American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-08-16
A SAILORS STORY.

before coming to lay up my old bones
ashore for good, that what am going
to tell your honors happened. Nancy
our ship was called, hailing from Cork,
bound for Van Diemen's Land; and we
were lying in the Mersey, waiting for
our passengers. The Captain was short
of hands, and we got two or three
aboard before we sailed. Among them
was q young fellow who gave his name
as Bruce; nigh upon "a years Of age, or
whereabouts, seemingly. He shipped q
an ordinary seaman; but it was easy to
see there was difference-b etune him.
self and the Others. from the talk and
the ways-of him. A fine-looking young
fellow, too. as eyes could wish to see !;
tall and observation-disclosures. Well, your
honors, we weren't very long after leav-
ing port, and the Nancy getting well
out to sea, when there was the worlds
commotion on board. And what was it
but poor little stowaway they had dis
covered crouched up hiding under the
fore-hatch, and were hauling out to bring
him to the Captain. A bit of chap
he was, with rings of golden hair curling
all round his head, a purity oval face,
an the great large blue eyes lifted up
pitiful and swimming in tears; for he
was frightened out of his seven senses,
the CT 'ature, when he was caught, and
the rough fellows pulling at him. Be.
fore you could turn about, Bruce was
alongside; and 'boys,' SEE he, slave
go of the child; there's no harm in him.
Don't drag him. know who he is, and
will make it straight with the Captain
"a bright handy little fellow he was !;
active as bee, and willing an ready to
do any odd job that turned up on board
The men would have liked nothing bet
ter than to make a pet and play-toy
of him; but he was as shy as a bird, and
made no freedom with any one, keeping
hissef to hisself. The Captain took to
the young 'un wonderful. He was q
family man, you see, with a wife and
childer in the Cove of Cork; and he'd
have little George in his cabin painting,
and coloring picters and such like. The
boy could do 'em beautiful! Helping
the steward was what they kept him to
chiefly; but for rough work on deck. or
any thing o. that kind, he was too ten
other entirely. 'Twasn't fit for the
donny little white hands of him, bless
you! Bruce, it seems, had known the
lad afore, and used to have an eye
on him constant, to see he got
good treatment; nots that many on
board the Nancy would have harmed
little George. One day q big surly
brute Of boy we had in the ship told
him to do something that was beyond
his strength, and was going to kick him
because he wasn't able. Bruce, WHO
was never very far off, somehow, rushed
at the fellow, his face afire with rage.
You cowardly rascal he cried, grab
bling him by the collar and shaking him
till you'd think the teeth would be shook
out of his head, you offer to do that
again-you dare to lay finger on that
child-and I'll break every bone in your
body There were good many jeers
among the men at the way Bruce watch
ed and spied after his little BROTHER
as they nicknamed him; but they said
nought to his face. There was some
thing about the young man that made
folks keep their distance. 'Twasn't for
any likeness betune 'em they were call
ed brothers The young one was as
fair as lily. and bright and smiling;
with hair that, when the sun was upon
it, looked for all the world like shining
gold; and Bruce was dark-complexion-
ed, with black locks and grave coun-
tenance.
"The voyage was a fair one. Moth
ing to make a remark upon till it was
well nigh over; and then a sudden
squan came on. Ugly customers they
are, them squalls; and you're never safe
from them in those ATTITUDES. They'll
spring up upon You so sudden and with
such violence, that If you're not as
quick as thought, 'Davy's locker would
be the word for the ship and every soul