The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-05-09
OUR PLEASANT PASSENGER.
BY ALFRED CRAYuN

iNtI DOulll IOI -hcIDOtiLli
We had good ship-Janet's Pride
loaded with miscellaneous articles.
On board were fourteen passengers,
and take them all in all, a pleasanter
lot | never steered across the seas.
There was a solitary old gentleman,
who, Judging from the general tone OF
ms conversation, was seeking the new
world for the Ostensible purpose OF
finding fault with it.
There were two young married
couples, all full of hope and activity.
bent upon making u new home far
away from their native land.
There We're also very Jolly elderly
brother and sister. neither OF whom
had eyer entered into the bonds OF
Inatrimony, but instead had stuck to
each other through life
There were three old Australian set
tiers, who had been over to have a
peep ut the old country, and were now
returning to the land which, to them,
through long communion, had become
the dearest OF all others, Home
Sweet Home"
Lastly, though not least, there was
a solitary passenger, who became the
pet OF all on board. He was man
about heavyweight years OF age, pos
sessing very clear complexion, a very
handsome, lOng-tiOWing beard, and
very silky mustache.
His name was Reginald Moore. His
gwen reason for taking the sea voyage
was the delicate state OF his health.
There was not the least doubt that
the poor fellow s chest was COnsidera-
bly, affected, for his voice, though
CharmIngiy sweet. was one OF the
weakest ever remember hearing: and
il had a cert ain hNllOwness in its sound
that in my mind is invariably aasO-
c!ated with that terrible disease COM
monty called consumption. He al
ways wore a thick muller around his
eek, to protect his throat and chest.
In all my exlerience-and it has
been pretty wide-I never knew any
one with SO many friends and such un-
divided esteem in so short a time. az
Reginald Moore. There was not, be
iieve, a sailor on board who did not
entertain the warmest possible liken.
ing for him.
As for the passengers, they never
seemed so happy as when listening to
ms amusing anecdotes, OF which he
seemed 10 possess an inexhaustible
store. And this delicate young En-
glish paragon of a passenger had made
the conquest over our hearts before
we had been three weeks at sea.
He was, too, such clever fellow
with his hands. He could cut and
shape you anything out of piece of
wood, from an oyster to an elephant;
and at making models OF ships | never
met his equal He was, besides. such
n kind and Considerate fellow toward
his fellow passengers.
When the three elderly gentlemen
who imagined their fortunes made,
were afflicted with sea sickness. he was
the first TO COmefOrward and help them
about while they slowly recovered
he would insist upon their taking his
arm, weak as he was himself. and he
would lead them about on deck with a
tIrmness that spoke volumes in favor
Of his sea legs.
DO not remember any voyage
passing so quickly az the one when the
pleasant passenger was on board. |
could, with infinite pleasure make n
long pause at this juncture in the
thread of my story, to dwell upon the
Reginald Moore.
We We're within a week S sail OF Mel
bourne. Reginald Moore had all but
completed the model of the Janet
Pride, which he purposed presenting
TO me, her commander, the night be
fore We landed.
Now, he worked at this model
principally on deck, and, strangely
enough, he had chosen for a work ia
BILE one OF the empty wafer casks that
stood on deck, abaft and under the
shelter OF the bulwarks.
While he worked through the day
you were sure TO See him surrounded
by some OF the passengers or sailors.
The industry he displayed was truly
wonderful, for he was invariably at
work early IN the morning long before
the other passengers dreamt OF turn
ing out OF their snug berths.
As | have already stated We were
but ak days sail from Melbourne
For the first time i'll our experience OF
HIM, the pleasant passenger appeared
at the dinner table with a solemn
downcast expression OF face and a
silent tongue. Before dinner WAS over
asked HIM what troubled his mind
and caused this unhappy change in his
wonted cheerful manner.
At first he tried to evade my queries
by replying that it was nothincInoth-
ing IN particular; but ! pressed him
persIstently until | won from him an
explanation.
Perhaps after all, ," he said. "it is
only fair that | should explain mat
tiers. The fact OF the matter il nv
watch has been stolen. :
"StoIen?' We all exclaimed in @
breath. ~ u
Undoubtedly he answered. "but
pray You, Captain" here he turned
70 no me- say not one word about it.
Inc only thing that renders the loss
81 consequence TO me Is the fact that
i once belonged to my poor mother.
Oh that account alone | would not
nave lost II tor any amount of money.
however 1t cannot be helped. and
therefore It Is useless to cry over snlit
mix, a the old adage hasit. Nvonjv
request III the matter Is. my dear Can
tam, mat you Will leave the matter
entirely IN my hands, and | think II
very probable that | NAV recover II
rms request | am sure Won will ohliga
me by granting.
certainly, my dear sir, | replied.
Exactly" he Interrupted with one
OF ms pleasantest smiles. "Youwould
IKE 10 take the matter in hand and
investigate It to the utmost OF yonr
power | know that, my dear Cant.
am, full well; but l can trust Won 70
Keep your promise and leave the case
entirely in my hands, '''e
bow could | deny him his request?
You will readily imagine what con
sternation this event gave rise 70
among the other passengers. The
three old gentlemen instantly pro
eeeded to explain that they possessed
eWeiry TO the value of at least three