The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-10-06

main question is; Do you want to risk
two and and half that l won't do it?
Make it " says he. Done, says
l started, him a-giggllng and slapping
his hands on his thigh, he felt so good
| went over there and leaned my
knuckles on the table minute and
looked the Governor in the face, and
says l: Mister Gardner, don't you know
mel? He stared, and 1 stared, and he
stared. Then all of sudden he sings
out: Tom Bowling by the holy poker
Ladies, it's Tom Bowling, that you've
heard me talk about-shipmate of mine
in the Mary Ann He rose up and shook
hands with me ever so hearty sort of
glanced around and took realizing sense
of my mates saucer eyes-and then says
the Governor: PLANT yourself, Tom,
plant yourself; you can't cat your anchor
again till you've had feed with me and
the ladiesp l planted myself alongside
the Governor, and canted my eye around
toward my mate. Well, sir, his dead
lights were bunged out like tompions;
and his mouth stood that wide open that
you could have lain ham in it without
him noticing it."
There was great applause at the con-
clusion of the old Captains story; then,
after moments silence, grave, pale
young man, said:
Had you ever met the Governor be-
fore?"
The old Captain looked steadily at this
inquirer while, and then got up and
walked aft without making any reply.
One passenger after another stole fur
tive glance at the inquirer, but failed to
make him out, and so gave him up. 1t
took some little work to get the talk ma
chinery to running smoothly again after
this arrangement; but at length a con-
versation sprang up about that impor-
tant and jealousy guarded instrument, a
ships time keeper, its exceeding deli
cate accuracy, and the wreck and de-
struction that have sometimes resulted
from its varying few seemingly trifing
moments from the true time; then, in
due course, my comrade, the Reverend
got Oft on yarn, with fair wind'and
everything drawing. 1t was a true story,
too-about Capt. Rounceville's shipwreck
true in every detail. 1t was to this eff
feet:
Capt. Rounceville's vessel was lost in
mid-Atlantic, and likewise his wife and
his two little children. Capt. Rounce-
vile and seven seamen escaped with
life, but with little else, A small,
rudely constructed raft was to be their
home for eight days. They had neither
provisions nor water. They had scarcely
any clothing; no one had coat but
the Captain. This coat was changing
hands all the time, for the weather was
very cold. Whenever a man became ex-
hausted with the cold they put the coat
on him and laid him down between two
shipmates until the garment and their
bodies had warmed life into him again.
Among the sailors was Portuguese who
knew no English. He seemed to have
no thought of his own calamity, but was
concerned only about the Captains bit.
ter loss of wife and children. By day,
he would look his dumb compassion in
the Captains face; and by night, in the
darkness and the driving spray and rain,
he would seek out the Captain and try
to comfort him with caressing pats on
the shoulder. One day, when hunger
and thirst were making their sure inroads
upon the mans strength and spirits,
floating barrel was seen at distance.
1t seemed a great find, for doubtless it
contained food of some sort. A brave
fellow swan to it, and after long and
eXhausting effort got it to the raft. 1t
was eagerly opened. 1t was barrel of
magnesia! On the fifth day an onion
was spied. A sailor swan off and gotit
Although perishing with hunger, he
brought it in its integrity and put it into
the Captains hand. The history of the
sea teaches that among starving, ship
wrecked men selfishness is rare, and
wonder compelling magnanimity the rule.
The onion was equally divided into eight
parts, and eaten with deep thanksgiv-
ings. On the eighth day distant ship
was sighted. Attempts were made to
hoist an oar, with Capt. Rounceville's
coat on it for signal. There were many
failures, for the men we're but skeletons
now, and strengthless. At last success
was achieved, but the signal brought no
help. The ship faded out of sight and
left despair behind her. By and by an
other ship appeared, and passed so near
that the castaways, every eye eloquent
with gratitude, made ready to welcome
the boat that would be sent to save them.
But this ship also drove on, and left
these men staring their unutterable sur
prise and dismay into each others ashen
faces. Late in the day, still another
ship came up out of the distance, but the
men noted with a pang that her course
was one which would not bring her
nearer. Their remnant of life was near
ly spent; their lips and tongues were
swollen, parched, cracked with eight
days thirst; their bodies starved; and
here was their last chance gliding relent-
lessly from them; they would not be alive
when the next sun rose. For day or
two past the men had lost their voices,
but now Capt. bonneville whispered:
Let us pray" The Portuguese patted
him on the shoulder in sign of deep APP
proval. All knelt at the base of the oar
that was waving the signal-coat aloft
and bowed their heads. The sea was
tossing; the sun rested, red, rayless
disk, on the sealine in the west. When
the men presently raised their heads
they would have roared hallelujah if
they had had voice; the ships sails lay
wrinkled and Tapping against her masts;
she was going about! Here was rescue
at last, and in the very last instant of