The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-21

JACK BAiLAST'S YARN.

KNOW, ana tnUugn regular sp'iy "ihe,
mavn't call it "rmanic," | think the
wind sets that.way myself, and there's
hit of love in it, too though you q never
think [ was subject for love story, to
look at me. Pm old enough, dye see, to
feel safe about the draft, and brown
enough to be Hottentot; and as for
flesh-well, no matter; some OF you sum
Young d1ndits will be as stout as |, ii YOU
live as long. Besides that fracaS at Glib
raltar Didn't improve my looks. I'll tell
YOU about that before the story is over, |
reckon; at present Pdbetter heave ahead.
Fat as am, and old as | am, there
was time when | was a slender young
fellow as ever shipped afore the mast
aein' his parents leave. They, Lord
bless 'em. wanted to make n counter
iumper of me, and l tried measuring
rags about a year. Then | could not
stand it any longer, and jumped the old
counter for good, and cut and went to
sea. I'd hankerin' for it a good while,
and the only thing ever regretted was
the wav my poor mother took it to heart.
Wait a bit. Honor bright, there wason
thing.
There was Jenny Blush, old Blush's
only daughter, and the prettiest girl |
ever cast eyes on. Her skin was just as
soft and fair as any baby's. AS for her
hair, Pve got bit in my old desk up
stairs; and though it has crossed the
ocean about dozen times, it's so bright
now you'd take it for a gold chain coiled
down under the bit of blue ribbon it's
tied with.
Old Blush was my 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 over every day after ribbons and
calico and the like; and, Lord love ye
I don't find fault with women folks
looking after such things tho it didn't
seem mans place to sell 'em. She
looked mighty pretty 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 resolved 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. "Dry Goods, Whole
sale and Retail" was on the sign, but !
always called 'em RAGS
Well, Jenny and | were fond of each
other, and knew it already; so, the old
folks be NC agreeable, we saw good deal
of each other, Sundays and evenings, to
say nothing OF the errands she made to
the store. And l used to wish / could
make up my mind to it and stay ashore;
but | could not if died for it. heard
the waves beating about my head in
dreams / hated the cloth, yard and
scissors SO they made me ill. And one
night | told Jenny so. She cried bit;
but by-and-by she owned that she didn't
hate me for it; and we talked over the
time when should be captain, and she
could make every voyage with me, and
have cabin like parlor to herself.
Then she let me kiss her. P'raps she
kissed m back; and | cut off the yellow
curl told you of with pair Of scissors
the only pleasant job ever had witt
the confounded Things in all my life.
That night ran away, and though
blubbered like baby when l passed
mothers door, you couldn't have coaxed
me back again. What man wants tt
be he will be; and there are men meant
from their cradles for the water as sartil
as the fish.
got letter from old nanny tina
cut me up, don't deny; but | kne,
she'd come round, and | didn't guess tn
worst-how should I? When it frs
came to ME that man that sold rags wa
better than sailor it took my breath
away. This was when first went home
d'ye see? Mamma she scoded and crie'
and kissed me; but Margaret, MeIind
and brother Charles Augustus pitche'
into me ferocious. Says they: "You'v
disgraced your famiy--we have been re
spectacle genteel folks all our lives ant
now we're to have common sailor for
brother" / caught it-a regular gale
and father put in his oar regarding disc
bedience. When that came | cleared
out and marched over to old Blush's
Nobody was at home but Jenny, and sh
rushed into my arms. Well, we wen
hiIlin' and cooin', as sweethearts mostl,
do, / reckon, wien Old Blush came hom,
to tea. I never heard gale of wind roa
louder than he did when he saw ME.
"What do you want here, sir?'' say
ne.
Says /, "Don't you recollect me, Mr.
Blush? / am Jack Ballast"
Says he, 81 recoIlect You well enough
and how dare you show your fac
herew ..s.s 4}-.t ..-s y
Says I, II came to see my Jenny"
"Your Jenny%' says he. "My goo'
fellow, Miss Jenny Blush is no match fo
II common sailor before the mast ant
whatever there may have been between
you when you were entitled to my re
speet, it is all over now. You have you
choice of quietly walking out yoursel
or of being kicked out"
Any lone but Jenny's father woni
have beA hoored for that Just locke
up and down and saw my fists shut u
Of themselves, and tried to keep 'el
50.
Says I, as cool as ] could, 1 don
,aoan Tn bp hafora tbe mast all NV Ef