The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-02-04
AMONG SHARPERS.

AMONG SHARPERS.
not?'' ''-'
was standing with my son, a lad of four
teen, lat a toy shop window in one of the prin.
cipal streets of Liverpool. He had just been
apprenticed to well-known firm of ship
owners, and was daily expecting to sail in
the Berkshire Castle for Valparaiso. In all
the glories of his new uniform, he walked
by my side full of hope and gladness, and
eagerly interested in all he saw. Some
model ships in this particular window at.
tracted his attention, and we stood for a few
moments looking at them. I was not aware
that anyone else was near us; but on turn
Ing away observed gentleman also look
the window. He was stout, darkroom
plexiOned, and of q somewhat foreign
aspect. Except that he wore carefully
trimmed mustache, his face was closely
shaver, and his iron -gray hair was closely
cut. Judged him to be about fifty years OF
age. He was dressed in black; and one
could not help noticing that his clothes were
OF superior quality and fit. There was moth
ing else about him, however, to attract at
tention; no extravaganza of fashion or dis
play OF conspicuous jewelry. Plain gold
studs adorned his shirt front, and he had
also a plain gold watch chain, from which
was suspended small locket.
As l turned, our eyes met; and the
stranger, pointing to one of those toy-ser-
penis constructed with innumerable joints
for the amusement of children, repeated the
question which I have just quoted-"A
curious kind Of toy, that, sir-is it nOt?"
l felt inclination to enter into conversa-
ton with him; but without actual rudeness
1t was impossible to avoid making some reply
to his remark. Every Ingenious" said,
''and also very simple" 4
=" have seen some much prettler things OF
hn in ho N.
ger continued. Then looking at my son, he
inquired: "Is he in the service"
''Well," replied, che is just going to
sea. He was apprenticed yesterday"
''Indeed. To what companyT
I told him the name of the firm; and he
am a seaman myself; but 1 am in the
American service. 1 am Captain of the AL
ma, of New York, now lying in the Stanley
Dock. We came in only last night"
After another word or two, we babe him
ood-morning, and turned to 60 on our way;
but the American Captain was going in the
same direction, and would walk a little way
with us. AS we went along, he addressed
himself to my son, asking many questions as
to the size and construction of the Berkshire
Castle, the number of her officers and crew,
the complement Of apprentices, and many
other details which to the boy himself were
OF course the most important things in the
world. These questions he followed up by
some most sound and excellent advice. Told
the young apprentice that he would very
likely hear great deal Of bad language when
at sea; but he must take no notice of it, and
above all, must not get into the habit of US
ing it. He had himself been four-and.twen-
ty years at sea. and had always managed to
get on without using bad language.
He went on in this style; cautioned the
boy against drink and other evils, and coun-
seled him to be kind and thoughtful toward
his Contemporaries, and not to boast over
them or assume any airs of superiority if he
found himself able to do what they could
not, but to help them, and in all respects to
be gOOd-tempered and modest in his bearing
toward them. BY this time we had reached
the hotel where my son and l were staying.
But even now our American Captain was
not to be separated from us. He would like
to sit down somewhere and rest little; SO
he followed us into the coffee-room of the
hotel, and there continued telling us some
of his experiences during his life at sea, and
spinning yarns which l confess were not a
little interesting to myself and which my boy
listened to with unconcealed delight. be-
gan to regret the somewhat uncOurteous way
in which had received the first advances of
this gentleman, for that he was gentleman
could not be questioned.
We had been sitting in this way perhaps
quarter of an hour, no other persons being
in the room. when the door opened and in
came, timidly and awkwardly, another
stranger. We all looked up and were evil
IDENTITY struck by his appearance, for the
newcomer was not such man as one often
meets with. He wore new, high-crowned,
very narrow brimmed hat, which was set
upon the back Of his head, and a black
oyercoat, also new, with wooden collar, the
top Of which nearly touched the brim of his
hat behind. On his finger observed dia-
to be seen upon his person. His face was
fresh and healthy looking, and but for an &C.
casional CLEAN of sinister light in his eyes,
would have given you the impression that
here was an honest, unsophisticated, and not
oversharp young man. He was apparently
about seven or eight and twenty years old.
I have said that he came timidly and awk
wardly into the room. He seemed confused
and uncertain what to do, and before sitting
down he inquired, in rich Milesian accents:
. 81 beg E, your PARDON slntlemen-is this
We told him it was not.
"Sure, 1 thought it might be, as Icouldn't
fnd the bell. :"
Here is the bell, !" replied the American.
"Shall ring it for your
All, to be sure, there 1t ts. Thank you,
sorr; I'll be glad if you will.
The waiter came in; and the Irishman or
dered bottle Of lemonade, which we left
him to drink while we pursued our chat.
At length there was . pause, and the
American-who by the way had told us that
his name was Misunderstanding at the new
conner said: "You are stranger in Liver
pool, sir?''
"Sure, that's just what am; I haven't
been here many hours, and I never saw it
before. I've not long come from Dublin"
"Did you arrive by boat this morningw
"No: came over to Holyhead about q
week since, and we were only four hours
passing; but oh, it's i'll that was! Don't
wish was back again. I'd never come over
any more. You may depind I'd never have
ness in London had to attend to connected
with our family, and precious bother it's
been"
"You did not care, them" said !, 'sfor be-
ing among the lawyers" eA-T -
swell, I shouldn't have minded it 80 much
If il hadn It been for the signing of my name
90 often; but sure thought I'd never have