The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-07-05
Selert Story.
4 SAILORS YARN.


Twas in the last voyage | ever made
before coming to lay up my old bones
ashore for good, that what am going to
tell your honors happened. Nancy our
ship was called, hailing from Cork, bound
for Van Diemans Land; and we were
lying in the Mersey, waiting for our pas.
seDgers. The captain was short of hands,
and We got two or three aboard before we
sailed. Among them was young fellow
who gave his name as Bruce; nigh upon
twenty-four years Of age or thereabouts,
seemingly. He shipped as an ordinary
seamcn; but it was easy to see there was
difference betune himself and others,
from the talk aud ways of him. A fine
looking young fellow, too, as eyes could
wish to see; tall and broad-shouldered.
Well. your honors, We weren't very long
after leaving port, and the Nancy getting
well out to sea, when there was the world 5
commotion on board. And what was it
but poor little stowaway they had dis
covered crouched up hiding under the fore
hatch, and were hauling out to bring him
to the captain. A bit of a chap he was,
with rings of golden hair curling all round
his head purity oval face, an the great,
large blue eyes lifted up pitiful an swim.
ming in tears; for he was frightened out
of his seven senses, the cF'nture, when he
was caught, aud the rough fellows pulling
at him. Before you could turn about,
Bruce was alongside; and "Boys," seq he,
slave go of the child; there's no harm in
him. Don't drag him. | know who he
is, and will make it straight with the cap
tain"
"a bright, handy little fellow he was;
active as bee, aud willing an ready to
do any odd job that turned up on board
The men would have liked nothing better
than to make pet and play TOY of him;
but he was as shy as a bird, and made no
freedom with anyone, keeping hisself to
hissclf, The captain took to the young
un wonderful, He was family man, you
see, with wife and childer 10 the Cove
of Cork; and he'd have little George in
his cabin painting, and coloripg picters
and such-like. The boy could do 'em
beautiful, Helping the steward was what
they Eept him to chiefly; but for rough
work on deck, or anything o that kind,
he was too tendther entirely. 'Twasn't
fit for the donny little white hands
of him, bless you Bruce, Il seems, had
known the lad aforc, and used to have
an eye on him constant, to see he got good
treatment; not that many on board the
Nancy would have harmed little George.
One day big, surly brute of boy we
had in the ship told him to do something
that was beyond his strength, aud was
going to kick him because he wasn't able.
Bruce, who was never very far of some
how, rushed at the fellow, his face afire
with rage. "You cowardly rascal" he
cried, grabbing him by the collar and
shaking him till you'd think the teeth
would be shook out Of his head, "you offer
to do that again-you dare to lay finger
on that ehild-and I'll break every bone
in your body" There were a good many
jeers among the men at tho way Bruce
watched and spied after his ''little brother"
as they nicknamed him; but they said
nought to bis face. There was something
about the young man that made folks keep
their distance. 'Twasn't for any likeness
betune em they were called ''brothers. =
The young one was as fair as lilly and
bright aud smiling, with hair that, when
the sun was upon il, looked for all the
world like shining gold; and Bruce was
dark .complexioned, with black locks and
grave countenance.
"Thc voyage was fair one. Nothing
to make remark upon III il was well
nigh over; aud then a sudden squall came
on. Ugly customers they are, them squalls;
and you're never safe from them in those
attitudes. They'll spring up upon you 50