The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-10-07
THE CABiN-BoY.

On my way across the Sound l fell
in with two old sea-eaptains-John
Streeter and Asa Morton-with whom
had some slight acquaintance. Street.
er was about three-score, and had fol-
lowed the sea during most of his life.
Morton was considerably younger. but
still seaman of much experience.
The subject of the abolition of fioggins
IN our navy came up IN course of con-
yersation. and Captain Morton express
ed himself very decidedly in favor of
keeping up that time-honored institu-
tion, the cato '-nine-tais.
Il am not prepared to say,n remark
ed Captain Streeter in reply, '.that the
condition of our n-o'-wars-men will
be In every case benefited by the abo-
htion OF hogging, though | am sure
that it might be so. mean that the
officers have it within their power to
do away with nearly all kinds of pun
ishment-that is, of course, for such
otfenses as are usually punished on
shipboard. y
For my part, returned Morton. II
should not care to take command of a
ship if the power to punish refractory
seamen as l thought proper were taken
from me-"
well" resumed Captain Streeter.
Il used to think Just so. In fact, there
were few masters more passionate or
severe than was. Men used to run
away from me, and, on more than one
occasion, my very life has been in dam
ger from the vengeance of men whom
/ had abused. | used the cat and the
rope Send almost as freely as | used
my tongue; and often wondered how
1t happened that | always had the luck
to get such bad men.
Nv hen l was about forty years of
age took command of the ship Peters
ham. She was an old craft, and had
seen full as much service as she was
capable of seeing with safety; but her
owners were willing to trust valuable
cargo In her, so l would not refuse to
trust myself. We were bound to Liv-
erpool, and nothing unusual happened
until about the eighth day out, when
we ran foul of a small iceberg. 1t was
early in the morning, before sunrise,
and not above six or eight feet of the
ice was out of the water, it having
been nearly all melted away in the
warmer water of the Gulf-stream.
did not think that we had sustained
any injury, for the shock was very
slight; but l was angry. and gave the
lookout severe punishment, without
stopping to inquire whether he could
have seen the berg in season to escape
it.
My cabin-boy was named Jack
Withers. He was fourteen years of
age, and this was his first voyage.
hah TO 4
er, and had promised her that | would
see him well treated-that was, if he
behaved himself. He was bright.
quick, intelligent lad, but | soon made
myself believe that he had an awful
disposition. | fancied that he was the
most stubborn piece of youthful hui
manity that l had ever come across. l
made up my mind that he had never
been properly governed, and | forth
with resolved to break him in. | told
him curb his temper for him before
| had done with him. In reply he told
me that might kill him if liked; and
| f1ogged him with the end of the miz-
zen-topgallant halliards till he could
hardly stand. | asked him if he had
had enough, and he told me that l
might fog more if | wished it. | felt
a strong temptation to throw the boy
overheard, but at that moment he
staggered back against the mizzen-
mast from absolute weakness, and |
left him to himself. When | reasoned
calmly about that boys disposition |
was forced to acknowledge that he was
one of the snartest and most faithful
lads 1 had ever seen. When L asked
him to do anything he would start off
like rocket; but when | roughly or
dered him to do it, then came the dis
position with which found fault.
lone day, when it was very near
noon, | spoke to him, and told him to
go below and bring up my quadrant.
He was looking over the quarter-rail,
and knew that he did not hear me,
and the next time L spoke l ripped out
an oath, and intimated that if he didn' t
move I'd help him.
- Il didn't hear ye,' he said, with
rather an independent tone.
" No words said |.
g i s'pose l can speak, he retorted,
moving slowly towards the companion
way.
'sHis look and his words, and the
slow. careless manner in which he
moved. fired me in a moment, and
grasped him by the collar
Speak to me again like that, said
/. and I'll fog you within an inch of
your life!
You can hog away he replied, as
firm and undaunted as rock.
'.And did fog him. | caught up
the end of the first rope that came
handy, and beat him till my arm
fairly ached. But he never even
WINGED
=. .How's thatp' said