The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-04-05

NO one ever knew whether Capt. |
Rattler swOre most or drank most.
AT any rate he drank enough to car
ry sail until his ship opened a seam,
and when he became conscious that he
was cracking it on a little too heavily
and endeavored to take in some of his
canvas, the gale saved him the trouble
by sending his masts over to the lee
ward, and the gallant Skymme Mylke
rolled and pitched and fioundered,
opening more seams, and commenced
sinking rap dly.
At last down went the ship, and Capt.
Ralph, his sea-cherubs and the passen-
gers, committed themselves to the ten
der mercies of rickety raft, with scant
provisions and water, and, for week
or more, they scanned the lonely sea
with anxious eyes for delivering sail.
Jenny bore up bravely, as women
generally do; but her grumpy old par
ent had ceased to be solid, and the lam
entations of jeremiah were as zephyrs
compared to those he sent bowling
through the atmosphere.
He vowed he'd give his whole for
tune to the captain who would rescue
him; and as sea would wash over
him, he swore he'd add himself to the
bargain, and wait upon his deliverers
as servant during the remainder of
his natural life.
At last, one day white spot not
larger than sea-gull's wing appeared
on the horizon, and soon the royal of
square rigger could be seen, and then
one sail after another rose out of the
sea with wonderful rapidity.
"That's a SKINNER" said Captain
Ralph.
"That's an angel, SIR" said old
Gatherem.
1t was not long before sharp little
brig danced by, and hove-to within
hundred yards of the doleful crew on
the raft
Jenny could not restrain an exclama-
ton of joy as she read the word Gear
iboo" in golden letters on the quarter
boards of the newcomer, and when
Jack made his appearance on the quar-
ter-deck, she waved her handkerchief
at him in very frantic manner.
Jack, not knowing who it was, was
acting in the coolest possible way.
Soon boat, manned by sturdy row.
ers, was alongside, and the women and
children were taken on board the Carl
boo. !
Old Gatherem prayed to be taken
among the first, but the second-mate
of the brig, who was in command of
the boat, was obdurafe, and he was
forced to content himself with the re-
Election that he was saved, at any rate.
When Jenny's foot touched the deck
of the Cariboo it stopped just long
enough for her to bound to the arms
of the astonished Furlaway.
As the novel-writers say, when they
get hold of something they can't prop
erly describe, "we drop the curtain
upon the scene"
And now we grieve to relate tina
Capt. Furlaway was guilty OF very re.
prehensible stratagem, having for its
object the destruction of the peace Of
mind of Mr.. Hezekiah Gatherem.
He handled the brig like apilot-boat
and laid her close aboard of the raft.
, "Raft ahoy!" he hailed. "Art
there any doctors of divinity OF
boardp''
"Sir," reproachfully exclaimed 8
long, lank man, who had just arisel
from codfsh-box, ''we are from Bos
ton! There are seven Of u.s."
"One will do," responded Jack
: "The rest of you had better offer con
: ISOLATION to my Observation-Disclosures
l be, Mr. Hezekiah Gatherem. The boa
is going for one parson and some NOR
: of the passengers.
r When the second batch were safel,,
o on board of the Cariboo, Jack agail
hailed the raft.
a 81 say, pa" said he, "I'm going t.
}, marry Jenny. Will you give me you
= consent?"
!, "No!" came grimly from the raft.
u "Then, Pm obliged TO say that yo
will be very apt to inhabit that raft ur
q til you do give US your consent. Mic
+ !. place, amt itp''
II 1t was all the six brethren could d.
r. to keep him from jumping overheard
5 but finally a sea little wetter than tn
,, others brought him round, and he roal
"a ed something which sounded like:
f. "Take her and be-happy!" onl
81 "happy," wasn't the last word.
70 So the long, lank parson from Bosto
n made them one and indivisible as thc
p stood on the windward side of the qua
"a ter-deck, and, after the remainder {
s. the unfortunates were safely on boart
the Cariboo bounded lightly, with
at spanking breeze, toward the port
OF modern Athens.
And Capt. Jack Furlaway says ths
<, nothing but pure coaxing ever induce
is the old gentleman to consent, but M
h. Gatherem has his own opinion abo'
30 that part of the subject.
in