The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-06-17
MASTER CHARLES.
HIS SURPRISING ADVENTURES.

residence on Folsom street, San Francis
co. AT twenty-five minutes past nine
he had been observed by the butcher
amusing himself by going through that
popular youthful exercise known as "turn-
ing the crab" feat in which he was sing
ularly proficient. AT court of inquiry
summarily held in the back parlor at fif-
teen minutes past 10, Bridget, cook, de-
posed to having detected him at twenty
minutes past nine in the felonious alb
straction Of sugar from the pantry, which
by the same token, had she known
what was comm she'd have never
previnted. Patsey, shrill-voiced youth
from ncighboring alley, testified hay
ing seen ''Chawley," at half-past 8, by the
butchers shop round the corner, but as this
young gentleman chose to throw out the
gratuitous belief that the missing child had
been converted into sausages by the
butcher, his testimony was received with
some caution by the female portion of the
court, and DOWNRIGHT scorn and contempt
by its masculine members. But whatever
might have been the hour of his departure,
it was certain that from half-past A. NJ,
until 8 P. NJ, when he was brought home
by policeman, Charles Summerton was
missing. Being naturally of reticent dis
position, he has since resisted, with one ex-
ception, any attempt to wrest from him
statement of his whereabouts during that
period. That exception has been myself.
He has recited to me the following in the
strictest confidence:
His intention on Leaving the doorstep of
his dwelling was to proceed to Van Die
mans Land, by way Of Second and Market
streets. This project was subsequently
modified so far as to permit visit to Ota-
heite, where Captain Cooke was killed.
The outfit of his voyage consisted of two
car tickets, five cents in silver, fishing
line, the brass Gaping Of spool of cotton,
which, in his eyes, bore some resemblance
to metallic currency, and Sunday-school
ticket. His garments, admirably adapted
to the exigencies of any cline, were, sew
orally, a straw hat with pink ribbon,
striped shirt, over which a pair of trousers,
mcommonly wide i'll comparison to their
length, were buttoned, striped balmoral
stockings, which gave his youthful legs
something of the appearance of wintergreen
candy, and copper-toed shoes, with
iron heels, capable of striking fire from
any Hagstone. The latter quality, Master
Charles could not help feeling, would be of
infinite service to him in the wilds of Van
Dieman's Land, which, as pictorially rep
resented in his geography, seemed to be
deficient i'll corner groceries and matches.
Exactly as the clock struck the half hour
the straw hat and short legs of Master
Charles Summerton disappeared behind the
corner. He ran rapidly, partly by way of
inuring himself to the fatigues Of the journey
before him and partly by way of testing his
speed with that of a North Beach car which
was proceeding III that direction. The con-
ductor not aware of this generous emulation,
and being somewhat concerned at the spec
tacle of a pair of very short twinklmg legs
so far in the rear, stopped his car and gem
erously assisted the youthful Summerton
upon the platform. From this point
hiatus OF several hours duration occurred
in Master Charles narrative. lie is under
the impression that he rode out not only his
two tickets, but that he subsequently be-
came indebted to the company for several
trips to and from the opposite termni, and
that, at last, resolutely refusing to give any
rejected, much to his relief, on street cor
ner. Although, as he informs us. he felt
perfectly satisfied with the arrangement, he
was compelled under the circumstances. to
hurl after the conductor an opprobrious an
pellation, which he had ascertained. from
Patsev was the correct thing in s,,cb emer.
gencies. and protested pecnliarlv evosner-
ating properties.
We now approach THRILLING mart IF tbo
narrative, before which most of the adven-
lures of the "Boy's Own Bookv male INTO
insignificance. There are times when the
recollection of this adventure causes Charles
to break into cold sweat. and he has since
its occurrence been awakened by lamenta-
tions ond outcries in the night season bv
merely dreaming of it. On the corner Of
the street lay several empty sugar hog
heads. A few young gentlemen disposed
themselves therein, armed with sticks. with
which they removed the sugar which still
adhered to the staye Joints, and conveyed it
to their mouths. Finding a cask not vet
preempted, Master Charles set to work. and
for few moments reyeled in a wild saccha-
rine dream, whence he was finally aroused
by an angry voice and the rapidly rctreating
footsteps of his comrades. An ominous
sound smote upon his ear, and the next
moment he felt the cask wherein he Law up
lifted and set against the wall. He was