New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-23
CHAPTER XIX.


Monday. the 2sth of September s.. Tins was
the day fixed for the sailing Of the Srathmore, and
| had ascerialncd from the owners. to whom had
forwarded the balance Of the paSsagc-moncy. that if
meant TO Join the ship IN the docks must be on
board not later than If o'clock in the morning. /
had sent my luggage down OH the previous Friday -
and monday being arrived badc my landlady fare
we'll. and armed with large carpct-bag' IN which
Ner, slowed the few Conyenicnoes | immediately re-
autrd. Jumped into cab ana was diiNch l"
Frnchurch street station. had had 50 much time
in which tc thoroughly think ever the resolution
had formed to accompany Florence to sydney
taking my chance OF what might follow Whrh we
wer. landed Oh Australian SOIL that. now that the
hour had so long looked forward To was arrived,
and / had practically embarked, rs may say on
nv wild and singular undertaking. set about the
iob Of Joining the ship with the same cool delibtr-
atcncss Of mud should have possessed had been
gong in her as mate Tor seven or eIght ponhdS
month OF rs passenger bound on some important
commercial crrand. TWAS about hall past 10 when
reached the ship and the scene Of life raised up IN
me such flavor of my old calling that felt as II
had no business TO be going lcisurrly aboard. but
ought TO be- tumbling about the decks shouting ont
order, and seeing all ready for hauling ont OF dock
The StrathIuore was now in regular a-golng trim,
l,,l,d down To well above the line OF her yellow
sheathing all yards across and the sails bent the
IougLo,t full of livestock the hrucoops along the
noon crammcd with poultry huge squares OF com
pressed hay (which dung a fanny ard smell upon the
air secured near the main rigging buc-pcl'r hoat
ing laz ~ at the fore. the companyS house nag at
the MAN. and the English ensign ut the peak. Inc
u,in-dcck was full OF people stccrago and tween
deck passengers and their friends, conNerSIug IN
groups aud waiting for the inevitable signai LOT ue-
parting The scene was a familiar one 10 me- ana
vet | found myself a. STEPPED over the gdng"ay'
ulancug with perfectly fresh interest at the o!I pct
n,r oI here Young woman silently pyWg; there q
family of father mother and little children gathered
rouud the aged couple who hdd hli,!c "'HiS y"ul-
nry TO see the poor hearts OIL ana "ould nha INC
r.;,ynv home heavier still yondcr an lll-ciad man
standing with his arms folded, looking a' tue shPs
which law around. his haggard face giving you
,nd mage of the detected. doubling, harassed NINA
inside him The StrathmOre was not an chilgriuI
shin but she had accommodation IN hcr tWeth-
decks between the stcerage bgIkheau ann ,lc i o
mast for n few poor people who were chaIErII ci-
GRANTS fares and went out as emlglaulS' ana con
srouently her deck this day presented al the IN
terest OF an emigrant vessel anu uon hiUT
fLr scene "A ship bound on long voyage offers IuSt
before the stcam-tug lays hold OF her, ana wnile
,,.sengers and their friends are mingled on her
decks. There are the little children gaping ABOUT
them full of wonder; there are relatives holding
ON to on anothcrs hand IN ~ grasp that, ohc1 re-
laxcd may never again be let; you near souhh vi
snI,hing and the painful echo of laughter between
3I hn1rse voices of men, the sharp, feyersh chatter
of women striving 10 put rs mucI tlk as nl'f VI
mn n day into these last ten minutes; anu uoch
oficials veil directions To Jack, VINO Is spawning
oLnut On the forecastle, drunk, and singing ana
rinninq and lurching here aud there with klnd OF
tGant Falling MS il he would have you take notice
,Lat Inc for one doesn't mean TO make u DluObering
inL of this leaye-taking; while overhead the great
snor. and masts tower INTO the misty Dlue ana look
nnnderous pieces of furniture now that all the sea-
enr IA rove and the sails bent and rolled up; ana
sh@v set YOU thinking of the palld heights OF canvas
tbey will be presently uprearng, ana Oh the hlgnt
that shall come down by and by upon the distant
sea amid which this same ship VIII De he3Vlng
slowly, with never sound rising tr0m her neart
wherein those men and women and children VIII DO
Numbering with q thousand fathOms OF water De,
9,yixt them and the bottom of the black profound
whose surface is full of starlight 49,
ran my eye along the poop, but ala not see Cap-
tain Thompson, and as the mates were strangers 10
me | Thought / could not do better imam urn 10
and set my cabin IN order and write letter 10 my
uncle ready for posting at Gravesend; mere whss
nobody at that moment III the cuddy, thOuBn l
could hear stir in the steerage, the sounds coming
very plainly up the hatchway. stood momet
leaking along and thought to myself; III cOnid
see one of the stewards now would ask nun II Ine
Hawkes. luggage was III their cabin VI" then SAID 10
myself: Better not ask questions Jack, ior you
never can tell what may not set Aunt Danarls put,
ting two and two together. Look Tor yourself ,
Whereupon, putting my bag upon the table, L
marched TO No q cabin, knocked, received no an
swer, tried the handle, found the door unlocked
and peeped in. .,s. A., hi,