The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-11-05
A YOUNG HERO.

In June 1860 the brig Polly Deems
Captain Job Payson, sailed from Boston
for port of Turkey, laden with cottol
goods. She was new, taut little vessel
with plenty of storage room, and had &C
commodations for two passengers.
The crew consisted of the captain, ont
4 mate, four sailors, black cook and
cabin boy.
Captain Payson was q conscientious
just man, who treated his crew neither te
jokes nor grog, but who lodged and fec
them better than did five out of six of the
masters sailing from New England ports
those days.
"Old job" the, mate, who was from
the West, used to say she was hare
man, but one you could tie to in fail
weather or in foul"
| His crew were picked men, and with
the exception of Dan, the cabin boy, had
been with him for years. This was Dams
first voyage, and he felt that captain and
crew both eyed him with suspicion. He
was on probation. and he felt that not 9
grain of favor would be allowed him in
any error.
Dan was farm boy, and knew nothing
of the world beyond the village in which
was his mothers church.
''Keep your eyes open and your hands
| ready to see the work of the moment;
and to do it before the moment is over, u
was his mothers last advice. ''For the
rest, Daniel, ask the Lords help. You'll
find him just as near you in Turkey as in
your own home
Dan, in the hurry and excitement OF
getting under way, and of his new duties
repeated this advice over and over to
himself. It seemed to keep his mother
near him.
| Several days out while he was carrying
the dinner dishes into the cabin he
| heard the mate say:
ssThat boy is clipper enough for raw
hand, captain
"Aye," said Captain Payson, turns out
better than I expected. I took him for
his mothers sake. Widow. Old friend
| of mine.''
Rather gentlemanly fellow, this pas
senger," ventured the mate, finding the
| Captain in an unusually talkative mood
| to-day.
.sHe is a gentleman, sir; one of the
Farnalls, of Springfield. Ill health.
Doctor prescribed long sea voyage for
HIM. A gentleman and scholar, Mr..
Briggs"
Dan, while waiting on the table at din
| ner, could not help noticing the passen
ger.
ssSome of these days." thought the
true born Yankee lad, ST, too, shall be a
gentleman and scholar"
Doctor Farnalls was a tall, lean man,
| carefully dressed, with sandy hair and
mustache, but with eyebrows and lashes
almost white. His eyes, too, were large
and pale. They never met the eyes OF
any other man fairly. Once when Dan
happened to look at him he turned quick
ly away, and he glanced suspiciously and
furtively at the boy at times during the
rest of the meal.
ssDon't like him." thought Dan. 'sHe
looks sneaky and tricky and not like a
gentleman.
But Dan, of course, kept his opinion
to himself.
Fortunately the lad was not sea-sick.
He learned his new duties quickly; was
alert, neat, and always good-natured. In
course of one week Captain Payson had
twice grunted approval.
Dan worked harder than ever, and be-
tween times, when the passenger was on
| deck, watched him.
Doctr Farnall talked fuently and bril-
liantly, as even Dams uucultured view
could perceive.
But there were days when the doctor
was absolutely silent, ate nothing and
paced the deck wrapped in profound 81
lence.
On one of these days, going down just
at twilight to get something he had left
in his bunk Dan saw tall figure which he
did not recognize, with candle groop-
ing about among the chests of the sailors
below
"Who's there ?" he shouted.
The man came quickly toward him.
The candle threw yellow glare over his
set face and glaring eyes. It was the pas
senger.
He caught Dan by the sieve.
"Here, boy-what do they call you %
ssDan.''
ssYou are surprised to see me here,
Dan ?" with q guilty laugh. 1'Took me
for ghost ?"
ST beg your pardon, sir; oughtn't to
have called you. But it took me, aback,
SIR
Naturally; but you need not be sur
prised at seeing me in any part of the
vessel. I am studying its construction
as scientific man. Captasn Payson has
been good enough to give me admittance
to all parts of the vessel. You needn't
shout that way again. It startles nerv-
GUS man" and with a vague smile he put
out the candle and went on deck, leaving
Dan staring after him.
'sIt's not all right, or why should he,
being gentleman, make such long ex-
planation to me, being cabin boy, said
Dan.
That night Captain Payson was alone
on the quarterback, when Dan presented
himself before him and saluted. His
voice shook little for he was terribly
scared.
.'Old Sob" was bigger man in his
eyes than any king.
ssWell, what's the matter with you ~
growled the captain.
ssThe-passenger."
"What have you to do with the passen-
ger r
.sI beg your pardon, sir; but are you
sure he isn't thief, or worse p gasped
Dan.
The captain seized the ropes end.
seTake that for your impudence, he
shouted, aiming blow at Dan, who
lodged it, and then blurted out the en-
tire story.
sscoa-ol ;,,,. M, ~, =, t1,o J,nnka9 Docfn1.