The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-08-18


hadn't been for his friend and servant
the coxswain. That worthy sailor
touc ned him on the shoulder and told
him TO 20 and report himself 10 the tall
officer who was walking the quarter
deck.
" That added the coxswain, sis the
commander-nota stricter officer in the
service; t'other, the shortish gray
headed gentlemen's The doctor, the
kindest and best hearted that ever
breathed. Sheer of, master, they be
looking this way"
"Ana so, youngster.' said the COM
mander, who, 10 Harry's mind, couldn't
have been very much shorter than the
funnel of his own ship you've thought
proper 10 join at last, have YOU A fine
lot OF French leave you've taken"
Poor Harry felt a. il he had PIN
cushion in his throat, which he could
neither get down nor up, and It was
only with difficulty he restrained the
tears. The commander wasn't slow TO
note the lads confusion.
.sSo-ho,n he continued, "going 20
cry, hey? Brought up at n ladies' SEM
mary, hey? Pretty sailor you'll
make
"Excuse me, sir" said the surgeon,
who had entered the navy rather late in
life, and, although twenty years and
over had elapsed since he left old Ire
land, still retained the slightest spice
in the world OF the bregue- Excuse
me, but can not be mistaken, this is a
grandson of my old and estee med
Il 4 rIk..-.sr q.
drop of the raal blood in him, sir.
Trust me, he'll make sailor right
enough
DR.. Fitzgerald's face was very home
" and deeply pitted with the smallpox
and as brown as an old bo's'ain's, but
Harry at that moment thought he had
never seen such a pleasant man in his
life.
"I'm sorry / spoke" said the com
mander, by no means angrily, as he
pushed Harry over to the surgeon.
flake him and make a sailor or lob
Jolly boy of him, just as you please
The surgeon laughed. ''Come along.
me boy" he said, .'and III show you
your messmates, and a rough lot you'll
find them. Can YOU foight?"
81 think can, +" said Harry modestly ;
.but / never tried"
ala. ha.'' laughed the old doctor
"very good indeed. Capital"
A long, low, dark room on one side
of the Storage, lighted only by two
small ports-ihis IS the gun-room. A
table occupied nearly its entire space,
leaving merely room, and no more, for
the cushioned lockers, which served for
seats. The surgeon knocked and en-
tered, dipping his head as he did so, to
allow a purser's shoe to whistle harm
lessly over it.
"Oh, come away, DOCTOR" said a
voice; 81 thought it was that beggarly
steward; he has allowed johnson 10
drink my rum again to-day"
swell" said the doctor, .'you drink
his to- morrow"
"Never get chance, sir, or | would
every day. Has that young griffin come
to join?n
/ The speaker was tall, lanky, raw
T boned youth, who sat in corner with
both legs on the table, position he
was justified by the rules of the mess in
assuming, because he had been round
both Capes.
"Ohl dear, dear good old doctor,''
cried young fair-haired MILDLY, jump
ing up and throwing his arms caress-
ingly round the surgeons neck. I'm
so glad ycl've come"
"What's in the wind now, young
cub?" asked the doctor.
"Oh. logarithms, daddy, logarithms
and zebra; you'll do an equation for
me. won't you?"
"Not this watch, my boy said the
surgeon; ''ask your new messmate
here
"Can YOU do logs and 'geb?" This
appealingly to Harry.
"I'll try" said Harry and down sat
the two together; away went the sur
geon, and in less than five minutes the
Youngsters were as thick as thieves.
Harry promised TO do ali his mess
mate s sums for him. "For you know.
that youth explained. s.I'm an awfully
lazy beggar; Lawson's my name-Lazy
Lawson, the instructor calls me; and
can't he hit hard with the ruler, my
word!n
Lawson also gave him history of all
his messmates, from the subiieutenaut
who was quiet and allowed Hicks,
che lanky youth and tyrani Of the mess,
to do as he liked-down TO the young
and inoffensive purser's clerk.
Thus far, reader, perhaps you have
thought my hero little green. lie
vast, however. He was one of Your
quiet, considering English boys, who
always think before they speak, who
take things in at one glance. and who,
no matter how soft they look, are not
to be imposed upon.
The ward-room officers soon found
out Harry's good qualities, and grew
very fond of him, especially the sur.
geon, who invited Harry to make use