The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-10-30
THE CAPTAINS WIFE.
A Faithful Narrative from the Life of MI
DOldrum.

A Faithful Narrative from the Life of MIR.
DOldrum.
/" No sir, it amt no uncommon thing,
said Mr.. Doldrum, "for a whaling
skipper to take his wife off on four or
five years voyage; and some of them
right whalers, who poke their figure
heads as near the North Pole as they can
without touching it, stay away as long
as seven years.
"Just think of it, | knew a skipper
once who got married two weeks before
he got orders to sail, and his wife
couldn't 90, because she was so CALLED
and frightened of salt water. tell you
there was weeping and wailing on board
the old Osprey before she cast off; and
when she got back, four years later, that
skipper retired to private life
His wife must have suffered a
great deal during his Absence" re-
piled |.
"Of course she did, but then she was
true blue and full of grit; in fact, she was
born within toss of biscuit from How
lands wharf in New Bedford, and she
learned the smell of oil when she was Il
baby.
'But that amt the woman / was 60
ing to tell YOU about. Heaven rest her
soul, she's dead now-thOugh if ever
there was an angel in petticoats, she
was one. l always remember poor Joe
in Bleak House, when l think of her.
'She was mighty good to me, she
was"
81 should really like to hear about
her, Mr.. Doldrum."
"That's her picture said he, tax
ing out photograph well worn by con-
slant carrying in his pocket.
ats all I've got to remember her by,
except the memory of her which goes
out only when l shuttle off my coil and
douse the glSn.
"You seeCJ had just signed ships
articles as Second Mate for four years
on the barque George and Susan; made
two voyages before with the same skip
per. As / was leaving the owners Office
/ met the Captain coming up the gang
way with a woman holding on to his
arm.
"'Mr. Doldrum, let me introduce you
to my wife. You will be shipmates to-
gether and might as well know each
other beforehand
81 DOTTED my head gear when she held
out her hand and gave me regular sail
or's grip.
al kinder saw that she took liking
to me, and that made me feel easy, for it
won't do to have a woman down on you
board ship, and that woman the skip
per's wife.
"She asked me lots of questions; how
many voyages had made, and if had
saved any money? | finally hauled off
and luffed up till l reached an outfitter's
shop, where | overhauled their slOp
chest and picked out what buds need
ed for the voyage. slowed m away IN
nv donkey, or chest, as you landSmen
call it, and had it sent down to the YES
sci.
sin three or four days we had the
customary good wishes and Chaplain s
prayers for good luck and safe return,
cast off moorings, and ere long we were
standing masthead off the Western
Islands,
ave raised a school one morning.,
and after hard days work, caught
three which slowed down % barrels.
They were all cow-whaleS, and did not
try ont only little more than SO bar
rels each. But it was good to start on.
and would make ballast, doubling the
Cape.
"Off the Horn we had a lively time
of it: got into a fog and nearly run
ashore on a sheer coast before we knew
what was the matter.
1.-The Shippers wifew on deck most
of the time, and though that was her
first voyage, her quick ear caught the
sound of breakers on our lee some ten
minutes ere we heard 'em.
"Itell you, we had to tack and tack
to get away from those rocks; little
longer and we would have all gone to
Davy Jones in COO fathoms of water.
1--WE kinder looked up TO the skip
per's wife after that, for if it had not
been for her would not be telling you
about her. After we rounded the Cape,
the Old Man squared away for the Mar