The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-10-27

Well, sir, next mornin' arter we'd
washed the decks and had breakfast, I
went over in Waterloo road, and paid
threepence for a shore-shave, and then I
puts on pair of blue cloth pants and a
white shirt, and borrowed'a red plush
vest from q chap named Billy Small, and
put Dicks s frock coat over that, and with
Q high hat which I borrowed from the
third mate, jist looked equal to any
thin.
The sailin' directions l got from Dick
were to stand up Mortimer street to the
head Of it, where it is crossed by Rincon
street, turn round Rincon street, 20
about three blocks to No. 65, and ask for
Mrs. Lee. Well, 1 kept my reckonin'
all straight till I come to Rincon street,
and then it struck me that Dick hadn't
said which way to turn but remember
in that the rule of the road were always
for to port your helm, sheers around to
the right at venture, thinkin' I'd soon
git q true departure by the numbers.
For tho first block there weren't no
numbers; there were n vacant place, and
q factory, and what not, but when I
come to No. 25 on the next block, 1 were
glad had made lucky land fall, and
were sure were right. OF course then
all had for to do were to follow along
till got to No. IS. 1t were nice little
two-story brick house, and as I ringed
the bell 1 couldn't help wonderiu' how
ever Dick had fetched up in. .sich moor
IN as these. There were q nice little
lass opened the door, and when asked
her II Mrs. Lee were at home, she said
she were, and asked me to walk in.
"What name shall I say3" says she,
as went into snug little parlor on the
right of the hall.
"Well, MISS" says I, as she don't
know me, the name don't matter; tell
her it's friend from a perticlar friend,
as would like to see her on important
business. q aa..
Yes, sir, says she, and thought to
myself If the mistress is as nice as the
maid, don't wonder at Dick, and then
| thought of what I'd promised old nep-
tune the first time ! crossed the line,
never to kiss the maid if I could kiss
the mistress, unless liked the maid
the best" and wondered if I should
Like the mistress as we'll as I did the
maid.
Presently there come into the room as
neat little craft as one would wish to
meet in a days sail. Fine figurehead,
good smooth bow, able body, and clean
run, all shipshape and Bristol fashion
fore and aft.
"Did You wish to see mea" she said,
and I didn't wonder at Dick gittin' in
the doldrums, for wer'n't much better
myself. You see thought it would be
q easy thing for to do, but now that it
had got to be done didn't hardly know
what to say.
The fact is, marin" says I, a,standin'
up before her, and I wished I were
hundred miles away, "Dick Ostrom,
whom I s'pose you know well, is a chum
Of mine, me and him havin' now been
snipmates off and on for over a year,
and put Dick, marin, to weather earin'
in gale Of wind, and there amt none
better, as anybodyu say as hos ever
been shipmates with him, but alongside
of q woman, marm, as no doubt you
have obsarved, Dick are as skecry as q
colt, 'and, ,soyou see, marm, havin' long
cen Almost worshipped the ground you
stand on, he never couldn't git his
courage up to the stickin' pint for to tell
you 30, and so bein' his chum, yolun-
teered for to come and let you know how
the land lay, and that Dick, havin' saved
up good bit of money, were willin' for
to be spliced, if 80 be as how it we're
agreeable to you, marm;" aud I wiped
the sweat of. my brow and were glad it
wereTover.s sorT g ESE-,
Wei, looked kind of confused,
but I seen that she weren't displeased,
aud she says: I suppose know the
gentleman gen, !a y9g tspeak Of, havin' noticed
Ohio; thinks I, there's were Dick
come across this craft. But" saws
she, "this is 30 sudden, so entirely un-
expected, that really am not prepared
to say nnythins.p An
"HeW never come near you aRin.
marm" says I, "nnless he thinks he
has some little sight; may I tell him
that he may come up and see you to-
morrow night"
:" I shall be home tomorrow night"
says she, "and of course I'm always
glad for to see my friends"
Talk enough, marm," says I, for
considered the business as good as set
tied, and 1 bid her good afternoon, she
letting me out of the door herself.
Well, I goes down and sees Dick, and
1 says: " It's all right, old chap, and
you're q mighty lucky fellow; all you've
got to do is to haul alongside as soon as
ever you like, and the widder's yours,
and she'll be expectin' you to morrow
night" But Dick were too much in a
hurry to wait for the next night, and
away he goes that same evenin' as happy
as young porpus.
1 turned in mayhap about ten o'clock
that night, and were Just droppin' off to
sleep when were woke up by Dick.
~ don't want to strike you in your
bunk, says he, "but git up and put on
your pants, and come out on deck, and
we'll have this out here and now."
"Avast," saws I. "there's some mia-