The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-01-09

"Wa'al, Capn, that's just wha. I
want to see you about. I've been in
the service now, man and boy, for nigh
on to thirty-fve year, an if this ere
moneys comm to me I'd like to git
hold Of it. That's all"
"But. Hardin" said the Captain,
what good would it do you? You
know you can't let rum alone, and your
money would coon put you under the
sod il you didn't reform"
THAT'S So" said the old salt; "but /
guess as how I'll reform now. Mebbe
you can git some idee from that letter
that I amt always been blue jacket.
l am almost ashamed to say it (here
something like a drop of salt water,
coursed down through the corrugations'
in the weather beaten face). but, Cap'n,
| ought ha' been something else at
sixty eight year old than
DRUNKEN OLD sHELLBACE."
$50 l gather from this letter, Iar-
din" said the Captain, "aud l must
confess l am surprised"
"Yes," Hardin went on, after empty.
ing his mouth OF auotber quart of
tobacco juice. Eyes; amt allus been
an old shell. Ny father here he drew
himself up and something like scin.
tillation of pride flashed out OF the fer.
ret-like eye) my father, sir, was Sir
Robert Hardin, OF Hardin place, Ar
magh. Forty years ago he was High
Sheriff OF Armagh county and Master
OF the Rolls. Ny mother was Lady
Josephine, daughter Of the Earl OF
Killlslene, and my sister, not this one
pointing 10 the letter. but another one
is now the wife OF the Earl OF Dem
bigh. knew my Uncle George well.
Have seen him in New York often,
and once l dined with him down in
the Washington House on Broadway.
Know where that is. don't you? But
that was before ! got Disguised and
to3k to rum. | don't believe he'd let
me put my old rummy timbers under
his mahogany now il he was alive.
Well, he's dead now, and left $40, 0OO,.
600, and they say | am rich. Funny,
amt it, sir, that sich an old wreck as |
am should hist aboard SIGH a lot OF ball
last at this late day 2
well, Hardin" said the Captain,
what do you want to do?"
"Wa'al, l want to be lookin' after
this business. I'D like 10 60 down to
Frisco first and see some OF them law.
yers."
81 can't let YOU do that, Hardin, for
know you will get drunk, and, per-
hsps be shaugEaed on board of some
merchant ship. But if you want to 60
East and see your cousin-whats his
name, again p
SIR RoB&RT HARDIN,
why, | will discharge you, and, II you
have m 0ney enough you can start right
from Vallejo here. Will you do that
"Wa'al. Cap'n, Id kinder like to zee
some OF them lawyer chaps first. You
see, sir, I've seen something in the
papers that there is goin' TO be law
suit about the Hardin property in New
York, ami s pose, as l don't know
much about law, why mebbe Id better
git some advice"
well" said the Captain. think it
over; but first you had better get my
clerk to write letter for you in reply
to this one, and"
"Oh," said the old man, II can write
lit.le yit. l used to drive pretty good
quill, but you see hsndlin' marlin
spike and seizin' riggin kind of knocks
a mans eddication out o. him. Still, /
guess I kin write letter, cause / don't
want TO 60 wrong, anyways.
THE CAPTAIN STILL MORE AsToNISHED.
With this Hardin rolled away and in
short time he was seen seated on the
deck between two guns with his di!ty
box on his knees and dilapidated
goosequill in his hand He wrote rapid
ly and apparently with ease and readi-
nees of expression In an hour he laid
before the Captain the following letter,
written in bod, easy style:
UNITED STATES NAVY YARD,
VALLEJO, Cal. Oct. q.
Ny DEAR DEMONSTRATIONS letter,
with it's sad and somewhat surprising
il telligence, was received yesterday.
You were quite wrong in supposing
that | had forgotten Uncle George. /
saw him a number Of years ago in New
York, and we formed a delightful &C.
quaintauce, he entertaining me at his
hotel in princely style. AS to the as
tonishing information that you and |
and the Countess OF Denbigh are made
rich in our own right by the demise OF
poor Uncle George, | hardly know what
to say. The surprise has been so great
that can scarcely realize the situation.
However, | will think it al over and
write you again in few days what |
consider best to be done under the cir
cumstances. am happy to say that l
am so situated here that | can leave
for New York and meet cousin Robert
as you suggest, at a day 8 notice. fear
we shall have trouble with the woman
who calls herself Uncle Georges widow.
However, nous verronS intend to fol-
low your suggestion, SO urgently put
forward, about going back 10 the land
of nv fathers. have been a rover Tor
thirty years and more, and l must con-
TESS that the greatest JOY that could
come to me would be the anch oring Of
nv worn and wearjed old hulk in dear
old Armagh.
Your affectionate brother,
HENRY.
The Captain read this letter over
carefully, and then gazed with look
OF stupefacation in the rough old sailor 8