Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-10-31
THE MYSTERIOUS LEGACY.

HE M SIEhlVUS LEUANls
My grandfather was sea Captain
not q mere claimant Of the title, like
the watermen OF the lakes and the coast
shippers who never got out of sight OF
land, and who, If they got there, could
never get back--but genuine 'old
salt" trained from boyhood under 0
tarpaulin hat, and as familiar with tas
''paths of the sea- as shepherd is witt
those of a sheepwalk. Spending his
life on extensive voyages, he was sci.
dom at home long enough at time fol
the salt spray to dry on his weather.
beaten cheeks; and there was hardly q
port on the habitable globe in which he
could not shake hands with an old &C.
quaintance, civilized or savage.
OF course his history was crowded
with curious incidents. Most of these,
at which my childish ears tingled and
my eyes dilatel, have become so faded
in my memory rs to be incapable of q
tolerable narration. The following,
however, made more lasting impress
sion:
During the calm between the Old
French war and the American Revolu-
ton, n large ship was living at wharf
in the town of New York, loaded with
a valuable cargo and ready TO sail for
Liverpool, and thence to whatever part
of the globe the chances of commerce
might dictate.
This was my grandfather's ship, only
waiting for her papers and fair wind.
The papers were soon ready, and shortly
of pt H.,
everything on board was in active mo-
tion--the casting off and coiling OF
ropes, the unfurling of canvas. and the
running up of sailor boys along the rat
lines 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
ping waters of the barbor, which looked
In the rays of the setting sun as if il was
covered with cream of liquid gold
Just before the last plank was hauled
in, stranger stepped hurriedly on
board and inquired for the Captains
state-room. Being conducted thither,
he entered, and, with slight bow, ac-
costed the Captain, who sat writing at
his desk:
you are for Liverpool, / believe,
STRIP
"Yes sir?'
Il am in poor health, and. intending
to spend the winter in Italy, wish to
get passage in the first ship that sails
for Europe. VIII you take a passen-
ger?'
Eyes, sir, if my accommodation will
suit you
mo matter about accommodate
tons, Captain. am an old sailor and
know how to accommodate myself.
Besides the trim of your ship suits my
eye.
The allusion TO his i'll health attracted
my grandfather's scrutiny, and the in
PRODUCTION of himself as an old sailor
touched his heart. On noticing him
moro particularly, he was struck with
an undeiinable feeling of curiosity and
sympathy at his appearance. Tall,
straight and rather slender, he was
dressed in fine black broadcloth with q
sort of Spanish cloak of the same color
and quality. A two-edged sword,
common on shipboard ut that time,
and improperly called cutlass, was
sartly covered by his cloak and hung
~ his side without a sheath. His hair
was quite gray, and his manly features
would have been handsome had they
lot been so emaciated as to give un.
pleasant prominence to half dozen
deep scars on his face. His eyes were
blue and full of expression, but restless
at times, showing sudden abstraction
The looseness of one of his black gloves
gave evidence that he had lost finger
or two from his left hand. These OBJ
tervations were made by the Captain
while the stranger was looking at Q
beautiful seXtant on the table. Turn
ing, as II startled at his forgetfulness, he
cesumed:
Name the price, Captain, and viii
pay il 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 a,
my own services, arc at your free com
mand."
The language of sailors heart can
not be misunderstood, and knows nj
interpreter; and the stranger knew tina
remonstrance would be ungenerou.
on his part. He made no reply, bu
eagerly extended his hand, and m,
grandfather, as he shook 1t, thought h.
saw O tear in the strangers eve. Blu
noble hearts are impatient of exhibition
Of gratitude, and he quickly added:
~ am ready 10 sail, sir. Is your bag
gage on boardp"
This is all my baggage, SIR" he re
piled, showing him small black satche
under his cloak.
Leading him to state-room the Cap
tain left him and went on deck, ant
found the ship already under way, tn,
sails filled with stiff breeze, anc
wharves, warehouses and spectator
fast growing small in the distance. A
length, as darkness shut in the view
the wind increased to gale, and from
n gale 10 q tempest; and for ten dav
and nights the noble ship which ha,
plowed the seas of every latitude, from
Spitzbergen 20 New Zealand, underwear
such sonflict with the elements as sh,
hal never before encountered. Durint
all this time, the stranger had been con
fined below with an apparently rapi,
consumption, which rough weather ha,
swiftly matured.
During the storm the duties of IN,
Captain were so urgent that he coul,
only make snatched and hasty visits I,
the sick man; and although they coul,
have been spared from their quarters
no could have hoped for little aid o.
sympathy from any ~ the crew, who
With the easy tendency to the supersti