The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-07-21
AN Old SAILORS YARN.
"Life is too short"

AN Old SAILORS YARN.
Uncle Silas had a rickety, old-fash-
ioned spy glass that he kept in the sail
loft on the end of decsying wharf,
where he stored the spars and sails OF
his hoa'S iu winter time. The loft was
warmed by rusty, drum. shaped, sheet
iron stove. There were no chairs in it,
only one or two benches. Uncle gener-
ally sat ON the Il ,or When he was patch
ilg the sails.
For thimble he used what sailors
call palm, which is leathern baud.
with central piece of steel punctured
like tlinLle With this he pressed
the lnrge spike-hke needle through the
heavy canvass.
There was always number Of old
sea Captains or fishermen or sea-loviug
lads willing away the time in Uncle Sis
,ail loft. telling their experience or lis
teniug To stories of tho sea. Or they
would talk about their favorite SHIPS, or
lo)k out OF a square-shsped window,
shaped like port-hole, at the vessels
gliding in.o the barbor.
They often u>ed the old iickety spy
gl IS, which threatel cd to iall to pieces
cry time it was taken up, but the
glass was Uucle S; $ delight. He priced
it rs tie apple of his eye. To say an!
til ng against that spy-glass was to start
him into long discussion, which weut
to show that lie was behinl the times.
For he always insist d that all the i'm
D .uvements oil later scieLce had failed
to make any Improvements in telescopes
III would eclipse bis cherished old tel
esco. g.
But nothing could induce him TO tell
how tue glass came iuto his possession.
We knew that he had had many Od-
nturcs, like every man who has ever
ben 10 sea, aud surmiSed that there
was something peculiar attending his
ri ,ht to the old spy.glass, although no
one who knew Uncle 81 ever expected
th It there was anything discreditable 10
him in having it.
But one day it happened that tue death
WAS rel orted in lie sal loft Of we'll
k. own SHIP master, Captain Luce.
is Captain Luce dead. then2" ex-
claimed UAcle 81. "Well, that reminds
me that he kn.w as much about that spy
u ss as do"
Every one at once gave attention, fol
we seemed on the eve Of learning the
story OF the old telescope.
Not that it's 80 much of n yarn, eth
er," said the old skipper; but l just re-
member the vyageI took with him com
twenty-five years ago last August.
shipped tefore the mast for Calcutta IL
the ship SKINNER of the Seas. Luce
was mast T, and he had his wife and lit
tie girl with him. He knew his bizness
It's IL fact, but he made US toe the mark
tell YOU, and wouldn't stand no loahnl
nor impudeucc.
1--WE had good run out to Calcutta
and nothing special to note. Bat on TIL
way home we met hurricane nea
Mauritius The ship behaved well, bu
the gGle carried away some of the ligh
spars.
"a few days after this we sighted
wreck, aud bore down to see if she ha'
been abandoped. The wind was moder
ate, and so boat WAS sent of TO her
1--WE found she was a French ship
There wasn't living soul ON board
The crew had all lett her in the boats
you see, except one poor fellow who la
dead Just inside the companion'way.
1--WE didn't dare TO stay long, for til
barque was wulloWing deep in the Sc
aud went down just after we left hel
but We brought away with US q box
tea aud this ere spy glass.
"After this we had calms until the ia
all came out of the seams of the ship an
the Captains temper gave out. The hel
and the terrible long calm kinder mad
him crazy. l think. You couldn't win
but what he'd be at you.
Now il was the man at the wheel /
abused; then he'd heaye belayin' pin
at the lookout. or he'd kick the stewar,
Twas only when his child Ella-l
called her Birdie-wss around that
was quiet He loved her, and when
began 10 swear and cuss, Mrs. LuC
would send the little Girl to him. an
he'd stop right of and take her in b
arms and wind her ourls around b
fingers.
Zone day, it was my tarn at II
wheel. The Captain was aft ioolir
with the glass we'd got from the Frene
man. He took il all to pieces and wipe
it clean aud talked about it to himself.
This is the glass to use, said he.
a muttering voice. L never see the Ill
on it. Guess can scare up breel
with such q wespon.'