The Newtown bee., 1879-08-13
"Thank you, love, for the compli

"Thank you, love, for the compli- ment."
 'I heard the engineer say the-the Jane would make a good freight steamer if she were engined."
 "Did he? That's not bad idea I had thought she would make some kind of craft. Oh! Perhaps 1 could buy the engines out of the steamer. They will sell them cheap.
 II thought you had failed and lost everything"
 .No. I can't fail while I have you. 3 What further sentiment he would have indulged in cannot be known, for some one called them.
 '' She's bout ready to slide" said the big captain: Seeing Jane, he took off his hat and said, politely, "Will the young lady name the boatP"
 "The boat is named the Jane Besant Let me present my friend Miss Besant, captain"
 boat the Nancy K, after my wife. It brings luck"
 The built-up sides ot the boat and the interior cross work that braced her and held the hull together in every direction had been raised six feet high. Boards were laid down on top to form deck and she was ready to be put afoat. The captain and the engineer, Ralph and about a dozen men armed with long poles, mounted the deck. The word was given, the blocks were knocked away, and down she slid swiftly into the water amid the cheers of the people. She set tied down in the water with slight list to one side, and the rural population gave a little cry of alarm.
 "The cargo will ballast her," said Ra1 1nh nt nA push her along the shore till we come to the steamer"
 The Jane Besant was quickly brought round, and went up stream, followed by an enthusiastic multitude on the shore Shortly after, the barge was secured alongside the wreck, and the men began to put the cargo on board. She did not leak drop, and appeared to be as stiff and strong as the best ribbed boat afioat. She was very buOyant, and readily minded the rude rudder that had been hung at the stern.
 II shall be glad to consider your pro- posal, sir, to-morrowi"
 ''Come in my cabin-I guess it isn't wholly wrecked. Come, Bates, want you too"
 The young man followed the captain and his engineer into the cabin and sat down, while the captain ordered some wine and lunch. When the lunch came. the captain began to be expansive.
 "She only wants little more sheer, and deck and house and englnes. She'll not be fast boat, but she'll go in shallower water than anything on the river. She'll be running regular trips when the big boats are laid up for low water. Tell you what I'll do, young man, I'll put engines in her, and make her a stern-wheeler. Mebbe you can raise enough to put house on her. I'll go halves with you in the business. We can haul her ashore and sheathe her bottom to make it smooth. and make good thing oft. What d. you sayP Is it bargain?"
 "Then it would be bargain-if it wasn't Sunday. All right. We'll go ashore this evening and hear the parson."
 Two months later the purser of the new freight and passenger boat Jane Be sant opened ;he books of the boat fo1 business. There was line passengers, headed by one of the boats servants, al- ready waiting at the ticket window.
 MT. and Mrs. Ralph Keystone-oh, yes--all right-fnee passes. Give them the bridal-room, John; here's the key. Nextn'-HGTpeT''S BGzGr.