Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-07-20
Running orr to Sea.

| VIC 'hosl uhaPPrecIateu anu Oa0ly-treated
boys that ever lived. He was the son o
gentleman who certainly ought to have
known better than to treat any liyin,
thing harshly. His mother, too, Dick de-
ciared, was very hard hearted and cruel
and his sisters were even worse than his
parents.
would you like to now the prosecutions
these dreadful people practised on poor.
inoftensive lad Of fourteen years.
Well. In the first place, the father in
sisted that Dick should go to school Ave
days out every week. He forced him
10 study arithmetic, which Dick "hated, y
and geography, that never did anybody
any good, and history about horrid
old kings and queens and wars and rev
olutions that he didn't care ANYTHING
about
His mother thought that boy who WAS
IN school but twenty five hours out of one
hundred and sixty-eight had time to take
one music lesson week. practising an
hour day, and to 90 every morning to a
neghbor's for the milk.
Ills sisters would never tease his
mother to let him go cunning or fishing
In school hours, nor believe him when he
said his head ached so that he could not
practise. And sometimes they sent him
on e.rands with notes and flowers and
other girls nonsense" to their friends.
lie declared he had an awful life OF it.,
such as no boy OF any spirit ought to en-
dure.
Aud the time came when he said he
could not endure Ii any longer. He threw
out vague hints Of his resolve when his
father refused to add TO the number OF
fishing poles, fowling pieces and Indian
clubs that already interfered so much with
! his studies.
| He said that ''the time might come
| when the family would rue their treat.
ment OF him. But 1t would then be too
! late
! The girls thought he was limiting xt
suicide and laughed at him. This reused
Master Barclay TO reveal his secret He
intended To run OFF and go TO sea. Prob
abiy he would be wrecked and lost and
his father would wish there had never
been school in the world. His mother,
too, would burn the plano to get 1t out
OF her sight; and the whole family would
wish they had let him alone
When this revelation was made known
to his father, he called the boy into the
library .nd said ''Itlear you want to 90
TO sea. Dick"
Yes. sir. and am going To. Aud in
put an ocean between me and all books,
and pianos, and mi ilk-pails. | can never
do thin. want to- Tor this old school
and my lessons and cIrands :"
Have you iully resolved TO go?'
~ Is, sir, and you needn't try to hind
er me. for 20 viii, Some night when
you are all asleep shall run away,
I've not the least idea of hinderiny you,
and there's not the slightest necessity for
your running oH. IL you wish 70 try a
sailor, lite | will III you out comfortably.
nd sl,It van Nltt a 4
body must do business Oh the ocean, and
my son may a. well do it rs other mems
sons"
IL don't want to be fitted out" said
Dick. not Il little chasrined at the way in
whlch his father took the dreadful threat
lhe boy had taste for rowing and had
often planned adventures in catle-raiS-
inS IA Texas, or discovering new island,
over the seas. llalf the charm Of these
Wild dream, had been mystery that should
envelope his flight. and the Joy with which
he should b. welcomed back, a rich and
elegant gentleman, laden with gifts for
those who had kept him in "leadiny
strings'-as if he didn't know what was
the best for himself
This conversation resulted in his father
taking him downtown and fitting him
out with blue flannel shirts, a tarpaulin
hat, heavy boots, and sea chest filled
with comforts for the voyage.
There was no help for it now, so Dick
bade his mother and sisters good by in
somewhat trembling voice, and set of.
Ike any poor sailor-boy with his father
for the seaport town, where he WAS to
ship for Liverpool.
The conmotion among he shipping the
running up aud down Of the sailors amouy'
the rigging. and their merry Hoy 90
was 50 attractive rs to di,pel any ling
erlnS regrets our young sailor may have
felt at his matter-Oi-fact departure
He wa left on board with the sailors
over night, while his father went up To
hotel with the Captain to talk over the
matter.
My s"n.' said the father, when he and
his old ririend. the Captain. were comfort
ably seated. "is good boy-as boys
average. He h as cost us but little anx-
lety, except by his restless. rowing spir-
it and hatred OF books. The slight res
truints necessary at home chate him, and
he feels himself a,martyr. He is pet
at home, aud really has had TO much in-
dulsence from his mother aud sister. |
want you 10 put him through the duties
and discipliue OF the snip just AS il he
were the poorest boy ever shipped. l.
him swab the deck wait on the coul
boys usually do-till YOU reach Halifax.
BY that time think his ardor for sea
lie will be ut least somewhat cooled. Ii
this should be so, and he wishes TO return
home, you may give him this money and
send him back
The next day the vessel dropped down
the stream to wait favorng breeze. Oh,
what spirits the free wind put into the
young rover! He shouted, he practised
"Hoo-yoo!' He sang and danced In the
forecastle as if he owned the ship. Sud
denly the gruf voice OF the second mate
commanded silence, enforcing the order
with threat of the "cat-taP' If he heard
any more "such hooting down there"
Before night the wind died away, and
cold drizzling rain set in. Our young gen
tleman did not care to stay in the forecastle
or TO wet either his new blue shirt or him
self by walking on deck. So he walked it,
dependently into the cabin, took up book,
| stretched himself on sofa and began to
| read.
| He knew nothing of ship discipline, and
was amazed when the Captain, coming in
aud finding him, flew into as great pas
sion u, il he had found 4 burglar concealed
| tIeie. He even took down q cane and
threatened to whip this mothers boy"
and poured out torrent of words that
Dick was too much frightened to UNDER
stand.
| He Ned precipitately to the forecastle,
and there he opened mis- heart to All old
sailor. who said:
Why, my lad, I'd as sGon think of walk
ing into Victory's palace, and tellin' her I'd
come to take tea with her daughters, as to
put loot unbd into that cabin. A Captain
is king at sea. You've got Of easy from
this blunder. Keep down close to US sail
ors and don't dare to look At him.
| He's mean old fellow, anyhow, to
treat his friends son this wayE' replied
Barclay, with an indi. naBt nod OF the head
which meant, I'm tell my father of him -
look out, land baby cried the old man
'and never repeat those words, or you'll
stand a chance o beiR tied up for twenty
| lashes!
The Captain never spoke to or locked al
Dick again; but the mate put him through
as his father had ordered.
lie was very seasick. His hands were
soon blistered with hauling the ropes and
climbing the rigging his throat WAS sOr,
and his limbs stiff, from exposure to tn,