River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-05-07
hundred pound IL pay; but it's real
roaop that's what II ia

ness, was a kind-hearted man, could
not bring himself to tell Mary Jane
what he had seen, but he became con-
cerned with a new thought. What
was to be done with her on landing
She lived in Birkenhead, but how was
he to find out in a huge place like
Birkenhead where she lived and who
her parents were? Take her to his own
home he dare not; partly because Mrs.
Bartlett had five youngsters of her own,
and, partly, because she was bit of a
Tartar, and would be sure to be down
pretty heavily on him for taking so
much notice of a strange, stowaway
child, when he was always complain
ing about the expense and worry OF
his own.
So this question as to the disposition
of Mary Jane Johnsworth vexed Cap
tain Bartlett all the next day, and I'M
till next evening, when Holyhead
Light was sighted, and his attention
was directed to other matters.
Little Mary Jane was in state OF
great excitement at the approach to her
land, now running to one side of the
deck, now to the other, then scuttling
up the companion ladder to the bridge,
then darting into the galley to poster
Marcus with all sorts of questions, to
which the faithful negro had to invent
answers, then dashing away into the
foc'sle until it was dark and she could
see no more.
At midnight, the "Picayune," Cap
tain Bartlett, was safe alongside the
dock quay, and the Captain himself, af-
ter bothering day, was at liberty to
turn in.
Poor little kid" he said as he ca
ressed Mary James fair hair; ''and
what's to become of you? I'm real sor-
nv that the voyage is finished, as I've
got uncommon fond O you. Mary Jane,
an eff hadn't kids of my own, I'd like
to change your name to Mary Jane
Bartlett, and turn you out real lady. .
us your home here ?" asked the child,
looking up in the Captains face with an
artless gaze.
eyes, my sugar stick" replied the
Captain. hummer II Providence
Road, that's where the Mis5is is located
but she's agoin' back to New York, she
is, next trip. But look yer, | reckon
to-morrer we'll see what's to be done. .
So he kissed the child as he babe her
goodnight and she battered eff singing
as if it were midday.
"Poor little kid poor little kid !" solil-
oquized the Captain when she had gone,
II should like to have ten minutes
with them brutes as have sent her away
like this, and that's factw
Early next morning, the Captain
sent hand ashore to find out if the
"Cockney" had by chance arrived dur
ing the night.
"Not that I reckon she's more'n hall
way across the pond" he said to him
self; "but Brandy's up to lodges, he is,
although he is such derned fool"
The reply came that the "Cockney'
had not arrived.
wall then, [ reckon l needn't hur-
ry ashore" said Bartlett.
He was in the saloon going over his
papers with the customs officers, when
the chief mate appeared at the door
with broad grin in his face.
"Thar's a gentleman an lady come
aboard and wants to see you, sir"
"a gentleman an LADY," repeated
the skipper. "Great Thunder! who
are they? Tell 'em-no, show EN- in
say, Mr.. Slope, is the kid dp yet?"
Dunno, sir, I'll see" replied the Of
ficer, and disappeared. The skipper
bent over his papers again, but was
disturbed by the entrance Of the Wis
itors. He looked up and beheld Cap
tain Brandy and Mrs. Bartlett.
Had bombshell exploded on deck,
it could not have produced greater eff
feet on Captain Bartlett than did this
apparition.
He jumped up, mouth and eyes wide
open, utterly unable for some seconds
to utter a word.
"Mornin', BARTLETT" said Captain
Brandy.
"Wher the-How thc-Almighty
sakes Great Scott" was all the
American could calculate. He took nc
notice even of his spouse.
"The 'Cockney' amt in port!' he al.
most screamed at last.
mo, but her skipper is" said Bran
DIV, Fan he's brought this yer lovely Ia
| DIV to bear witness that Hosea +. Bart
| lett, master of the ship 'Picayune,' be
longing to the port of New York, owes
him one hundred pounds sterlln'
say Bartlett, your salt-horse amt by ne
means up to what 1t oughter be, an as
for your Exshaw"-
"What the tarnal do you know about
my salt-horse an my whisky? roareC
the American.
"Well, +" replied Captain Brandy, econ
s1derin' as how I've been Twin on it for
ten days, I oughter be a judge"
you've been Twin on my salt-hors'
an whisky for ten days?" exclaimed
Bartlett, more and more amazed.
EYES," said Brandy; "hand us thu
hundred pound.
Bartlett stared about him as a mai
newly awakened from sleep; then h
burst out into roar of laughter which
shook the little saloon, and which wa
the signal for everyone else. Custom
house officers, Mrs. Bartlett and all, t.
Join, and for fully-fv minutes the unit
ed guffaw lasted.
Brandy" said Bartlett when he hat
recovered so far as to be able to speak
although the tears were running dow
his cheeks, II thought you wur derne'
fool. But you amt.
you're the derned fool, Bartlett,
said his wife, speaking for the frs
time, "to go and throw away hundre'
pound like this, when"--
Don't We fret yourself, marm," SAT-
Captain Brandy, II amt a-goin to TAX
the hundred pound, eos why? COS you
husband has been so kind to my littl
daughter"
The chief officer here came in.
please, sir, the kid amt nowhere t.
be found; we've been all around, ant
we've"-
''All right" said Captain Brandy,
"she's at home"
''Do you mean to say that Mary Jan
Johnsworth" began Bartlett, with
renewed look of establishment.
''Ain't no more Mary Jane Johns
worth than I'm Hosea E. Bartlett,
interposed Captain Brandy" "Lool
here, old chap. You keep the hundred
pound, but don't go larfng at the mas
ter of the 'Cockney' no more"
mo, I'm blest if do" said Bartlett
grasping his rivals hand. but thu
hundred pound, I've fairly lost that"
"Give it to the Seamen's Hospital
an then it'll be fairly spent.
Bully for you" said Bartlett. "Grea
sakes | kinder can't help laughin' agil
to think of you liked up thar in the foc'sl
for ten days. And that's whar all tn
ships tucker went, an my baccy an m.
whisky. / did wonder how the kid man
aged to putaway what she did, an that