Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-02-19

Over A Cabin Table.
Ia the summer Of 1s5-, Frank Manly
aud [ we're homeward bound, from China
to Boston, in the splendid clipper ship
Sunset
We we're children together, and had fol-
lowed many a butterfly in company. In
later years, we had often run after those
marvellous butterflies in pink sun-bouuets--
those '-the-Wisps in dimity-in otb-
err iisllsi rather as rivals, though, than
side-by-siio companions, to confess it,
This was Franks FIRST voyage as master.
lle was now two.and-twenty, every inch a
a sailor and man. was his only pas
senger, running home after some years
truaucy. in a period between closing
cIerkship and an opening partnership at
Canton. These were to me delicious days
-care.iroe, and every hour with my old
play-fclIow was communion of rare order.
We we're chatting one evening openly
for there was nothing now between us but
the cabin tai le The light burned just
low enough for the quiet dreamy hour that
Frank reeled Of to Inc the small-talk Of
the dear old town, Of which his memory
held an unaccountable cargo.
There was May who had married Janu-
airy, aud the squire who had drank himself
from aflluence TO the poor-house lie tod
Of young Skiunem, who in boyhood won
marbles, and sold them again to the losers
at hundred per cent. advance upon regu-
lar rates-who never played on the
" Fourth but owned curbstone bazar of
pop-beer-of his own brewing -fre-crack-
ers, peanuts, aud a full line Of dried apple
tarts-of low grade. Now he was pious-
ly loaniug money Saturday afternoons to
gain Sunday, at two per cent. month, and
wondering what this world would be with
out interest. lie had bought book,
" Business in Heaven which proved to
him that the occupations of earth are con-
timed above. He dweIt with miscrly
JUNCTION upon the life to come.
The steward now appeared with our eve
ming coffee Then came the usual cigar,
aud We swung apart 10 meditation as light
ly as two vessels parting company after ex-
changing sea courtesies.
captain" said |, suddenly, as if some-
thing had just come to my mind, though
the question had been balancing on my
tongue for an hour
"Hal," interrupted my companion, ''don't
Captain me ol.deck, here under the cabin.
light, if you love me-"
Well then, ny modest old DESIGNATE
how is that little Amy Woodson whom you
used to endow so beautifully in school-days
with picked lines and chewing-gum ?"
My captain--the splendid iellow---to
show his unconcern, breathed couple Of
smoke-wreaths out of his mouth, and re.
piled with counterfeited sadness " Hal, |
shall never have faith again in the power Of
pickles with schoolgirls, and am a doubt.
er forever Of the virtue of spruce gum.
So, so, my sly boy, you were on that tack
too, were you But you may as well emu.
late the example of your iorefathers and
throw that chest of break kfast-tea overheard
for father Woodson has gone where tea.
drinking is neither blessing nor sim
No, no, Hal, Roy Elwell weatherei US all
BY joye, to think Of 1t The little toad
that nursed through vulgar fractions and
the rule OF three-who never had spunk
enough TO kiss girl under four eyes-tC
marry Amy But the ways of women
are wondrous, Hal. The Sunset is my
choice. Isn't she beauty | am welded
to her
Then he laughed, drew himself up, and
thought, How could woman resist you
my handsome captain2
Poor puss, she had coniounded rough
way OF it, hc continued.
What do you mean ?"
Why, haven't you heard of it ?"
"Vaguo rumors only. Her father, cash
Ter of the bank. Wasn't there trouble
Was it all true Proud old man. Hi
heart broke, fancy For heavens sake
Frank, tell me what you know" demand
ed.
"Well, well, old quill driver, DON
rough up so. | do know about it, and
though | say it, more than any but very
few in the old town. | never was any
hand at a yarn, but if you will have it
maybe it will harrow you some, seeing yor
were little sweet on Amy"
"Well, needn't ask it you remember
Amy" began my vis-a-vis, tormentingly
"uor tell you Of her step in the dance, o
the color Of her hair and eyes, nor wha
her laugh was like, nor what woman sh,
has grown. Let me see, you left home il
forty"
" Eight"
"And you remember General Woodson
then, as cheerful, elastic old gentleman
who at the bank k.counter told off the notei
with a celebrity little less than magic to oui
unaccustomed eyes. lie was favorit,
everywhere, you know. With lads helI
he performed all the labor 10 the bank, ex
cept when Amy would come down once il
a while to give him lift on the books
Amy was her fathers housekeeper, too
her mother died just after you left home.
guess. You see the young girl had dsl
eaough to fry. For all, she always had
spare hour and some nicknack of her needle
work for US sailor-boys when about leavin,
home. And the old general would say
Luck to you, my lad, in a mighty goo(
manner that won us
" But never could see that she favored
one much above another. Once | had bid
den her good-by, | remember, and after
ward seeing Ben Boltrope call at her house
| stood out Of sight and timed him-yot
laugh-watch in hand, aud | had the bet
ter of him some odd minutes, or it may
have been seconds. always think of /
when | meet Ben's widow in the street
Ben married the miliner's daughter
Melissa Bliss, whose name we young sea
dogs changed to Missy BIissy. lie went
OIL to Singapore month after, second mate
of the bark Reindeer, and was never heard
from. Her widowhood began, you see, a,
soon as her honeymoon ended. Alelissl
wears mourning for him now and Away,
will. And Ben was worthy of all her team
--as good fellow as ever learned rope
Go and see her, Hal. But where am run,
ning2 Lots tack ship.
" You know the Woodson homestead on
the corner Of India street. Yes, but you