The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1880-07-10
The Old Sea Captains Story.

Captain Gray, VIII at is land lub-
Der P"
The old sea captain laughed one of his
hearty, rollicking laughs, as he ret the
gaze of the serious brown eyes lifted to
his face
"A land-lubber ? Why, my boy,
that's what the sailors call one who has
never been on the wide blue sea. 1t
strikes me that two very good definitions
of the word are sitting close beside me
now, waiting for their sailor friend TO
begin his yarn. Well, Pm ready =
what shallit be P"
"A true story )" exclaimed Walter.
"A love story" coyly added fifteen
year-old Alice.s
The old sailor looked thoughtful
moment; then he said:
VERY well, it shall be both a true
story and a love story something
which happened in my own life.
Thirty years ago [ was not the old
man you see me. These gray hairs
were as black as the ravens wing then,
and these wrinkled cheeks had been
bronzed bereath the skies of many
chimes.
From mere | I'd | had always loved
the sea, and the sea must have loved me );
for from poor cabin boy, l rose
through hard work to what the wor,, d
calls successful man. and the owner
and captain of as stanch vessel as
eyes could wish to see.
II had one daughter named Nellie, the
prettiest girl $50 every one said) for
miles around. She was all I had to
love, ssffI with a fond fathers pride /
gave her the finest of clothes and sent
her to the best of schools. Then, when
she came home from school for good,
such pleasant times as we had But
after while cloud came over my
happiness for I began to see that my
pretty daughter could not always stay
with me.
Admirers began to be attracted to
our cosy cottage, and one, soon saw,
Nelly liked better than any of the rest
John Estey was his name. and that he
was fair appearing lad could not but
admit, but he was only common sailor
before the mast, aud in my pride said
that never should the daughter of the
captain of the Ellen Gray wed with one
so far beneath her. Besides, quite lately
there had been another who had seen
and fancied my daughter, and who had
confided to me his wish to make her his
wife. Mr.. Morris was older than she
to be sure, by some ten OF twelve years,
but he was very rich, and I thought to
myself how well Nellie, with her beauty
and lady-like manners, would grace his
elegant home.
hadn't told Nellie as yet of my
ideas for her future; but as she had al
ways been one of the gentlest of girls, |
any opposition.
but one afternoon as came home
from the river and walked quietly up
the garden path, what should see but
John Estey and Nellie seated close to-
gether on the stoop. And, to my great
indignation, the audacious fellow had
his arm around my girls waist!, They
were evidently far away in some worle
! of their own, for my presence was un
known until, like bomb-shell, burs
in mon them. What said do not re
l oomher was yery angry; but word
spoken ia passion are soon forgotten
and it is well for us all that it is so.
] know that must have said some
cruel, bitter things, for when l hat
finished John Estey rose from Nellie''
side, and his face was very white as b
replied quietly, his manner in marked
contrast to my wrath:
"'Captain Gray, / love your daughter
and she has acknowledged that sh
loves me. Surely that is no cause TO