Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-12-12
JACK BALLAST'S YARN.

nOthln' 10 be ashamed OF III Ii, SO Tar rs
| know, and, though regular story-t II
ers maynt call 1t romantic" think
the wind sets that way myself, and
there's bit of love in it, too, though
you'd never think | was a subject for a
love story, to look at me. I'm old
enough, dye see, to feel safe about the
draft, and brown enough to be a Hotten-
tot; and as for iltsh-well, no matter;
some of you slim young dandies will be
as stout as /, if you'll live as long. Be
sides, that fracas at Gibraltar didn't inn
prove my looks. Illtell you about that
before the story is over, | reckon; AT
present I'd better heaye ahead.
Fat as / am, and old as | am, there
was time when | was slender young
fellow as shipped before the mast agin
his parents leave. They, Lord bless
'em wanted to make counter.jumper
of me, and | tried measuring rags
about year. Then | could net stand
it any longer, and jumped the old coun-
ter, and cut and went to sea. I'd 4
hankerin' for it a good while, and the
only thing ever regretted was the way
my poor mother took it to heart. Wait
a bit. Honor bright, there was one
thing.
There was Jenny Blush, old Blush's
only daughter, and the prettiest girl |
ever cast eyes on. Her skin was Just
as soft and talr as any baby's. As for
her hair, I've got u bit in nv old desk
up stairs; and though it has crossed
the ocean about dozen times, it's so
bright nov you'd take it for gold
chain coiled down under the bit of blue
ribbon it's tied with.
Old Blush Was my captain ashore. |
mean to say he was the head OF the big
dry goods store where they first set me
to measuring rags, and Jenny used to
come over every day after ribbons and
calico and the like; and Lord love ye!
| don't find fault with women folks
looking after such things, though il
didn't seem mans place to sell them.
She looked mighty pretty when she put
them on. Father and old Blush were
fast friends, and when they found out
that | was sweet on Jenny, they put
their heads together and resolved to
sanction the match. was to be taken
into partnership, dye see, and was to
step INTO the rag business when the old
man stepped cut "Dry Goods, Whole,
sale and Retail" was the sign, but |
always called 'em rags.
Well, Jenny and were ford of each
other, and knew 1t already; SO. the old
folks being agreeable. we saw good
deal of each other, Sundays aid even
ings, to say nothing of the errands she
ran 10 the store. And used to wish |
could make up my mind to il and stay
ashore; but could not if | died for it
/ heard the waves beating about my
head i'll my dreams. | hated the clotn,
yard and scissors so they made me ill.,
And one night | told Jenny so. She
cried bit; but by and by she owned
that she didn't hate me for it; and we
talked over the time when | should he
a captain, and she could make every
voyage with me, and have cabin like
parlor to herself.
Then she let me kiss her. P'raps she
kissed me back; and | cut of the vel
low curl told you of with pair Of
scissors-the only pleasant job | ever
did.with the COMPOUNDED things in all
my life.
That night ran away, and though |
hlubbered like child when / passed
mothers door, you couldn't have coax.
ed me back again. What q lnan wants
to be he will be; and there are men
meant from their cradles for water as
sure as the fish are.
got letter from old nanny that
cut me up; but knew she'd come
round, and didn't guess the worst
how should II When it first came to
me that man who sold rags was bet
ter than sailor. it took my breath
away. This was when first went home.
dye see? Mamma sonbed and cried
and kissed ME, bat Margaret, Melinda,
and brother Charles Augustus pitched
into me ferociously. Says they: You've
disgracee the family-we nave been re-
spectacle. genteel folks all our lives,
and now we are to have common sail.
or for brother" | caught ia regu-
lar gale, and father put IN his oar re.
garding disobedience. When that
came | cleared out and went over to
old Blush's. Nobody was at home but
Jenny, and she rushed into my arms.
Well, we were billin' anu cooin' as sweet
hearts mostly do, reckon, when old
Blush came home to tea. | never heard
gale OF wind roar louder than he did
when he saw me.
"What do you want here, sir?' he
asked
Says ], Don't you recolect me, Mr..
Blush? I'm Jack Ballast.
SAYS he, "Irecollect you well enough,
and how dare you show your face
here"
SAYS |, II came to see my Jenny
.'Your jenny says he. lily good
fellow, NJ Is jenny Blush is no match
tor common sailor before the mast ;
and whatever may have been between
you wren you we're entitled % my re-
spect. il il all over now. You have
your choice Of quietly walking out your.
self Or Of being kicked out.
Any one but Jenny's father would
nave been tloored for that. just looked
Up and down and saw ny fists shat up
q themselves, and tried to keep EN- 90.
says |, as COO a. could, II don
mean 70 be before the nfast ali my life
Sir. ! expect 70 be Captain some day. 4