Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-01-31
OUR PASSENGER.
THE CAPTAINS STORY.

1t WAS lovely autumn afternoon to-
ward the close of September, when we
weighed anchor, and sailed out of the
river Mersey, bound for Melbourne.
We had good ship--Janet's Pride
loaded with miscellaneous articles. On
board were fourteen passengers, and
take them all in all, a pleasanter lot /
never steered across the stormy seas.
There we're three old gentlemen, who
were going oot to share their fortunes,
come what might, and which, poor old
souls, they seemed to think fashioned in
the brightest colors, long before the
English coast was out of sight.
Then there was solitary old gentle
man, who, judging from the general
tone OF his conversation, was seeking
the new world for the ostensible pur-
pose of finding fault with it.
There were two young married cou-
pies, all full of hope and activity, bent
rpon making new home far away
from their native land.
There were also very jolly elderly
brother and sister, neither of whom had
ever entered into the bonds of matri-
mony, but instead, had stuck by each
other through life.
There were three old Australian set
tiers, who had been over to have q peep
at the old country, and who were now
returning to the land which to them,
through long communion, had become
tie dearest of all others-"Home, sweet
home!"
Lastly, though not least, there was a
solitary passenger, who soon became the
pet of all on board. He was q man of
about ight-and.twenty years of age,
possessing very clear complexion, a
very handsome, long flowing beard, and
very silky mustache.
His name was Reginald Moore. His
given reason for taking this sea voyage
was the delicate state of his health.
There was not the least doubt that the
poor fellows chest was considerably
affected, for his voice, though charm
ingly sweet, was one of the weakest !
ever remember hearing; and it had a
certain hollowness in its sound that in
| my mind is invariably associated with
that terrible disease commonly termed
consumption. He always wore thick
muf1er round his neck to protect his
throat and chest.
In all my experience-and it has beer
pretty wide-I never knew any one with
so many friends, and such undivided es
TEEN, in so short space of time, az
Reginald Moore. There was not, ]
believe, sailor on board who did no
entertain the warmest possible liking
for him.
AS for the passengers, they nevel
seemed so happy as when listening tx
his amusing anecdotes, of which h'
seemed to possess an inexhaustibl,
store. And this delicate young Englisl
paragon of passengers had made thi
conquest over all our hearts before w
had been three weeks at sea.
He was, too, such clever fellow will
his hands. He could cut and shap
you anything out of piece of wood
from an oyster to an elephant; and a
making models of ships, I never me
his equal. He was, besides, such
kind and considerate fellow toward hi
fellow-passengers.
When the three elderly gentlemen
who imagined their fortunes made, wer
afflicted with sea-sickness, he was th
first to come forward and help ther
about while they slowly recovered. H
would insist upon their taking his arm
weak as he was himself, and he woul
lead them about on deck with a firmnet
that spoke volumes in favor of h
"sea legs"
I do not remember any voyage pas
ing 80 quickly as the one when Il
: pleasant passenger was on board.
could, with infinite pleasure, make
long pause at this iuncture in the thres
of my story, to dwell upon the pleasal
. memories l still retain of Regina,
Moore.
We were within weeks sail of Me
8 bourne. Reginald Moore had all b,
d completed model of the Janet's Prid
which he purposed presenting to metl
night before we landed.
Now he worked at this model prime
pally on deck, and strangely enough,
had chosen for work table one of Il
empty water-casks that stood on dec
abaft, and under the shelter of the br
warks.
While he worked through the da
you we're sure to see him surround
| hv aonna of the naaaanOara Or sailor