The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1878-07-04
For the Brookhaven Ledger.1
MARIA VALESCO'S PROPHECY
BY PAP.
CHAPT. FIRST.


Early in the spring of lS43-then quite
boy, I shipped on board the whale
ship ELIZA Drummond" at New Bed
ford. Mass. bound for the North Pacific.
She was fine, new full>rigged ship,
with moddle as symetrical as swan,
from which rose her long tapering
masts until they seemed to dwindle into
the dimentions of needles at the top.
Her cordage, sails, spars, everything
was new below and aloft, from stem to
stern-from truck to kelson.
She was named after her owner
Youngest daughter. as pretty girl as
ever the SUI shone on. Twas some
past mid day the 81 Of April when l
first trod her decks.
"The new boy, sir, slid the coxwain
of the boat, as he handed me over the
side, addressing Mr.. Jones, the first
mate. who stood leaning against the
main.mast, examining and adjusting
his new quadrant.
>"Aye, sir, will attend to him IN
moment" was the reply, and the cox
main left me to attend to other duties.
Only boy of eleven years-a run-a-
way from home, for the first time on
board a ship, everything strange around
me: stood in the presence of that au,
gust parsonage, the first mate. AYE,
SIR. will attend TO him in moment,
rang in my ears.
Kind reader, do You remember the
feelings you experienced when for the
first time you were called upon the
witness stand to testify in an important
suit with all eyes, even to the grave and
austere Judge, turned full npon you?
7 trembled from head to foot; l was in
the presence of the first mate who SEEM
ed to me then the austere Judge, the
absolute monarch, before whom l WAS
to be tried. Condemned, sentenced and
what else / knew not. Nor were these
impressions likely to vanish, for IL
gruff voice he said:
Come hele boy"
I followed him like lamb being led
to the shambles.
At the companion way OF the lore
castle he halted, asked me my name
and age, told me I was smart boy and
would make tip top royal boy, and IN
formed me my station would be the
main ro. al yard. and wound up by slap
ping me on the shoulder telling me te
be of good cheer-for he had evidently
noticed my embarrassment-and ne
would make gallant young sailor OF
me before we had been a month at sea
We then descended into the fore
castle when he showed me my ham
mock, and then ;.we again stepped or
deck. 1 thought Mr.. Jones q very
pleasant man indeed, and time PROVED
my conjecture correct. We were tt
sail within week.
The following day was escorted t.
an outftting store in town and selected
my outfit for long cruise, for such We
we're bound to experience.
Very happy felt. not unmixed witt
vanity when I stepped on shore the da,
before we were to sail as | surveyed
myself donned in complete sailor cos
tune consisting of blue dnngare'
Jacket. white canvass pants with larg'
flowing legs below the knee, low-quar
tered patent-leather shoes. tied viii
black ribbon on the instep. A full
bosomed low necked white shirt, viii
large turn down collar, black silk neck
tie and low crown, stihfsrimmed ha
with black band with ends extending
down my back; this constituted my at
tire. and I was to have all day on shore
perhaps the last on earth, who knew
and yet was happy.
The last lingering rays OF the sun has
disappeared and the twilight shadow
we're fast deepning into night, when
commepced to retrace my steps TO tht
city from which / had wandered during
the afternoon rusticating among th'
hills which overlooked the harbor wher'
proudly riding at anchor lay the vesse
which was to be my future no ne il
many tempestuous seas. Often durint
that afternoon had I halted in my soil
tary ramble. and looked with pride upoi
her as she lazily rolled at the sport Q
the heavy swell coming in from the sea
| In fact one short week had complete
1ly welded me to my ship which | was
now hastening to get Oh board.
The day had been warm, dry and
pleasant, and n6w the stars began
peepiug out neby QUO. Sly road lay