounting, by the assistance of
their cavaliers. There they would sit
for hours, sometimes far into the eve
ming, chpttering to their friends on
deck. Occasionally, seized by Il sudden
impulse, the result Of high spirits, they
would begin to rock the boat backward
and forward like a cradle, by swaying
themselves from side 10 side, getting
what they called "a swing In these
efforts, they were, of course, aided and
abetted by Messrs. Blinks and Bagman.
ON more than one occasion they had
received an official caution against doing
this; but little heed was taken OF any.
thing which was calculated to interfere
with their amusemcnts.
'On certain evening, not quite as
fine as usual, there being q strong
breeze, the little group Of four We're
assembled at their favorite haunt; the
young ladies seated in the stern of the
boat, the young men leaning over the
bulwark, talking to them.
The sun had just set, and the major
ity Of the passengers were below at tea.
Few people happened to be on deck at
the time-none near this particular
boat. We were running briskly before
the wind and peals of laughter rang
again and again from the party. They
evidently were becoming very excited,
and the swinging diversion was going
on vigorously.
Suddenly Blinks, who was standing
near the stern dayit, said, Halo" I've
got new idea.
IIayc you, by Jove! said Bagman ;
take care of it. What is it?
why, look here ! the other went on
we can give our little pets new sensa
ton, and swing them up and down, in
stead Of across and across.
with this he began to unfasten the
rope which ran through the pulleys and
blocks of the iron stanchion or davit,
and by which the stern of the boat could
be lowered into the water.
But you must hold tight though, by
Jove, old fellow said his friend. 'Oh,
all right, don't you fear Now then,
ladies, sit fast down you go, and up
again, only a little way lend us hand,
Bagman. And the two gradually al
lowed the stern of the boat to drop some
two feet out Of the horizontal An ac.
companying litter and suppressed
scream followed the movement as the
boat was Immediately brought back to
its proper position Again it was re
peated, and again, and again, amidst
the general merriment of the four; the
girls enjoying the fun equally with the
lmen.
'Emboldened by the success of their
experiment, they lowered the boat each
time more and more until at length
this very perilous proceeding became
fraught with the most terrible danger.
1t was, indeed, a case Of playing with