Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-01-29
NUMBER 81.

struggled to 4 reluctant death, and | founC
myself without an ambition. But | wa.
ashamed to go home. was in Cincinnati
and set to work to map out new career.
had been reading about the recent explOra-
ton of the River Amazon by an expedition
sent out by our government. IL was said
that the expedition, owing to difficulties, had
not thoroughly explored a part of the coun-
try lying about the head waters, some four
thousand miles from the mouth of the river.
1t was only about fifteen hundred miles
from Cincinnati to New Orleans, where
could doubtless get ship. had thirty dol
lars left. l would 90 and complete the ex-
ploration of the Amazon. This was all the
thought gave to the subject. | never was
great in matters of detail packed my
yalise and took passage on an ancient tub,
called the Paul Jones, for New Orleans. For
the sum of sixteen dollars l had the SCARED
and tarnished splendors Of " her" main
saloon principally to myself, for she was not
a creature to attact the eye of wiser travel
ers.
We reached Louisville ON tIme-at least
the neighborhood Of it. We estruck hard and
fast on the rocks in the middle Of the river,
and lay there four days. | was now begini
ming to feel a strong sense Of being Il part
the boats iamily-a sort Of infant son TO the
captain and younger brother to the officers.
There is no estimating the pride | took in
this grandeur, or the affection that began tn
swell and grow in me for those people |
could not know how the lordly steamboat
maH scorns that sort of presumption in a
mere landsman. particularly logged to ac-
quire the least triiie Of notice from the big
stormy mate, and was on the alert for an op-
portunity to DO him service to that end.
Ii came at last. The riotous pow-wow of set
ting a spar was going on down on the fore
castle, and | went down there and stood
around in the way-or mostly skipping out
Of it'll the mate suddenly roared gener-
al order for somebody to being him capstan
bar. sprang to his side and said Tell
me where it is-I'll fetch it -
Ii a rag picker had offered to do 4 diplc-
matte service for the Emperor OF Russia, the
monarch could not have been more astound-
Ell than the mate was. lie even stopred
swearing lie stood and stared down at me.
II took him ten seconds to scrape his dis
iointei remains together again. Then he said
lmpressiyeiy Nv ell, if this don't beat hell -
and turned to his work with an air of man
who had been confronted with 4 problem too
ab>tru>e lor solution.
crept away, and codrted solitude for the
rest of the dav. did not 20 to dinner
STAYED away from supper until everybody
else had finished. did not feel 20 much like
a member Of the boat 5 family now Is before.
Howeyer, my spirits returned, in install
ments, n We pGrSaed our way down the
river was sorry hated the mate so. be-
cause ii was not in Young human nature
not To admire him. lie was huge and mus
cular: he was bearded and whiskered all
over lie had red woman and blue wO-
man tatooed on his right arIn-ons on each
side Of llue anchor with a red rope to 1t
and in tie matter Of profanity he was per
feet. When he was getting out cargo at q
landin-. | was always where | could see and
hear. lie felt all the sublimi,y of hiS great
POSITION and made the world feel it too.
When he gave even the simplest order. he
discharged it like bilst Of lightning, and
sent a long. reyerberating peal Of profanity
laundering after it. could not hel D con
traStins the wav in which the average lands
man would give an order with the mates
way Of dong it. If the landsman should
wish the gang-plank moved foot further
forward, he would probably say. = James,
OF William, one OF yol push that plank for
ward, please. But put the mate III his place
and he would roar out, " Here, now, start
that gang-plauk for'ard Lively, now
" hat re You about? Snatch It snatch it
mere 'Nere ~ Hsaih an "7'.n D0H
No" near iie i.i'i = 70 u-'9n oie 'oI
lns % 9'cer "'es a.
Eea'inS- 1 tea you "oins 10 - = !
clear a>'efh mere are EcH I'i"7 VIZ
1hai taF7el i'r afI WIN !. 10y ,iiaA' ~ y.
swallow il. You da9ii-iaSi'- '.'''Neu ) II
between liIec hiud-'lr'.e anu " oi'i'p'''
heer-e-hoI~e
Ni7Het / 'c4i4 'ilh hAe mat :,
Ath '-e Soit's7 vi ny " ~
'ae l.a'e ''''d sumo" ia, WIN a. -
'imiuIy - M1ke up liie i'uH'Ii.l. - ui..-ii'
eonnehiGl WIN 'ne DoA'l'..o So. g..
man, he up'ei AiE 9u'ei'rie d ~
gal l presently Nvhtuiee u oH.i mn !. -
/ chalk pipe, anu lils SCI'ened Hinp- 50 iv IL
/ -lNe4 me 10 III WIN MN y tne Y'S o'ii VI
| the h1rricane-ueck' anu IN ,ilhe Ho me-
mo e3h'efS',l"h- ne oouiu no' "oA l'', =
heiPed H. 1 huns win Sucll n'.I"se Va ti ~
/ words ana - pidihly HHI~eu ,1"' :,
hanored ~ Ms notice; ne 'o'u -G '"'
names o. ilm Gales anu Sii@uoWy i>.ahuS =
we glidcd by them IN the Nole'nhi,E oi lu'
/ night "h1er the "lhAiiis s"iIe' %1,1 y 'lu'
/ by s'1 10 taxing ABOUT himself ne SCENT
o'eF-sentiheh'"I i9r u man "h'1e S.iAis wa
~ " week, oF rather ne Niis''' na.e semi I',
50 to an cider person 'han l. hut l urani ram