The Worthington advance., 1882-03-09
A YOUNG HERO.

= :. In,J June, 1860, the brig Polly Deems,
Capt. Job Payson, sailed from Boston for q
port Of Turkey, laden with cotton goods.
She was a new, taut little vessel. with plen-
ty of storage room, and had accommodation
for two passengers.
The crew consisted of the captain, mate.
four sailors, black cook, and cabin boy.
Capt. Payson was conscientious, just
man, who treated his crew neither to jokes
or grog, but who lodged and fed them bet
ter than would five out of six Of the masters
from New England ports.
"Old Job, the mate, who was from tho
west, used to say he was "a hard man, but
one you could tie to, in fair weather or
foul"
His crew were picked men, and. with tho
exception of Dan, the cabin boy, had been
with him for years. This was Dams first
voyage, and he felt that tho captain and
crew eyed him with suspicion. He was on
probation, and he felt that not grain of
favor would be allowed him.
Dan was a farm boy, who knew nothing
of the world beyond the village in which
sea, Europe, Turkey, here were bewildering
ence, scarcely wider than that Of the house
dog sleeping at the barn door.
Keep your eyes open and your hands
ready to see the work of the moment and to
do it before the moment is over" was his
mothers last advice. For the rest, Dan
iel, ask the Lords help. You'll find Him
just as near to you in Turkey as in your own
home here"
Dan, in the hurry and excitement of get
ting under way, and Of his new duties, re-
peated this over and over to himself. It
seemed to keep his mother near him.
Several days after, while he was carryin 9
the dinner dishes into the cabin, he over
heard the mate say:
THAT boy is clipper enough for raw
hand, captain.
''Aye,' grunted Capt. Payson; "turns
out tetter than expected. took him fo1
bis mothers sake. Widow. Old friend Of
mine"
''kather gentlemanly fellow this passer-
.ger?" ventured the mate, finding Captain
1ayson in al unusually tnlkative mood
He is gentleman. sir, one Of the
Faruals, Of Springfield. lll-health. Doc :
tor prescribed 4 long sea voyage A gen.
tleman and scholar, Mr. Briggs!"
Dan, while waiting on the table at dinner
COMP not help noticing the passenger.
Some Of these days." thought the true
born Yankee lad, Il too, shall be gentle
man and u scholar"
Dr. Farnall Was tall, lean man, carefully
dressed, with sandy hair and mustache,
but with eyebrowsaud lashes almost white.
His eyes were large and pale. They met
the eyes of any other man fairly. Once,
when Dan happened to look ut him, he
turned quickly away, and he glanced fur
lively and suspiciously at the boy, at times,
during the rest Of the meal
Don't like him, thought Dan Looks
sneaking and tricky, and not like gentle
man."
But Dan, of course, kept his opinion to
himself. Even Job, the cook, snubbed the
raw hand, and tolerated no remarks from
him.
Fortunately, the lad was not seasick. He
learned his new duties quickly, was alert,
neat, and always good. natured. In
the course Of one week Capt. Payson had
twice grumbled approval.
Dan worked harder than ever, and be-
tween times, for recreation, when the pas
senger was on deck, he watched him.
Dr., Faluell talked tluently and brillianit-
}y. as even Dams uncultured view coui 4
preecive. Bnt his talk was leyeled fur
above the heads of either the captain or
Mr.. Briggs, who listened with half-compre.
hending admiration.
But there were days when the doctor was
absolutely silent, ate nothing, and paced
the deck wrapped i'll profound gloom,
bis light eyes darting suspicious ghances
from side to side.
On one CT these days Dan, going down
Just at twilight to find something he had
left in his bunk. saw Il tall figure, which he
could not recognize, with /. candle grop-
ing among the chests of the sailors
who's there:" he shouted.
The man came quickly toward him. The
candle threw yellow gare over his set
face and glaring eyes. It was the passen-
ger. He caught Dan by the sleeve.
Here, boy--what do they call your"
f'You're surprised to see me here, Dan ?''
with guilty laugh '"rook me for ghost,
ch?"
Il beg your pardon, sir; I oughtn't to
have called to you. But it took me aback,
sir"
Naturally, you need not be surprised at
seeing me IN any part Of the vessel. an
studying its construction, as scientific man.
Capt. Payson has been good enough to give
me admittance to all parts of the vessel.
You needn't shout in that disagreeable way
again. It startles a nervous man; and,
with vague smile, he blew out the candle
and went upon deck, leaving Dan staring
after him.
IT'S not all right; or why should he, be-
Ing gentleman, make such q long explain.
alton to me, being cabin boy" said Dar
at last, shaking his head,
That night, Captain Payson was alone or
the quarter deck, when Dan presented
himself before him and saluted. His voice
shook little, for he was terribly scared
"Old Job" was bigger man in his eyes
than any king or potentate.
well what's the matter with your
growled the captain.
'The-the passenger, SIR"
What have you to do with the passen.
ger?"
II beg your pardon, sir-but are you
sure ne isn't thief, or worse?" gaspel
Dan, forgetting in his terror, the rospect.
ful speech he had planned, in which he
meant to state the fact of Dr.. Farnell's vii,
it below deck.
The captain seized the ropes end. Take
that for your impuaence!' he shouted
aiming blow at Dan, who lodged it, and
then blurted out the whole story
Searching among the hunks? DR.. Far
nell! muttered the captain in astonishment
cropping his weapon: and then he walked
thoughtfully up and down. Suddenly he
stopped before Dan.
1T ia we'll you came to me and nobody
else with the story" he said at is of nc
account. DR.: Fa1nell is an eccentric man
II he wishes to examine the ship in any
part, he is not to be watched and spied up
on: So keep your eyes open to yourself
and your tongue too. If you go blabbine
this story about I'll fog you"
Dan crept off to his work feeling as if he
had sound drubbing. Tears of rage and
modification stood in his eyes.
Mothers rules do very we'll on land, but
they won't work on shipboard," he NUT
tered. But there's something that needs
watching about that man, and I'll watch
him."
Nothing Of moment happened, however,
for week. Then Dan observed that the
passengers days of fasting and depression
grew more frequent. There were whole
nights when he paced the deck until morn
ing.
The crew joked together about him. One
declared that he was murderer; another.
that he escaped from a lun attic asylum: but
the common opinion Was that he had run
away from te rmagant wife,
Dye mind" said Irish Jim, "how he
eyes every ship We hail, as though she
might be aboard?"