The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-06-05
JACK BALLAST'S YARN

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Ny story? Well, don't see why
Shout i not scratch it down. There
nothin' to be ashamed of in it, SO far q
I know, and though your regular stor,
writers msyn't call it romantic"
think the wind sets that way myself
and there is bit of love in it, too
though you would never think l was
subject for a love story to look at me
Pm old 'nough dye see, to feel SAT,
about the draft, and brown enough to b,
& Hottentot; and as for f1esh-well NJ
matter; some of you slim young dandiei
will be as stout as I, if you live as lons
Besides, that fracas at Gibraltar didn't
improve my looks. I'll tell you about
that before the story is over, l reckon
at present I'd better heave ahead.
Fat as I am and old as l am, there
was 3 time when | was as slender s
young fellow as ever shipped afore the
mast sgin his parents leave. They
Lord bless 'em! wanted to make a coun
ter jumper OF me, and tried measuring
rags about a year. Then l could not
stand it any longer, and l jumped the
old counter for good, and cut and went
to sea. I'd had hankerin' for it good
while, aud the only thing ever regretted
wss the way my poor mother took it to
heart. Wait bit; honor bright, there
was one thing.
There was Jenny Blush, old BIush's
only daughter, and the prettiest girl
ever set eyes on. Her skin was Just as
soft and fair as any baby's. As Tor her
hair, I've got bit up stairs in NV old
desk; and though it crossed the ocean
about dozen times; it's SO bright now
you'd take it for s gold chain coiled
down under the bit of blue ribbon it's
tied with.
Old Blush was nay captain ashore. l
mean to say, he was the head of the big
dry goods store where they first set me to
measuring rags, and Jenny used to come
every day after ribbons and calico and
the like; and, Lord love yeI don't find
fault with women folks looking after
such things, tho it didn't seem mans
place to sell 'em; she looked mighty fine
when she put 'em on, did Jenny. Father
and old Blush were fast friends, and
when they..found out that | was sweet on
Jenny they put their heads together and
reserved to sanction the match. was
to be taken into partnership, DYE see.
and was to step into the rag business
when the old man stepped out. "Drv
goods, wholesale and retail" wa On the
sign, bat always called 'eln rags.
Well, Jenny snd I were fond OF each
other, and knew it already; so, the Old
folks being agreeable, we saw a good
deal Of each other, Sundays and even
ings, to say nothing OF the errands she
made to the store. And 1 used to wish
could make up my mind to do it and
stay ashore; but could not if l died
for it. heard the waves beating about
my bed in dreams. | hated the cloth
yard snd the scissors Sc, they made ne
i'll, and one night | told Jenny so. She
cried bit, but by-aDd-by she owned
she didn't hate me for it, and we talked
of the time when | should be captain,
and she could make every voyage with
me, and have cabin like a parlor to
herself.
Then she let me kiss her. P'raps she
kissed me back; and 1 cut of the yellow
curl told you OF, with a pair OF scissors
the only pleasant job ever had with
the confounded things in ali my lie.
That night I ran away, and though l
blubbered like baby when / passed
mothers door, you couldn't have coaxed
me back again. What man wants. to
be he will be; and there are men meant
from their cradles for the water as sartin
as the fish are.
got letter from old nanny that
cut me up, and L don't deny; but /
knew she'd come round, and l didn't
guess the worst-how should L? When
it came to me that man who sold rags
was better than a sailor it took my breath
away. This was when l first went home,
dye see Mamma she scolded and cried
and kissed me; but Margaret, Melinda
and brother Charles Augustus pitched
into me ferocious. Says they: " You've
disgrsced your fsmily-we have been
respectable genteel folks all our lives
and now we are to have common sailor
for a brother; ;" l caught it-a regular
gale; and father put in his oar regarding
disobedience. When that came cleared
out and marched over to old Blush's.
Nobody was at home but Jenny, and she
ran into my arms. Well, we were billin'
and cooin,' as sweetbearts mostly do, l
reckon, when old Blush came home to
tea. 1 never heard q gale of wind roar
louder than he did when be saw me.
"Whst do you wasn't here, sir 2" says
he.
Says 1. "Don't you recollect me,
Mr.. Blush ? Pm Jack Ballast"
Says he " ! recollect you well enough,
and how dare you show your face here ?"
Says /, 81 came to see my Jennie"
your Jenny ?" says he. my good
fellow, Miss Jenny Blush is no match
for common sailor before the mast, and
whatever there may have been between
you when you were entitled to my
respect, it is all over now. You have
your choice of quietly walking out
yourself or of being kicked out"
Any one but Jenny's father would
have been foored for that. / just
looked up and down and saw my fists