The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-05-12

He's going to the colonies with a lot of
wax figures to exhibit them.
"Wax figures Why, they'll melt if
you leave them on the orlop deck, won't
they?"
fWell, that's his business" said the
worthy Captain, good-naturedly. TheL
turning to Narcissus, he said & :" Well
sir, / am pleased to meet you.s / shall
make your voyage as agreeable as pos
sible. You will be very comfortable
Just exactly the same as If you were on
land"
Narcissus was in despair.
"But, Captain" said he, "you'hever
have voyage without storm, do
you '-- sss-srs.sss,.s. sss,a. ssssr'
"Ssorm storml Why, - dsar sir.
I've followed the sea, man and boy, Tor
twenty-one years, and, with the excep-
ton Of eapfnl of wind now and then,
I've always had splendid weather.
May the devil strangle you and
your splendid weather thought Mar
cissus.
"If you were in winter, now" con
tinued the Captain. "I don't say but
that it might be little rough; but IN
July Why, my dear sir, you'll scarce
| ly know that you're at sea.
Captain" said Narcissus suddenly,
taking the bull by the horns, can L
! get back my passage money? want
10 go on some other ship.
"Some other ship ?" said the aston
| ished Captain. "Why, you could not
be better satisfied. The brig Is a spien-
did one. The sailors are all religious
YOU never hear an oath or a vulgar
word from their lips" -
At the thought of these nun-hke /
mariners. Narcissus made an lnyolun- /
tary grimace. a..
couldn't be better off Besides, accord |
ing to maritime law. after you've paid /
your passage, the money cannot De TO
turned to you"
SO the unhappy Narcissus left the /
Sarah Ann, and did not reappear until
the hour of sailing, such was his disgust
at the unromantic character OF vessel,
master and crew.
When he went to the pier to engage a
boat to take him out to the brig he met
the stout man whom ne had seen II the
Captains cabin. This individual pro-
posed that they should hire boat joint
ly to transport themselves and baggage
to the brig, and Narcissus consented.
He bade farewell to his cousin, and
tumbled into the boat. The stout man
followed him.
"Have you ever been to sea, sir ?" he
asked.
mo" replied Narcissus "and
you?'
Never, sir this is the first time. 1
am going to the colonies to exhibit my
wax figures"
"What do they represent ?" asked
Narcissus, mechapically.
That" said he, pointing 10 one
they were long, narrow boxes, about ss-
by three ttat contains magnificent
figure of tAe Emperor Napoleon that,
a hou-- of his Holiness the Pope; that,
ap nblno, and he went through the
well, what do you bother me with it
for ?" demanded Narcissus, glad to find
some one to vent his Ill humor upon.
g / only told you because you asked |
me, sir, replied the man. submissively.
''Well, shut up, viii YOU ?" replied
The gentle Narcissus. "You talk too
much u
The stout mans eyes snapped angriIy,
but he said nothing.
They reached the vessels side, and,
with unheard-of precautions, the show
man had his boxes put aboard. He
made the sailors almost expire with
|
he climbed the ladder, and his calling
The masts "the poles furnished them
Iresh food for merriment
At 8 o'clock in the evening the Sarah
Ann weighed anchor and set out on her
voyage. Narcissus remained on deck,
the sun set, and thus, as he
it, "relighting the torch of
ooesy in his SOUL But he hadn't been
here long before he became extremely
'ea-sick, and two grinning tars took him
below.
Az for the Snowman, he remained on
leck amusing the crew by his ignorance
If nautical matters, which was dense.
However, as he was about to go below,
ne noticed that one of the sheets was I
working loose from its cleat. CHANGING
carefully around him, and seeing no one
pear, he hauled it taut and Delayed it
With the expertness of an old sailor.
Having done this he went off to examine
lis cases.
Narcissus did not sleep. As he tossed
upon his pillow he invoked the
muses..
80 muses. nine," quoth he, 'pity me,
md send us something romantic "a
tempest, a shipwreck anything.
have quilted realms of pins, needles and
tape, and abandoned myself to the Ca
price of the waves, only that my life may
become exciting. Pity me, then, We I
gods Blow, old Boreas, blow Lash Y
thy waves, o Neptune p t
It is doubtful whether either the y
muses. or the gods heard him, but it is /
certain that something very singular I
took place almost upon the heels Of his J
prayer. {
The brig was not provided with state 9
rooms for passengers, SO the apartment I
by Narcissus consisted only of 1
an old sail draped around the place
tween decks where his hammock was I
swung. This canvas he could see over. 1
and this is what took place. The feeble {
glimmer of . ships lantern served TO {
Illumine the place without, and its ravs {
Tell upon the showlnan's boxes, which /
we're lashed up against the vessels side. $
Emerging from the darkness Narsissus !
saw the figure of the burly Snowman.
"The base hind p thought he. HaI- I
ways anxious for his business. Here he J
IS examining his figures when he might 1
be Watching the stars In yon azure
vault" S
Narcissus paused in his poetical fight.
DIS eyes openeu "lueiy ne almost
,eased to breathe. For the Snowman Z
after carefully glancing around him. had |
opened one of the boxes, and a man {
stepped out. The newcomer EXCHANGED /
/ whispered word with the Snowman ]
md began to shake his numb and rioid {
limbs.
This is indeed romantic" muttered
Narcissus. But he felt cold sensation 5
creeping up his back. !
The Snowman continued his task OF !
opening the boxes. One by one the
wax figures stepped forth, shook them
selves and felt their joints. When the
last box was opened, there were sir of :
them, beside the Snowman. Each man :
drew out pistols and knives, looked IN ]
the locks, and replaced the weapons in
convenient positions