Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-02-27
Captain Hanson.


The ssory Of Profitable TraAp.
Our tramp came 10 Us footsore and dust
begtimed one evening last June. lie want
ed something TO eat and a chance TO sleep
on the haymow. lie was inducied kitchen
ward. where Judge his performance with
the knife and fork gave rise to bridget's
remark the next morning, that he'd breed
famine In any community Inside OF a
week.
What can you do. jim p asked OF him
the next morning, as. emboldened by a
breakfast. he begged for job.
Almost anything. sir, that's hard work.
was his answer. Them a. goes 10 sea for
a livin', gently speaking, can turn their
hands 10 all sorts"
There's the strawberry bed TO be weed
sd. John" sugyesisd Mrs x. .s.a,-
ingly Interested 10 the wandercr. who, bar
ring the loss OF two trout teeth, aud hair
suggestive OF brick-dust In It's hue, was not
= bad-looking fellow. jim proceeded io
his task, which. being accomplished with
celeriiy aud neatness, my wife conducted
him TO the ilou er garden-the pride OF her
own heart, and, - far as Keeping the same
free from weeds Is concerned, the detesta-
ton of my own.
"Aintt they hansuu. mum" said jim,
kneeling and turning with his rough fore
tIt Oh FU.la>H uAlNv
outward. Minds me Of that ere young
lady on the yerandy this mornin'. as mus,
be your twin-sistery'
Ill. reference 10 a resemblance between
Nellie aud herself was not at all dis pleas.
Ing to Mrs. ", who is five years older
than her sister, although she affected n-
credulliy at the doubie-barreledl complI-
ment. The next day. when she decided
tina, We had better keep him Till the gar
dening was over-"It will save you so
much hard work, john" she remarked,
aside knew that jim, our tramp, had
found favor In her eyes.
shall you ever 90 10 sea sgain, JIml"
asked Mrs. x, as We made a family
group on the piazza In the cool OF . sum
mer's evening, while jim loitered near by,
picking up the garden tools, and whistliDg
softly 10 himself
"Yes'm." was the answer. somewhat
constrained withaI.
had lately learned, through the medI-
um Of Mrs. x, that Captain Hanson
WAS daily expected to favor Leybrdge with
his presence. osteusibly to see one OF his
ships owners-possibly and probably to
renew his acquaintance with my pretty sis
bef-iu-law.
well, num-" answered Jim, whom |
haze left sitting uneasIly on the handle Of
The xheelbarrow. adventures is mostly In
sea-yarns. as is writ tor the story-papers
but I've had some considerable hard pulls,
what with bein' wrecked four times-the
las time losin' Of as good chist OF clos
as teller would want. to say nothin' of
bein' in open boat 'leven days-me the
mate an four men-with never bit of sup
the blessed time. We was picked up"
continued Jim, "by y blasted-beg your
pardon. mum, for swesrin'-packet-ship
boun' from Liverpool to New York. or
Beansole was the cap'n-nebbe you've
heerd Of him, sir r"-this to me.
Wasn't 1t he," I asked, as dim remem-
brance Of the name brought to mind
newspaper narration Of cruelties on ship
board, which somehow died out very sud
denly, "who was heavily fined for brutality
toward some vi the emigrant passengers p
"wot's fine, that the owners steps up
an pays" said jim. In scorn, ito lettin' a
woman die on deck from the wet an cold?
An why didn't they bring up some OF his
other enthusiastically men Oh n the
topsl yard, drivin' 'em overheard in the
Mersey, or breakin' rib or an arm VII an
iron belayin'-pinE'
"Oh. come now, Jim." said l, "you don't
mean that there are men on shipbosrd to-
day who are such erutes as all that? WHY.
the law would"-
The law" repeated Jim. LAWS for
csp'n an owners. not for Us sailors, though
they did manage to shove the petty officers
OF the Jack Frost, into prison, few wears
ago, arter they'd killed two or three men
aboard on the passage-though | mind 1t
was said that the cap'n and mate 'scaped
punishment BY happenin' to both die
sing lar, wasn't iti-just afore the ship was
hauled into dock"
"But such men are the exception. There
are plenty OF kind-hearted men who 20 as
captains nowadays" urged after short
pause.
''Indeed there arer suddenly broke in
Miss Nellie. with energy. "Chsr-that is.
captain whom know" she said. inter-
ropttng herself suddenly, sssys that the
trouble is with the men; that they are
drunken. reckless LOT Of"
''Nellie!" said Mrs. x, reprovinRly.
well. don't care!" said the wilful girl
"Only l beg Jim's pardon; didn't mean
such men "a he Is"
"It's all right, num-" returned Jim,
quietly. "Tain't to be expected that the
like o. one o. you young women, vi heart
like one o. them ere big J'pan li;iss. knows
Of mems badness aboard ship-why should
your
"But are there no captains who are kind
10 their menr asked MRS. x, 10 some
perplexity; and Miss Nellie was heard BY
me TO say. under her breath, that she know
one. at least.
''Bless you. yes'm." said Jim. ''tbere's
lots Of 'em; only k hasn't been my luck to
sail with 'em. There's cap'ns sail ont o.
New York to-day. - hear don't allow
swsarip' from men nor o@cers; gives 'em
good grab. watch an watch, an hes 'em
10 the cabin Of 8 Sunday for prayers.