The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-08-30
Two Kinds Of Courage.

Not many years since the good ship Ponto
sailed from Boston, bound to Samatra. She
was commanded by Capt. Isaac Jacobs, a
good seaman and naturally good hearted
man; but in his long career beneath the
trident of Neptune he had imbibed many
of those false ideas prevalentamong seamen,
and he had come to look upon the sailors
life as one which necessarily did away with
those finer and warmer traits of character
that mark the humane and generous lands
man. In this wise Isaac Jacobs sometimes
lost sight of true merit where it actually ex-
listed.
Among the crew of the Ponto, on her pres
ent voyage, was young man named Caleb
Baker. He had shipped only three days be-
fore the ship sailed. He was slender
framed man with fair prepossessing coun-
tenance, light blue eyes and light brown
hair. Though light in his build, he was yet
well stocked with muscle, and his motions
were quick and energetic. His appearance
was calculated to predispose beholders in his
favor.
One day, shortly after the ship had left
port, as Baker was busy about some matters
of his own in one of the gangways, one OF
the men, a rough, uncouth fellow by the
name of Bunkton, came along and gave the
clothes-bag of Baker kick out of his way
thereby scattering a number of things about
the deck.
al wish you'd be CAREFUL" said Baker, as
he moved to gather up his things.
"Then keep your things out O. my way
gruffly returned Bunkton.
They were not in your way"
Z" Do you mean to tell me lie?'.
al said my things were not in your way
"And say they were. Now don't you
dispute me again."
"Verg WELL have it your own way ,
calmly returned Baker, as he drew his bag
closer in towards the bulwarks,
"And don't you be impudent, neither
provokingly added Bunkton.
Look ye, Bunkton, if you've any busi
ness of your own, you'd better mind it,"
"Eh, lubber2 I'll show ye my business
Take that"
As Bunkton spoke, he struck the younl
man upon the face. The crew had most O
them gathered about the place, and arrange
ments were quickly made for fight
"Just come forward-come forward, ant
I'll show ye my business" cried Bunkton
bristling about with his fists doubled up.
"A fight! a fiightl" cried half dozen o
the men. "Don't stand that, Baker.
The young mans eyes had flashed as h
received the blow, and there was quicl
quivering of the muscles in his hands, bu
he made no motion TO strike.
"Ain't you goin' to take it upH" aske'
Bunkton.
"No. want nothing to do with you,
returned Caleb.
"Then you are a coward |" uttered Bunk
ton, with a contemptuous tone and look.
Young Baker calmly replied to the taunt
and Bunkton became still more savage
Those who know anything about ocean lif
will understand the sentiments Of the rougl
crew upon such matters as the present. The.
could comprehend but one kind of courage
and the moment that Baker refused to fgh
they set him down as an arrant coward. A
first they had been prepossessed in his favor
for Bunkton was a quarrelsome fellow, an'
they hoped Caleb would fog him but whel
they saw him quietly turn away and resum
his work, they began to taunt him too.
"what's all this ?" asked Captain Jacobs
who was attracted to the spot.
The matter was explained to him.
"Didnt resent it?" uttered the captain
looking with mingled surprise and contemp
upon Caleb. "Why didn't you knock hin
down, Baker?"
" Because don't want to fight with an.
man, sir"
"And will you allow yourself to be struck
and not resent it?"
al will defend myself in case Of danger
but will not so abase myself as to engag
in brutal fight when it can be Possbl.
avoided. have as yet done wrong to N
man; but were l to fight one Of my ship
mates should wrong him and myself both.
"Then you viii have yourself looked up
on as one who may be struck with impunity.
A quick fash passed over the young man
face, as the captain thus spoke, but be wa
soon calm.
81 mean, sir" he returned, "to give n
one occasion to strike mei yet Bunkto
struck me, but you can see that he alread
suffers more than do"
Bunkton gave Caleb the lie, and agai
tried to urge him into a fight, bnt the car
tain interlered, and quiet was restored.
From that time Caleb Baker was locke
upon by the crew as coward. Al hTst the