The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-03-31
THE SCUTTLED SHIP.

In June 1860, the brig Polly Deems,
Captain Job Payson, sailed from Boston
for port in Turkey, laden with cotton
goods. She was a new, taut little vessel,
with plenty of storage room and had &C
comodation for two passengers
The crew consisted of the captain, mate,
four sailors, black cook and cabin
boy.
Captain Payson was a contentious,
just man, who treated his crew neither to
jokes nor grog, but who lodged and fed
them better than would five out of six Of
the masters sailing from New England
ports. ......... ....
"Old Job,'' the mate, who was from the
West, used to say, he was "a hard man,
but one you could tie to, in fair weather
or 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 the captain
and crew eyed him with suspicion. He
was on probation, and he felt that not a
grain Of favor would be allowed him.
Dan was farm boy, who knew moth
ing of the world beyond the village in
which was his mothers church. Ship
board, the sea, Europe, Turkey, here
were bewildering ideas to burst at once
on his narrow experience, scarcely wider
than that of the house dog sleeping at
the barn door.
"Keep your eyes open and your hands
ready to see the work Of the moment and
to do it before the moment is over" was
his mothers last advice. "For the rest
Daniel, ask the Lords help. You'll find
him just as near to you in Turkey as in
your own home here.' Ill.,.
Dim, in a hurry and excitement Of get
ting under way, and of his new duties,
repeated this ADVICE over and over to
himself. 1t seemed to keep his mother
near him. Several days after, while he
was carrying the dinner dishes into the
cabin, he overheard the mate say
"That boy is clipper enough for raw
hand, captain9''
'"Aye," grunted Captain Payson, "turns
out better than expected. took him for
his mothers sake. Widow. Old friend
of NINE" ..+
"Rather gentlemanly fellow, this pas.
senger9" ventured the mate, finding Cap
tain Payson in an unusually talkative
mood.
"He is a gentleman, sir. One of the
Farnalls of Springfield. Ill-heal tn. Doc
tor prescribed a long sea voyage. A gen
tleman and scholar, Mr.. Briggs!"
Dan while waiting on the table at din
ner could not help noticing the passen-
ger. "Some of these days." thought
the true-born Yonkee lad, 81 too, shall
be gentleman and scholar
Doctor Farnall was 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 OAR
happened to look at him he turned quick
ly away, and he glanced furtively an6
suspiclously at the boy, at times, during
the rest Of the meal.
"Dont like him." thought Dan. Clock.
sneaking and tricky, and not like gen
tleman.'
III But Dan, of course, kept his opinion
to himself. Even Job, the cook, snubbet
the raw hand" and tolerated no remark
from him.
Fortunately, the lad was not sea-sick
He learned his new duties quickly; wa
alert, neat, and always good-natured. Il
the course of one week, Captain Payso
had twice grumbled approval.
Dan worked harder than ever, and be
tween times, for recreation, when tn
passenger was on deck, he watched him
Doctor Farnall talked luently an