Connecticut western news., 1874-01-16
THE COOKS BOY.

Our ship was lying in Gibraltar har- bor. The day had been remarkably pleasant one, and hundreds of people from the shore had been on board to examine our specimen of Uncle Sam's mocks had been piped down." knot of old oceans hardy sons collected be- heath the topgallant foreoastle, which place was their regular " forum" Old Ben. Miller, our second boatswain's mate, had been quite sober and thoughtful during the latter part of the afternoon and upon being asked the occasion of it, he said that he had seen something that brought to his mind 8 thrilling circumstance of by gone days We knew there was yarn on the tapis; and collecting about the old mate, we awaited it's delivery. He knocked the ashes from his pipe, put it in his pocket, and then charging his mouth with 8 generous piece of tobacco, he com- lneneed and this is the yarn he spun
 " It is now fifteen years ago that I was a foremast hand on board the old ship Hunter She was from New York, and bound to-India. A man by the name of Adam Warren, who was one of the owners, had taken passage, and with him were his wife and daughter. The latter was one of the sweetest, prettiest little creatures I ever saw, only about twelve years old, and as blithe as lark. They called her Judith. Oh, it would have done your souls good to have seea her skipping about the deck !-now hiding in coil of rigging now pulling at some rope, and then clapping her little dimpled hands as she repeated the orders of the captain. Her merry laugh ran through the ship like the notes of our own native robin, and the sun seemed to envy her brightness. Her father was one of your business men "a right down dollar hunter, wsio didn't seem to care for much else than the purchase and sale of his cargo !; and as long as his child was we'll and happy, he seemed to take but little notice of her; though, I must say, he was kind d-hearted man when you could bring it out. Judith's mother was one of your city aristocracy-a proud, over- bearing woman, who seemed to think there was nobody of any consequence only herself-and the smell of tar made her sick. When she was on deck, she always kept a smelling bottle at her nose, and tell you the truth when l l tell you that her nose was fairly ceck- billed by her eternal snufing at that same bottle.
 "We had a boy on board named l Luke Winship, only fourteen years old, who had been put into the galley to help the cook. He was @ noble little fellow, though we hadn't then exactly found it out.
 cone evening, after we had entered the southern tropics, Luke was sitting upon spar that was lashed against the galley, and Judith Warren came along and sat down by his side.
 "' What makes you look so sober LukeY she asked, in silyery tone o1 real kindness.
 Twas thinking, Miss Judith, re- turned the cooks boy :; and as he spoke he gazed into the face of the girl as though she was one whom he could al most worship.
 "t Don't call me miss. I don't lik, it, Luke. But tell me what you were thinking about. If ever have troubles l it always does me good to tell them tt somebody. Now tell me yours.
 "'I It couldn't interest you, Judith to hear the story of poor boy lik' me-
 ".Oh, yes, it could ? the little gir cried, clapping her hands together wit] much earnestness. You were thinking of your father and mother.'
 "t Alas nave none.
 ". No parents?'
 "sNop
 "'Then you were thinking of you brothers and sisters
 "s have no relations on earth, Ju dith r As Luke said this, he drew hi greasy sleeve across his eyes to wip away the drops that were springin
 forth.
 "The little girl gazed into Luke
 face with look of pity and sorrow ths
 seemed to make her tender heart bleed
 "tTell me your story. Come, do
 she said and she laid her hand s
 affectionately upon the boys arm, an ! looked so kindly st him, that he bega to weep again.
 "tIt is but short story--a fe
 words will tell it all, Luke returned, 2 he struggled like giant to keep bac
 his emotions. My mother died whe
 I was only four years old, and befol 1 my father had taken the mourning wee ' from his hat, he, too, was laid in tl 2 cold grave. They were both of the . kind parents; and after my father VI P buried, I sat upon his grave all nigl long and cried. O Judith, you don @<,1 1noa &o&fnz r,n<nk]