The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-02-28
trouble me too much He had mt +bs

trouble me too much. He had but the
clothes we found him in; so the Captain
and | gave each of rs soft calico shirt
to one of the men forward neat hand
with the needle, chap named Claw. to
make into a couple of suits of linen for
the baby; and this and knitted waist
coat and swathing of flannel round
his body and le~s kept him tidy and
warm and comfortable. We cot nightv
fond of him. We'd bring him on deck
and lay him in the fold of sail or on
the ensign when the weather was fine
and warm, and then you'd see him
kicking up his legs in the sunshine,
tOasting his tiny toes in it. and looking
at his fingers and talking to himself.
He made the bark more human than
ever | thought a vessel conld be rem
dered. He begot a strong home feeling
in US all, and you'd see the moving
fancies he'd put into the men as they'd
creep aft-and | never pretended tc
notice them-to have look at the little
'un. Many a stream of tobacco Juice
I've seen them squirt overheard from
the quarterback after Watching the
baby, as if their hearts were too full to
suffer EN- to wait until they got for
ward to expectorate.
"But one day, sir, there came an end
to this. 1t must have been the cutting
of tooth, think. He had a fit, but
pulled through it, and we thought him
all right, and I left him sleeping and
looking comfortable enough in my bunk
while | went on deck. We were then
in latitude twenty eight degrees south
in the tail of the trade wind. CAV
81 had been on deck two hours, when
the steward came up through the com
panion. and, approaching me slowly
and speaking very solemnly, he says
MIR. Roband,' he says, 'little Jimmy
that was the name he went by-:little
Jimmy he says, has gone to iine his
mother
81 started and said: What's that
you say?' He answered: Our little
'un's dead, sir.
Il ran below and found the Captain
in my cabin looking at the baby that
lay corpse in my bunk. 1 had grown
wonderfully fond of the BARN, sir, and
the sight broke me down, and one OF
two heaving sobs came from me, nc
more to be helped by me than the
tightness in my throat. o, sir. it was
as if beautiful little Indian bird that
you had cherished and looked after had
died of the Cape cold in spite of your
love. Only this was an immortal be-
ing, a fellow-creature, little baby that
we had plucked from the very brink OF
an ocean grave into which his mothers
dead embrace was dragging him; and
we had learned to love him.
"'He is gomez said Captain Blackett
Its Gods will, Mr.. Roland We did
our duty by him-we could not have
done more .. .....|
1--we may take it, sir, that his
mother wanted him. says the steward.
LAY, steward, and her entreaty has
been answered. says the Captain, with
4 glance aloft.
81 could not take any hand in equip.
ping the little mite for his funeral. ]
was too much upset sir. The sailmakei
made tiny hammock for him, and they
put his hands together, and smoothed
the little wreaths of yellow hair upon
his head, and dressed him in clean
things, and, before he was stitched up,
all hands lay aft to say good-by, and
ne'er a man among them that entered
the cabin but stopped to give the little
cold face a kiss before leaving. We
kept him till next day, and buried him
after eight bells had been made.
1T was a green, windy, glistenine
the emerald seas ran at us,
melting in froth as they came; and the
shadows of the men gathered around
the gangway, swayed at our feet as the
bark rolled over the surges, and the
dancing sun darted beams like spears.
Of light from the clouds through which
ne swung. o, sir, the contrast of that
little hammock upon the grating with
he huge grave that was to receive it.
The service was almost more than some
Of US could bear; I'd see the men turn
heir heads away, and look down, anG
when at last it came to the passage
hats a signal at sea for the fitting OF
The body into the water, we all let oui
breath out in a sob as the tiny ham
mock sped like a snowflake over the
side and vanished in the slant of seq
whose breaking summit flashed a rain
DOW over the spot. "-Lo1adon Teke.
Jraph.