The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-03-30
THE LION NOT THE KING OF BEASTS.

Who that has sailed upon that vast
aqueous solution of various salts known
as the briny deep does not remember the
indeterminate intervals, now and then,
when the novelties of the ship had be-
come exhausted, and the weary heart,
half crushed between the oppressive
mysteries of sea beneath and sky above,
yearned eagerly for something or other,
to relieve its extreme ennui9 There
was the restless ship tossing up and
about under the fixed glance Of the grey
sky, like japanese top or ball before His
Sublimity the Mikado, and this restless
ness became contagious.
At such times we found relief in visit
ing the ships carpenter. He had small
shop abaft the galley, which was to him
kind of hermitage, and there he would
repair the breaks and strains caused by
the tugging winds or pounding waves.
These were not few; for this was in the
days OF white-winged packets, when
landsmen were not forced, as now, to
snuff up the combined stenches of bilge-
water 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 staunch
ships groaned and shuddered in re-
monstrance. Our noble captain thought
there was no use in sailing vessel if
You couldn't carry sail;' and sometimes
torn mainsail or snapped cathead show
ed that they were
"Not tlints, and fints are rents"
SO there was plenty of mending to be
done, and the post of Chips" was no
sinecure.
He was from an Eastern-a Down
eastern cline. The "pent-up Utica "
OF his early days was not, however ade-
quate to his ambition and, like many
country boys, he had cast bucolic as
sociations behind him, and bent his
journeyings toward the clamorous town.
At one time gaining subsistence by doing
odd bits of work which came in his way, at
an another plying his vocation behind the
scenes OF theatre, he had at last assum-
ed the grave responsibilities of carpen-
ter 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 tumble
ID the world. Moreover, he was man
OF strong common sense, and had full
consciousness of the important position
which he occupied. AS passengers, we
were always welcome visitors, and one
afternoon found our little 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 bearing
with them at least one of the number,
and he SO good and gifted.
We sat that afternoon, some on the
workbench, some on boxes, and INDUCED
in that pleasant mood, calm, kindly and
confidential, which follows the midday
meal. He, as our host, made every eff
fort to amuse his guests. At first, he
took down sad violin from wooden
peg, and rehearsed sonorous reels,
such as moderate spirits seem to play
with bound hands in locked Davenport
cabinets, and with which he had long
ago galvanized his domestic corn husk-
ings.
Tell us a story, Chips !"
This was from Sands, who knew al
ready the carpenters penchant for story
telling, and had grown tired of the dis
cordant notes which proceeded down the
"engine of vile noise" and wished for
a relief.
The carpenter crossed his legs which
had been at slight variance before,
leaned back against his table, wiped 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 call the lion the
king of beasts"
We assented, inquiringly; the sug-
gestion of a doubt was somewhat start
ling, for what child does not have the
fact indelibly impressed upon its tender
mind-does not spell out in his first
book of natural history the sentence ap-
pended to wood cut of Afric's monarch
"T-h-i-s is the -ek-i-n-g Of BEASTS. u
SO we waited, with ears erect.
"Well, l used to think So but you'll
see l was mistaken, and so are youP
Go on, Chipsp