Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-10-22
A Mysterious Legacy.


out of sight of land, and who, if they
got there, could never get back-but
genuine ssold SALT" trained from
boyhood under a tarpaulin hat, and
as familiar with the "paths of the
sea- as a shepherd is with those of a
sheep-walk. Spending his life on
extensive voyages he was seldom at
home long enough at time for the
salt spray to dry on his weather-beat-
en- cheeks; and there was hardly a
port on the habitable globe in which
he could not shake hands with an old
acquaintance, either civilized or saw
age.
Of course his history was crowded
with curious incidents. Most of
these, at which my childish ears tin
gled and my eyes dilated, have be-
come SO faded in memory as to be
incapable of tolerable narration.
The following, however, made more
lasting impression:
During the calm between the Old
French war and the American Revo-
luton large ship was lying at a
wharf in the town of New York,
loaded with valuable cargo and
ready to sail for Liverpool, and
thence to whatever part of the globe
the chances of commerce might die
tate.
This was my grandfather ship,
only waiting for her papers and
fair wind. The papers were soon
ready, and shortly after them came
breeze. Presently everything on
board was in active motion-the cast
ing off and coiling of ropes, the un-
| furling of canvas, and the running
up of sailor boys along the ratlines
like spiders on their webs while the
sharp, imperative orders of the mate,
and the hearty ''ye-hoy-ye" of the
cheerful crew echoed over the rip
pling waters of the harbor, which
looked in the rays of the setting sun
as if it was covered with cream of
liquid gold.
Just before the last plank was
hauled in, a stranger stepped hur-
riedly on board and inquired for the
captains state-room. Being con-
Quoted thither, he entered, and, with
a slight bow, accosted the captain,
who sat writing at his desk:
"You are for Liverpool, believe,
sir?'
eyes, sir"
II am in poor health, and, intend
ing to spend the winter in Italy, wish
to get passage In the first ship that
sails for Europe. Will you take a
passenger?''
"Yes, sir, if my accommodations
will suit you
s'No matter about accommodations
captain. am an old sailor and
know how to accommodate myself.
Besides, the trim of your ship suits
my eye."
The allusion to his health attracted
my grandfather's scrutiny, and the
introduction of himself as an old
sailor touched his heart. On noticing
him more particularly, he was struck
with an undefinable feeling of curl
osity and sympathy at his appearance.
Tall, straight and rather slender, he
was dressed in fine black broadcloth
with sort of Spanish cloak of the
same color and quality. A two-edged
sword, common on shipboard at that
time, aud improperly called a cutlass,
was partly covered by his cloak and
hung by his side without sheath.
His hair was quite gray, and his
manly features would have been
handsome had they not been so ema-
ciated as to give unpleasant promi-
nence to half dozen deep scars on
his face. The looseness of one of
his black gloves gave evidence that
he had lost finger or two from his
left hand. These observations were
made by the captain while the stran-
ger was looking at beautiful sex
tant on the table. Turning, as if
startled at his forgetfulness, he re-
sumed:
shame the price, captain, and ]
will pay it now"
My grandfather had already fixed
the price in his mind, and replied:
"You are sailor, sir, and sick.
The accommodations of my ship, as
well as my own services, are at your
free command"
The language of a sailors heart
cannot be misunderstood, and knows
no interpreter; and the stranger
knew that remonstrance would be
ungenerous on his part. He made
no reply, but eagerly extended his
hand, and my grandfather, as he
shook it, thought he saw tear in
the strangers eye. But noble hearts
are impatient of exhibitions of graft
tude, and he quickly added:
81 am ready to sail, sir. Is your
baggage on boards"
"This is all my baggage, sir" he
replied, showing HIM small black
satchel under his cloak.
Leading him to state-room the
captain left him and went on deck,
and found the ship already under
way, the sails filed with a stiff