Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-06-27

cident which occurred in the little sea-
port town where spent my early days.
In this town was family of the name
of Brazil.
The father was a cooper bystrade,
and in moderate circumstances. There
were two children, the oldest of whom
was lad of the name of Joseph, the
other was girl.
Now this Joseph, or Joe, as he was
usually called by his companions, was
of rowing turn of mind, and longed to
go to sea; his special and pet desire
being to ship on board man-o'-war.
Like young Norval, he had heard and
read of battles, and he longed to distin-
guish himself on the deck.
An opportunity at last presented it.
self, and Joe, taking advantage of it,
slipped on board a foreign-bound YES
sci, concealed himself till she was well
out on the ocean, and so, ultimately,
crossed the Atlantic.
1t was during England's wars with
China over the Ubiquitous opium trade;
and as smart young seamen were in de-
mand, Joe soon found himself in blue
jacket, with the Queens money in his
pocket and the planks of a Seventy
four beneath his feet.
In the meantime, his parents were
thrown into great distress, not knowing
what had become of him.
However, as soon as Joe was fairly
"under weigh" as n man-o' war s-maD,
he wrote home to his anxious parents,
giving them a full account of his adj
ventures, of his success in getting po-
sition on board of so noble ship, and
of his good health and grand prospects.
He was just about to set sail for the
China Seas, he wrote, and he hoped
they would pray for him; and as soon
as an opportunity presented, he would
write them again.
The receipt of the letter was red
letter day in the Brazil household; and
though not without considerable appre-
tensions as TO the possible safety of their
son, yet they were glad at least to know
that he was alive and well.
IF n boy must go TO sea- said the
old man, "a man-o'-war Is the safest and
best ship he could sail in; for there's
good care taken of the men, and they're
well provided for"
With this consolation the old couple
complaisance as the months and years
rolled by.
Battles had been fought here and
there; vessels had been wrecked, crews
lost; but no word arrived TO tell the fate
of Joe.
The old mans hair grew whittier and
whittier and whittier, and his steps more
feeble, until at last the good Angel came
and took him out of the cares and sor-
rows of this troublesome life.
The mother, being several years
younger, was still comparatively active.
She never, of course, gave up her son;
but on the contrary was always expect
ing his return, or at least some message
from him.
AT length her expectations were re-
warded by another letter, announcing
the fact that Joe had left the navy, was
just recovering from severe illness I'm
marine hospital, and had determined,
as soon as he was well enough, TO return
TO his old home.
Again the weeks and months passed
on, and Joe did not return.
Mrs. Brazil, 10 help support herself
and daughter, did washing for sailors.
1t so happened that one day an Eng
lish vessel arrived; and shortly after a
sailor came rolling up TO Mrs. Brazil's
Ga boy being his pilot) with the usual
canvas bag of dirty linen.
The widows daughter, girl about
seventeen, scarcely more than remem-
bered her brother; but she loved him
very tenderly, and longed for the day
when he would return.
One day, while she was ironing the
sailors linen, she noticed these initials,
u. b."
Now it flashed into her mind that ~.
b. might stand for Joseph Brazil"
The more she thought of il the more
convinced she became that this must be
the case. So she accordingly resolved to
go on board the vessel and see the
owner of the garments.
He was tall, dark, saturnine-lookine
fellow, of singularly forbidding aspect.
Notwithstanding this. no sooner did
the girl set eyes on him than, to his
great surprise, she cried out
It's he! It's our Joe!' and flung her
arms around his neck in most affec-
tomato embrace.
IL don't Sec" said the sailor with a
grin. chow can be your brother"
"Oh, yes! yes! you are, you must be
my brotherr'
IL was of no use for him to DENY il.
She was even more emphatic in her as
sertions, and insisted on his instantly
accompanying her ashore, and going up
to sec mother" who. "has been look
ing for YOU so many, many long years!"
"Well, II you're determined 10 have
it so, why, I'll drop anchor and go
ashore.
Such scene, when he came into the
house, wasn't enacted for many day
in that quiet town.
The old lady went into Mysteries. and
the daughter, out of sympathy, went the
same way, and -. Is. =" had his hands
full.
The neighbors came rushing in. The
whole community was excited. The
two women, mother and daughter, were
in raptures over the prodigal's return.
They had the best room in the house fit
ted up for him, and gave him of their
best.
But the neighbors, who remembered
their son, insisted that this man was not
Joe.
Don't you know you're not Joe
Brazil?' they Indignantly asked of him.
What am to do" he pleaded. ''if
they insist that ] am; and won't hear to
the contrary, whatsomedeverp"
And so II went on, day after day, till
his vessel was ready for sea. when an
other scene took place. They chung
round him. and entrcatcd him TO stay.
They begged and prayed him not to
leave them again. But he had to 60.
and was never heard of more,
just one month after this, when tho
mother and daughter were beginning TO
recover from their disappointment,
short, stout, good-looking man, in navy
uniform. walked into their kitchen,
'Mother!' cried the man, in n chok-
ing voice, flinging his arms around the
old lady.
joel my own, true Jocl' she ex-
claima1