The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1877-01-25
that the trouble is with the men; that
they are a drunken, reckless, irreclaim-

that the trouble is with the men; tha
they are a drunken, reckless, irreclaim
able lot Of"
"Nelliep said Mrs. X, reprovingly
"Well, don't care p said the wilIfn
girl. "Only 1 beg Jim's pardon I didn't
mean such men as he is"
"!ts all right, num-" returned jim
quickly. "'Taint to be expected tha,
the likes O one O. you young women, wi
q heart like one O. them ere big J'par
lilies, knows of mems badness aboard
ship-why should you?'
But are there no captains who are
kind to their menP asked Mrs. X, in
some perplexity; and Miss Nellie was
heard by me to say, under her breath,
that she knew one at least.
BLESS you, yes'm," said Jim, "there's
lots OF 'em; on'y it hasn't been my luck
to sail with 'em. There's cap'ns sails
QUITO New York to-day, as hear, don't
allow swearin' from men nor officers
gives 'em good grub, watch an watch,
an has 'em in the cabin of Sunday for
prayers. Though" he added, thought
fully, where there's one o. them, there's
a dozen that's either devils themselves,
else they're that careless as they let the
officers do jest as they happen to feel. /
don't mind tellin' you," he continued,
seemingly betrayed into an unwonted
confidence, "that my business ashore is
mostly to run foul of cert'n man as I'm
sure to meet sooner or later. / know he's
roun' these parts. An when he an
does meet" said Jim, rising and striking
a hrawny, clnched fist into the hollow
of his other hand, apparently forgetful
of everything but some remembered
wrongs "there'll be hard OF reckonin II
think" said Mrs. X, rising, with
as much dignity as is consistent with a
height of five feet four, "that we have
heard enough. Come, Nellie v' Where
upon the twain (the latter little un-
willingly, as fancied) entered the house,
manifestly to the discomposure of the
sailor.
There they co." he said, dropping
his head and speaking in a rather sad
voice, "a thinkin' how Pm only low,
r'vengful critter, with no feelin' morn
the ships dog! But, sir, s'posin a man
should call the mother that bore you by
the wust name as is in this here lang
widge of ourn, not on'y once, but dozen
times day, accordin' as he's mad or not
-wot would you do, sii !? How far wud
you forgive man as had you strung up
to the main-riggin' for full hour, by the
two thumbs, an all for that begged of
him to send me up to stow a r'yal in
gale, STEAD of little chap as was
stowaway, an no more fit to 60 than
girl-baby p again asked Jim.
Before l could frame suitable answer
which should combine prudence with the
usual forms of good advice, always prof
fered and seldom needed in such cases,
Jim had taken himself of, whom l saw
no more of until the following morning,
when he abruptly informed me that it |
was to be bis last day, no persuasion or
inducement of mine being sufficient to
turn him from his purpose.
Clad in a pair of voluminous overalls
and dilapidated felt hat, was assisting
at the turing of hower-bed in front OF
the house, and while awaiting the return
of Jim with the wheelbarrow, was ac-
costed by an elegantly dressed and gen.
tlemanly looking young man, who, ac-
costing me by The rather familiar title
Of" Old cock" demanded in a somewhat
peremptory tone to know "where Mrs.
x. hung out"
With an inward chuckle, | mildly
designated the house behind me as the |
residence in question, and asked if he
wished to see Mrs. X.
"What's that to you?' was the rather |
answer, in tone and with a |
manner that savored strongly of coarse
ness, but which contrasted strongly with |
the suavity of manner with which he |
greeted Miss Nellie, who just then ap-
peared on the scene, with both hands !
full of flowers.
AS the young lady blushed charmingly,
and murmured her surprise ut meeting |
Captain Hanson, that gentleman, not at |
all disconnected by his introduction to
myself, which Immediately followed,
with great ease and fluency,
his unadulterated satisfaction and sur
prise at the meeting, as though it had
b .en on the ranks of the Nile, or some
remote spot in the desert.
Completely ignoring my own presence,
as the two sto2d by the gate, the cracking
of the wheelbarrow was heard, and in ,
another moment Master Jim came bear
ing down upon us, the wheel just grazing
the doeskin-clad leg of the gallant |
who, turning, remarked, with |
languid reproach in his tone:
"My good fellow, pray be a little
Captain Hanson, to the best of my |
knowledge, has never finished his ex-
postulation.
" ith an oath, the sailor dropped the
barrow, and sprang forward, exclaining
" knew I'd run foul of youW but too
late to lay violent hands upon Captain
Hanson. who, catching glance of the
mark, aud, turning down the driveway,
ran like the startled fawn, closely pur-
sued by the avenger, leaving Miss Nellie
and myself gazing blankly at each other.
"Oh, John, he'll kill him--indeed, he
will !" said the girl, with blanched face
and clssped hands, as she watched the
pair disappearing over the brow of the
little hill which led to the town.
"You needn't be alarmed, young
lady," was my confident reply. " Captain
Hanson has the lead, so to speak, by at
least thr C lengths, and is gaining all the
time"
But to hisday have never learned
satisfactorily concerning the result of the
race, for neither Captain Hanson or Jim
have ever returned TO tell the tale.
When last seen, as per report OF
old r gers, examiner, now mail-carrier,
/" they were beadin' for Philadelphy,
with ev'rything set, the clipper "-(by
which ! understood Mr.. Rogers to refer
to Captain Hanson) )--"b bein' two knot
ahead, an workin' to wind'ard all the
time."
For aught know, they kept on until
they reached the Atlantic and it is
quite doubtful whether Miss Nellie, now
engaged to be married to the son of our
neighbor Jones, will soon hear the last
Joke against her runaway lover.
But being ,saewat a methodical man,
/ have estimated the cash value Of our
experiment somewhat as follows:
Services OF Jim for ten days...".......... Slo W
ola clothes left behind. oV