Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1884-01-31
A YOUNG HERO.

Captain John Payson, sailed from BoR'
ton for port Of Turkey, laden with
cotton goods. She was a new, taut lit
tie vessel, with plenty Of storage room,
and had accommodations for two pas.
seneers.
The crew consisted of the captain,
mate, four sailors, black cook and
cabin hoy.
Captain Payson was conscientious,
Just man who treated his crew neither
TO jokes nor grog, but who lodged and
fed them better than would nine out of
ten of the masters sailing from New
England ports.
'Old job the mate, who was from
the West, used to say. "he was hard
man. but one could tie to in fair wealth.
er or foul"
His crew were picked men, and. with
the exception of Dan. the cabin boy,
had been with him for years. This was
Dams first voyage. and he felt that not
grain of favor would be allowed him.
Dan was a farm hoy who knew moth.
ing of the world beyond the village in
which was his mothers church. Ship
board. the sea, Europe, Turkev, all
were bewildering ideas to burst at once
on his narrow experience, scarcely wild
er than that of the house dog sleeping
at the barn door.
"Keep your eyes open and your
hands ready to see the work Of the mo.
ment and to do il before the moment is
over" was his mother last advice
"Fot tn rest, Daniel, ask the Lords
help. You'll find him just as near to
YOU in Turkey as in your own home
here"
Dan, in tho hurry and excitement Of
getting under way, and of his new du
ties, repeated this advice over and over
to hims II. II seemed 20 keep his moth.
er near him. Several days after, whila
he was carrying the dinner dishes into
the cabin, he overheard the mate say
"That boy is clipper enough for raw
hand, captain :"
"Ay," grun lod Captain Pay son, "turns
out better than expected. took him
for his mothers sake. Widow. Old
friend Of mine"
"Rather gentlemanly fellow, this pas.
senger2" ventured the mate, finding
the captain in an unusually talkative
mood.
''He is a gentleman, sir, one OF the
Farnalrs of Springfield. III health.
Doctor prescribed long sea voyage A
gentleman and q scholar, Mr.. Briggs"
Dan while waiting on the table at din.
ner coul not helr noticing the passen.
ger. "Some these days" thought the
true.b ~ Yankee lad, al too shall be a
gentleman and , scholar"
Doctor Farnal was = tall, lean man.
carefully dressed, with sandy hair and
moustache, bu' eyebrows and lashcs II.
most white. His eyes, too. were large
and pale. They never met the eyes Of
any other man fairly. Once when Dan
happened to look at him he turned
quickly away, and be glanced furtively
and suspiciously At the 10y at timcs
during the rest Of the meal
"Don't like him, thought Dan. Looks
sueaking and tricky, and not like q
gentleman"
But Dan, of course, kept his opinions
to himself. Even Bob, the cook, snub
bed the "raw hand, and tolerated no
remarks from him.
Fortunately the lad was not sea-sick.
He learned his new duties quickly /:
was alert, neat, and always good natur
cd. In the course Of one week Captain
Payson had twice grumbled approval.
Dan worked harder than ever, and
between times for recreation, when the
passenger was on deck, he watched him.
Doctor Farnsll talked fiuently and
brilliantly, as even Dams uncultured
view could perceive. But his talk was
levelled far above the heads Of either
the captain or Mr. Briggs, who listened
with half comprehending admiration.
But there we're days when the doctor
was absolutely silent, ate nothing and
paced the deck wrapped in profound
gloom, bis light eyes dsrtine suspicious
glances from side TO side.
On 'one Of these days Dan going
down just at twilight to find something
he had left in his bunk, saw . tall fg.
ure which he could not recognize, with
candle cropping about among the chests
of the sailors.
"Who's there 2" he shouted.
The man came quickly toward him.
The candle threw . yellow glare over
his set face and glaring eyes. Il was the