The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1879-12-18


For the truest words of tongue or pen
Are, "A skating girl's like headless hem
Brooklyn E0qle
JACK BALLAST'S YARN.
My story? Well, I don't see why I
should not. scratch it down. There's
nothin' to be ashamed of in it, so far as
1 know. and, though regular story-tell-
ers mayn't call 1t romantic" I think
the wind sets that way myself, and
there's a bit of love in it, too. though
you'd never think was 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 Hotten-
tot; aud as for fesh-well, no matter;
some of you slim young dandies will be
as stout as I, if you'll live as long. Be-
sides, that fracas at Gibraltar didn't i'm
prove my looks. I'll tell you about that
before the story is over, I reckon; at
present I'd better heave ahead.
Fat as am, and old as am, there
was time when was a slender young
fellow as shipped before the mast agin
his parents leave. They, Lord bless
'em! wanted to make u counter-iumper
of me, and I tried measuring rags
about a year. Then I could not stand
it any longer, and jumped the old coun-
ter, and cut and went to sea. I'd q
hankerin' for it 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 I
ever cast eyes on. Her skin was lust
as soft and fair as any baby's. AS for
her hair, I've got a 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 a. gold
chain coiled down under the bit of blue
ribbon it's tied with.
Old Blush Was my captain ashore. I
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!
I don't find fault with women folks
looking after such things, though it
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 I was sweet on Jenny, they put
their heads together and resolved to
sanction the match. I was to be taken
into partnership, dye see, and was to
step into the rag business when the old
man stepped out. "Dry Goods, Whole
sale and Retail" was the sign, but
always called 'em rags.
Well, Jenny and l were ford of each
other, and knew it already; so, the old
folks being agreeable, we saw a good
deal of each other, Sundays and even
ings, to say nothing of the errands she
ran to the store. And I used to wish
could make up my mind to it and stay
ashore; but l could not if died for it.
i heard the waves beating about my
head in my dreams. hated the cloth,
yard and scissors so they made me ill.
And one night I 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 I should be
a captain, and she could make every
voyage with me, and have a cabin like
a parlor to herself.
Then she let me kiss her. P'raps she
kissed me back; and I cut off the yell
low curl I told you of with a pair of
scissors-the only pleasant Job / ever
did with the COMPOUNDED things in all
my life.
That night I ran away, and though
blubbered like child when I passed
mothers door, you couldn't have coax.
ed me back again. What a man wants
tobe 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 I knew she'd come
round, and didn't guess the worst
how should l? When it first came to
me that q man who sold rags was bet.
ter than a sailor, it took my breath
away. This was when I first went home
dye see? Mamma sobbed and cried
and kissed me, but Margaret, Melinda
and brother Charles Augustus pitched
into me ferociously. Says they: "You've
disgraceG the family-we nave been re-
spectacle. genteel folks all our lives
and now we are to have common sail
or for brother" I caught ia regu
lar gale, and father put in his oar re-
garding disobedience. When thai
came cleared out and went over tc
old Blush's. Nobody was at home bu
Jenny, and she rushed into my arms
Well, we were billin' and cooin' as swee
hearts mostly do, I reckon, when ole
Blush came home to tea. never hearl
a gale of wind roar louder than he dc
when he saw me. j. .,,..
E"What do you want here, sir?" h.