Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-02-28
THE SOUTTLED SHIP.

LII 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 a plenty OF
storage room, and had accommoda.
tions for two passengers.
The crew CONSISTED Of the cap.
tain, mate, four sailors, q black cook
aud cabin boy.
Captain Payson was a conscien-
tious, just man, who treated his crew
ueither to jvke 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 u say he was a
s.hard man, 0ut one you could tie t.
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
telt that the captain and crew eyed
him with suspicion. He was Oh pro.
baton, and he felt that not graiu OF
favor would be allowed him.
Dan was farm boy. who knew
nothing of the world beyond the
village in which was his mothers
church. The sea, Europe, Turkey,
A STA we're bewildering ideas TO burst
at once Oh his narrow experience,
scarcely wider than that OF the house.
dog sleeping at the barn door.
s'keep your eyes open aud your
hands ready to see the work of the
moment, and to do it before the mo-
ment 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 AZ in your own
home here" .-n.
Dan, in the hurry and excitement
of getting under way and of his new
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 q
raw hand, captain"
"Aye," grunted Captain Payson
che turns out better than l expected.
l took him tor his mothers sake
Widow old friend of mine"
"lcather gentiemanly fellow, this
passenger 2" ventured the mate, fluid.
ing Cspt. Paysou i'll al unusually
laxative mood.
"He is q gentleman, sir. One OF
the Farnall's d, of Spring field; ill-health
Doctor prescribed long sea voyage
A gentleman and a scholar, Mr..
Briggs -
Dan. while waiting OH the table at
dinner could not, help noticing the
passenger. "Some of these days.
thought the true-bOrn Yankee lad,
L, too, shall be q gentleman aud y
scholar"
Doctor. Farnall was q tall, lean
man, carefully dressed, with sandy
hair and moustache, but with eye.
brows and lashes white. His eyes
too, were large and pale. They
never met the eyes of any other mai
| fairly. Once, W hen Dan happened tC
look at him, he turned quickly away
and he glanced furtiveiy AMI suspi.
ciously at the boy, at times during
the rest of the meal.
Don't like him." thought Dan
CLOCKS sneakin. aud tricky, and uoI
like a gentleman.'
But Dan OF course, kept his opinion
to himself. Even job, the cook
snubbed the raw hand" aud toler.
ated no REMARKS from him.
Fortunately the lad was not seasick
He learned his duties quickly; was
alert, neat, and always good natured
In the course of one week, Captain
Payssn had Twice grumblrd ap
proval.
Dan worked harder than ever, aud
between times, for recreation, whel
the passenger was on deck, he watch
Cd him.
Doctor Farusll talked fluently and
brilliantly, as even Dams uncuitureU
mind could perceive. But mis- talh
was leyelsd far above the heads o.
either the captain or Mr.. Briggs, he
listened with half comprehendins
| admiration.
But there were days when the doc
tor was absolutely silent, at nothing
and paced the deck wrapped in pro
found gloom, his light eyes dartine
suspicious glances from side to side
On one Of these days, going dow1
just at twilight to find something he
had left in his bunk, Dan SAW tai
figure, which he could not recognize,
with candle cropping among the
chests of the sailors.
| "Whose there ?" he shouted.
The man came quickly toward Kim
The candle threw a yellow glare ovel
his set face and glaring eyes. 1t wa
the passenger. He caught Dan b,
the sleeve.
Here, boy-what do they cal
yeu?"
"Dau."
| You're surprised to see me here