Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-01-02

room and gazed long and earnestly at
The picture of the ships; then be seemed
to find something very interesting in the
compsss-box on the stand; then he lock-
ed the cabinet. and lighting cigar
stretched himself back in his easy chair.
and smoked for o while with closed
eyes. sat thoughtful and silent until he
reused himself with a slight effoit:
"Draw chair for your feet, Frank, and
take fresh cigar; you'll find them very
mild. Go to sleep if get prosy when
fairly wound off on my yarn. lam going
TO begin at the very starting-place.
"Ot course you know am an English
man. for you were quite old enough.
when you first knew US all at Stewards
hotel on Broad street. to remember now
all about il. The children were then in
mourning for their dear mother, but
lately dead, and had Just come over to
make their home with me. Ny father
was clergyman, possessed of an inde-
pendent fortune and holding comforta-
bic living in a sea-coast town some
twenty miles from Liverpool, where ]
was born four years after my only broth
er. There were only the two OF us, and
my earliest recollections are connected
with the dangerous and mischievous
pranks which John and | used to play in
and upon the waters OF the Irish Sea.
always was fond OF John. as | believe b.
was OF me, but he was q domineering
fellow, never satisfied unless he had the
lead in everything; very dull at his books.
but quite handsome. even when lad
and having a certain smartness about
him which was very taking. He was the
elder son, and the fAvorite OF my father,
though my mother never showed any
partialiiy between us. John never treated
me well. Heaven knows have no un-
kind thoughts of him for it now, poor
fellow but l wish 10 tell you the whole
story exactly as it was. | was q fair
scholar, and generally had my own tasks
TO do. and Johns also. worked out all
his hard sums and problems, construed
his Virgil while | was only reading
Cesar, and often wrote his Greek exer-
cises when | was almost too sleepy 10
keep my eyes open. The consequence
was that my own lessons were often neg
lected, and ii got Gaming for my fail
ure, had no sympathy from John,
although it was the price paid for his
good mark"
at was contour ded mean Of him." |
rema; ked, knocking the ashes from mY
cigar. But Uocle Joseph did not notice
the interruption.
"In short. | was Johns fag al school,
though not at al willing one, and the
situation was quietly accepted for me At
home. My father was singularly blind
to my brothers faults. His ambition was
to purchase the patronage OF hi, living
and have John succeed 10 it; but we
both preferred padding about in the salt
water, and holding sheet in the fisher
mans smacks with stiff norlher after US.
to studying our catechism or making He
brew letters. We were both expert and
fearless swimmers, with gooI wind and
strong limbs. In after years l remember
well wager which lost at Honolulu to
remain Under water as long as famous
ksnacka diver; ! rose just four seconds
before him. When was thirteen | could
cast line, manage u sprilsail. pull an
oar or handle tiller as well as any boy
on the north coast of England. John
was equally fond OF the water. but his
constant habit OF putting the heavy work
on me prevented his becoming as good
practical sailor as | was. No man can
make a good sea-csptain who has not had
plenty OF experience in splicing sheet
ropes and climbing shrouds In our va
cations we had plenty OF pocket
and went about pretty much as We
pleased; and we frequently ran down the
coast TO Liverpool on board some OF the
small vessels which sailed from our bay.
On these trips we often amused ours elves
with the masters instruments. which
were round and simple enough. John
had a good westher-eye, and could take
an observation as we'll as any old salt.
but he never had patience to use loga-
rithm table, and / always did the calculs-
tions. It was only amusement Tor me
then. but served me many a good turn
afterward. Well, things went on in this
way for several years, and meantime my
home was not pleasant to me. grew
restless and dissatisfied under the re-
slraints and notifications OF my second
ary position; and, besides. as the younger
son | knew / should have to make my
own way in the world. Our mother had
gone to her rest, Johns domineering
ways had grown on him, and my father.
absorbed in his parochial and literary
work, and more wrapped up in his eldest
son than ever, seemed to have no definite
plans for my future
Uncle Joseph's cigar had gone out, and
he had not noticed it until now. He
struck match and relit ii, and smoked
thoughtiully and in silence for several
misutes, The wind had fallen and the
rain, which had been driving against the