The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-09-23
CHIPS, THE CARPENTER.
BY JOHN BOYLE o'REILLY.

"Chips," whom l knew for months by
4 no other name, was ships carpenter of
4 the whaler Gazelle, of New Bedford. He
4 was twenty-six years old six feet high,
aud strong as tree. He was the favor
z lite of the ship-and no wonder. He was
tender and gentle, perhaps because he
was strong; he was peaceful, because he
was powerful And the soft word which
turneth away wrath, with the gentle hand
to soothe sufferer, are often needed in
the whale fisheries
Most OF the foremost hands of the Ga
2elle were rough Portuguese lads, from the
Western Islands, on thor first voyage.
They were treated with coarse contempt
by the few American seamen and by the
officers.
The only "white man"--as the Yankee
sailor loves to call himself was kind
and patient with the rude boys was
Chips; and he was never tired of show
ing them or teaching them something of
what he knew. He was one of those
unselfish 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
rs one of the best and coolest whales
men aboard.
Although exempt from standing watch,
he had insisted on doing the duty from
the first day out. AT night, if the weather
were good, he would sit on the main
hatch, i'll the center of ring of the Por-
tugese 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, if there were
work for him at his trade, he still had
them around him, explaining everything
as he sawed or planed, as if he wished
to make them as good carpenters as he
was himself.
On Sunday, when every ono 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 pic
lures nor lctters-ncither face nor word
to remind him of home.
When the ship touched at some port
with a postoflice, and every ono ran for
letters. Chips remained aboard-he knew
there was none for him. IN one of the
boys albums he founda picture of an old,
white-haired woman-the lads mother
and every Sunday afternoon he asked for
that album, and always gave it back
when he had turned and looked at that
picture.
The ship had been two years out when
I first saw Chips. Through strange and
unhappy circumstances | was ahoat on
the Indian Ocean, in n small boat, when
this New Bedford whaler hove in sight,
and ran toward me. The first man to
spring out III 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 I 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 character.
Some people shake your hand so politely
that you feel they would care mighty
little about shaking your acquaintance;
some men slip their hands into yours
and make you feel as if you were squeez-
ing a fish; some peoples hands are 80
thick, and fat and cold, that you might
as well grasp the fingers of leather
dummy. Most people, and nice people,
shake hands as preliminary to converse
ton; but now and then ones hand
strikes into a sympathetic palm, the
fingers take full hold. the thumbs inter-
lock and closo-and when that friendly
grasp is over, there is not word to he
sail-it spoke all friendly greeting in its
own good language. Just such kindly
and grim grip did Chips give me the
first time we met.
When | boarded the whaler | was in a
bad way for clothes: all that belonged to
me in the world were the few branded
rags that 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 Q
hat, another Jacket, another pair of
sea boots, a jack-knife, cake OF to.
hacco, aud 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 lie saw all that had been given,
smiling at the rough boys as each one
handed his Offering, he drew me off to
his own cubby-holc, and hauled rcnnd
his own chest. Out on his bed came the
contents; and in a minute there was q
lair division of all it contained-hannels,
shirts, stockings and everything to q
handkerchief.
These are yours. and these are mine,
sad Chips; "and I'll make you ches
Tomorrow"
That's the sort of man he was il
everything. No wonder the boys loved
INN, and that the one word spoken il
'ne best tones of the ship was the name
Oh The kind-hearted, many Chips.
ne was rs brave as he was kind. Wher
whales were chased, Chips went down il
boat, and there was no cooler heat