New-York tribune., 1883-11-04
CHAPTER l.
A SHORT PREFACE.

manner have rotated over this story. Over and
over again in my mind have been turning it, trying
TO find out how it ought to be told 1t is queer
yarn in my opinion, any man ever had to relate,
and an artist, have no doubt would make first
rate job of it, But l, who had all that learned at
school washed out of me at sea, where the Latin
grammar, the Greek alphabet and the like, were
jettisoned to make way for very different sort of
intellectual cargo, say, how should be expecedto
know anything about art7
After many mental revolutions have arrived at
this determination; to make kind of log of il and
to spin the whole yarn as though company of sail
ors were sitting round me, pipes in hand, and was
talking to tuem. The story will 60 to windward
better in that form than in any other; and aS
log-book is the last sort of volume you would look
into for elevated writing and as the mariners lingo
has never been famous for polish and sweetness, so
my choice comforts me with the reelection that 1t
will save mo the trouble of reading through the
poets for elegant ideas and wading through the
dictionary for fine words.
Ny name is Jack Seymour, and in such-and-Such
a year l was fve-and-twenty years old. Were
yarns of this kind embellished with cuts might
save myself a troublesome spell of description by
handing the printers portrait Of myself as was
in those days Five feet ten inches my height was,
and though had knocked off the sea after seven
and half years of it, in eighteen hundred and
something odd, old ocean had left such an impress
on me that looked as much sailor after three
years of Shore-gong life ever did in the jumper
of al apprentice riding down a tOp-gallant stay, or
in the blue serge plOt-clOth of a second mate,
stumping the weather-side of the quarterback.
1t takes sailor long time to straighten his
spine and get quit of the bold sheer that earns him
the name of shell-back That is not all Lobscouse
eats into the system, salt-hOrSe works ont of the
pores and contributes to that complexion of mahog
any which is often mistakenly attributed to rum
and weather; and have been shipmatos with
man who grew whte-haired at thirty on soup and
bully.
Why will mammas let their little boys 60 to sea
1t is not only that it is the hardest life in the
world, when once you are sailor you are always
sailor and the calling sticks to you the rings and
bracelets do which pricked upon your wrists
and fingers so that, should you happen to fall
in love with girl who docs not much care about
sailors, but who likes soldiers, and would like you
were You soldier. you forced in spite of your
self to 60 on looking like sailor, though you may
have quilted the sea for years and would enlist to-
morrow if the beauty commanded you to do so.
ceased TO be a nautical when my father
died was then second mate of the vessel in which
took nv last voyage, with chief-mate's certif-
cate and had little doubt of obtaining chief
mates berth next time But on my arrival in Lon
me around the world twice, learned that my poor
father was dead and had left me all he had, barring
his furniture which he had willed to some relative
Who lived in the North of England, though | had
never heard of her before and do not even now
know in whatmanner she was connected with my
father
He died a comparatively poor man, owing to his
living up TO his earnings a solicitor; and all that
stepped into two hundred and fifty pounds
year-or thereabouts between ourselves, may say
it was a few pounds short of that figure. But it
was an estate TO me, who was absolutely alone in
the world being an only child, and my mother
having died many years before this story starts At
all events reckOned the inCOme-the capital was
well invested-large enough to justify me in
heaving my profession overheard and setting up for
myself q gentleman ashore,
Accordingly, hired IL furnished bedroom and
sittng-room in the West End Of London, paid
small subscription and became member of a little
club which brought me acquainted with number
of very good fellows, 50 that / had companions
enough And for a year two this sort Of life
suited me very well it was an immense escape from
the old solitude Of the sea l my master,
could do what pleased 90 where 1 liked was re-
spOnsibc to no man and l never tired of
thinking of my liberty aud enjoying it.
But am bound to say that time crcpt on be-
gan to consider that had no business to be loafng
about the West End of London. There enough
money, perhaps in two hundred and fifty pounds
year-to give the income square sOund-tO eu-
able me to take life the condition of dining for
three and sixpence, of cheapenng the obligation Of
smoking by judicious adlnixture of pipes with
cigars of attending play or an opera when ticket
for it given Inc, and even going To n dance. at
long intervals, at some houses which were very
Hospitality open 70 Inc.
But when two years OF this easy, idle life had
passed reflections wOuld steal in; / began TO think
nv income SMALL and that shOuld find it smaller
as grew older; for though youngster possessed of
two hundred and fifty pounds year may be
thought pretty well off an old or middled-aged
mau cuts but a poor figure on that sum- No
thoughts OF marriage had ever entered my head, not
only because liked being lord of myself, which |
certainly found great heritage of woe POSSIBLY
because never underwent the labor of putting my
hair in curl-papersl, but because had never met
with any girl could fall in love with.
And here let say that cannot recall this
period OF my life without disposition 10 drop Oh
my knees and give thanks for my salvation from
the fate that too often befalls idle young men on
small incomes in London and other parts For |
protest that nothing stood between me and dark
destiny in the shape of "a ballet-girl or a barmaid
but toerable stock Of good sense and natural
aversion FROM anything vulgar commonplace in
women. What hand was there TO ave me had |
chosen TO lounge about bars and suck the knob of
my stick in dreary intimate cOnfab with the curls
and rouge and wadding of the restaurant or the
public hOuseS don't mean TO say that barrnaids
and ballet-gTls and the like do not make good
wives. 1 have no doubt they try their best but
what they do with their ynlgarityY how are
they TO deal with certain letter which will recur
in conversation like circumstance over which they
have no controli 1 am thankful for being saved
from marrying lady of this pattern. because oan
conceive Of no domestic condition truly fright
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