The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-07-07

captain lreSSlC mas 1lSt 1allen ana broken
leg and two ribs; 'taint no use for him
to try to go this v'yge, and the Jennie
Lane will be ready to go to sea next
week. You are part owner, and now
you've had long vacation on shore,
here's good chance for you to get your
sea-legs on again. 1t did seem kind O
providental like, and, after turning the
matter over, | told them that | would go"
81 am afraid you are making Il mistake,
Abijah. | won't say nothing OrmySelt,
and the poor woman put the corner Of her
apron to her eye-it was only moment
ary weakness -"but | mistrust things
won't go all right"
$50 you've said before when I've been
agoin' to sail, but nothin' ever came OF
it. SO, cheer up, mother and, if you've
got Il good cup of that last tea | bought,
'tWOn't come amlss.'
"The Lord knows. We don't always
know our own minds, or what's good for
us. But if you must 90, Abiiah-and
now You've given your word, it can't be
helped must look over your things,
and if there's anything you need, I'll send
for Mehitable Wheeler to come right over
and help me do the sewing"
The Captain relieved that he had got
over the difficulty of breaking unpleasant
news to his wife SO easily, and that she
took it so kindly, had to give her a kiss,
while she, between smiles and tears,
said: ''Oh, yes; that's Just the way
you are always ready enough with your
kiss if III only let you have your own
way" but she was proud enough Of the
| old seacaptain for all that.
And so the matter was settled In a
fortnight Captain Baker was once more
crossing the Atlantic, the topsails of the
Jennie Lane swelling with the cXuberant
force of westerly gale which rapidly
bore him away from his quiet home and
disconsolate wife. In ten days they
sighted Fayal, and after a splendid run
of thirty-sX days, the Jennie Lane had
passed from the New World into the Old
World, from the nineteenth century into
the past ages, from the orthodox tones OF
the bell of Park Street Church to the
theistic chant of the muezzin OF Islam.
and discharged the rum of Medford and
the prints Of Manchester upon the wharves
of Smyrna.
In another month she was ready to turn
her bowsprit again toward Long Wharf
and the land of the setting sun. Her hold
was packed with balls of wool and rags.
The matches were battened down, the
topsails were hoisted and sheeted home
and back to the mast: the crew. with Il
long song. had got the anchor atrip; the
passengers, a missionary with his wife and
four children, were busy arranging their
quarters in the small cabin the Greek
pilot was on board: ana the setting sun
WAS tinging the mountain -cragS OF Ana
tolia with rosGatG hucs. and gliding the
red roofs, crescent-tipped mnarets, and
crumblng Roman ramparts OF Smyrna,
when Captain Baker and the consignee
came of to the ship, having paid their
last visit to the consul and the health
officers of the port.
''Alr. Partridge, YOU can make sail on
her and east off +; let me know when all is
ready" said the captain to the mate as
he went below for the last consultation
with the consignee AS the breeze was
light, the opgallant sails and royals
We're sheeted home, and when she was
adritt Mr.. Partridge called the Captain.
AS the bark fell off gracefully on the
starboard tack, the two BRASS pieces were
fired Capt Baker was a strict discipline
arian; he kept his vessel trim as a yacht,
and in entering or leaving port aimed at
Il man-ot- war style as far as is possible in
a merchant ship.
"Good-bye, Captain Baker" said the
consignee, as he stepped into his boat !;
"a pleasant and quick voyage for you
When shall we look for you again ~
''Oh, this is my last v'yge, | amt 90
ing to sea any more promised Mrs.
Baker to stay at home after this v'yge."
$50 you said the last time you were
here. "We'll see you back again before
long"
"No, say goodbye to Smyrna now,
for good and all. But expect te see You
in Boston some time
Everything looked propitious for Il
prosperous voyage home: but, being the
summer season, the occasional gales and
squalls they encountered were alternated
by light, battling winds and long calms,
always more or less irritating to the rul-
ing mind which PAGES the quarter deck,
but at1ording a good opportunity for
Scraplng the masts, setting up and sluSh-
ing the rigging and painting the ship
from truck to water-line. In this way
the Jennie Lane was made to look as il
she were "intended to be put under a
glass case,' while Captain Baker talked
theology with the missionary, and kept an
eye on the barometer or the ol1ng for {,
breeze. On the 4th of July the bark was
suddenly surrounded by field ice and
bergs Of enormous size; the air, from al
most tropical heat. became Wintry cold
and the heat of the sun and the moon on
| the gittering masses, while it displayed
| their splendor also revealed the extent OF
the perils by which they were surround
ed. Most fortunately the weather con
tinued clear, and they had a leading
wind, and thus escaped the ice unharm-
ed. And now, no fol- the Grand Banks
and for home Captain Baker had beer
! impatient all the voyage to reach the
Banks, hoping to see his son there the
| Gentle Annie was generally on fishing
! grounds about that time, and the Captain
was especially anxious for clear weather
so that he might not only see his boys
schooner but might also thus avoid th,
danger of running her down in the fog, q
peril of the Banks which neither fog horns
nor whistles nor the utmost vigilance cal
/ dltoStlutl ulSptl IL WIS Il great Itlltl
therefore, when on a fine, clear morning
with a good otting, Captain Baker saw /;
fleet of fishermen at anchor ahead Ol
lodging about after fish. With eagerness
he scanned them all, recognizing one ane
another in turn; but it was with ill-con-
cealed disappointment that he failed t(
see the Gentle Annie anywhere in sight
IIailing one Of the schooners which was
from the Cape, he inquired for her where
abouts, and was informed that she ha(
started for home some days previous
having got a full fare of fish.
"Well," said Captain Baker, "I'm rgh
glad to hear Johns got full fare 81
early in the season; he'll be coming ou
again before long, and, if he gets gooC
CATCH then thercll be wedding, and yol
can count me in as one OF those present
| don't know anybody who deserves ;
good wife more than our John, and that's
what he's a-going to have"
IL, 4