The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-11-12
CHIPS, THE CARPENTER.

"Chips," whom l knew for months
by no other name, was ships carpenter
of the whaler Gazelle, of New Bedford.
He was twenty-six years old, six fee.
high, and as strong as a tree. He wa.
the favorite OF the ship-and no wonder.
He was tender and gentle, perhaps be-
cause he was strong; he was peaceful,
because he was powerful. And the soft
word which turneth away wrath, with
the gentle hand to sOOthe a sufferer. are
often needed in the whale fisheries.
Most OF the foremast hands of the
Gazelle were rough Portuguese lads,
from the Western islands, on their first
voyage. They were treated with coarse
contempt by the few American seamen
and by the officers.
The only man who was kind and pa
tient with the rude boys was Chips !;
and he was never tired OF showing them
or teaching them something of what he
knew. He was one of those unselfisb
fellows who did not believe in keeping
knowledge TO themselves. He had
never been to sea before, but during the
first two years of this voyage he had
attended to so many things besides his
own easy work, that he was considered
as one OF the best and coolest whalesmen
aboard.
Although exempt from standing
watch, he had insisted on doing the
duty from the first day out. At night,
if the weather was good, he would sit
on the main hatch in the center of
ring OF the Portuguese lads, and with
wonderful patience teach them to make
spices and knots and TO speak English.
He never tired of doing this or any
other kindly thing for them. In the day
time ii there was work for him at his
trade he still had them around him, ex-
planning everything as he sawed or
planed, as if he wished to make them as
good carpenters as he was himself.
On Sunday, when every one brought
his letters and pictures on deck, Chips
showed the only signs of sadness we
ever saw. He was the only one on
board-except myself-who had neither
pictures or letters, neither face nor
word to remind him of home.
When the ship touched at some port
with postofiice and every one ran for
letters, Chips remained aboard-he
knew there was none for him. In one
of the boys albums he found a picture
of an old whitehall woman-the lads
mother-and every Sunday afternoon he
asked for that album, and always gave
1t back when he had turned and looked
at that picture.
The ship had been two years out when
| first saw Chips. Through strange and
unhappy circumstances 1 was afioat on
the Indian ocean, in a small boat, when
this New Bedford whaler hove in sight.
and ran toward me. The first man to
spring out in the miZzen chains, to help
me aboard, was strong-handed Chips,
with tears of sympathy in his eyes. On
deck the captain met me with open hand
and heart, and for eight months sailed
with the whalemen, and took part IN the
good and i'll that befell them.
Chips and were friends from the in
slant our hands struck. Shaking hands
is one of the best tests of charactert
Some people shake your hand SO
politely that you feel they would care
mighty little about shaking your ac.
quaintance; some men slip their hands
into yours and make you feel as il you
were squeezing fish, some peoples
hands are so thick, and hat, and cold.
that you might as well grasp the fingers
OF a leather dummy. Most people, and
nice PEOPLE, shake hands as a preliminary
to conversation; but now and then ones
hand strikes into sympathetic palm,
the fingers take full hold, the thumbs
interlock and close when that
friendly grasp is over, there is not a word
10 be said-it spoke all friendly greeting
in its own good language. just such a
kindly and grim grip did Chips give me
the first time we met
When boarded the whaler i was IN
a rad way for clothes; all that belonged
to me in the world were the few branded
rags that l had worn in the boat.
Sailors are used to such things; and
they know the remedy. Every one
came forward with his little offering.
One brought "a hat, another Jacket, an
other pair of sea boots, jackknife, a
cake Of tobacco and so on, until / had
bunk full OF marine necessities.
Chips had least to give of all, for he
had shipped without regular outfit.
But when he saw all that had been
given, smiling at the rough boys as each
one handed his offering, he drew me of
to his own cubby hole, and hauled round
his own chest. Out on his bed came
the contents and in a minute there was
a fair division OF all it containei-han-
nels. shirts: stockings and everything TO
handkerchief.
These are yours and these are mine"
said Chips; "and I'll make you chest
Tomorrow"