Smyrna times., 1885-02-11

men of the lakes AID the coast Bklppers
who never got out of sight Ofland, who,
if they got there, could never get back
but genuine "Old salt" trained from
boyhood under tarpaulin lat, and rs
familiar with the paths Of the sea"
as shepherd is with those of a sheep
walk. Spending his life on extensive
voyages, he was seldom at home long
enough at q time for the salt spray to
dry on his weatherbeaten face and there
was hardly port on the hubitable globe
III which he could not shake hands with
IL old acquaintance, civilized or savage.
OF course his istoIy was crowded
with curious incidents. Most of these,
at which my childish ears tiugled and
my eyes dilated. have become so faded
i'll memory as to be incapable of tolera-
Bile narration. The following. however,
made a more lasting impression =
During the calm between the Old
French war and the Al erican RevO-
luton, large ship was lying at a wharf
in the town of New York, loaded with n
valuable cargo and ready to sail for
Liverpool, and thence to whatever part
OF the globe the chances of commerce
might dictate.
This was my graudtther's ship, only
waiting for her papers and fair wind.
The papers were soon ready, and shortly
after them came Il bre, q. Presently
everything on board was in active mo-
tion-the casting offmd coilng Of ropes,
the unfrrling of canvas, and the running
up OF sailor boys along the ratlmes like
spiders on their webs; while the sharp,
imperative orders of the mate, and the
hearty "yehoy-yel" /" of the cheerful
crew echoed over the ripping waters OF
/ tn harbor, which lookei i'll the rays OI
! the setting sun as if i; was covered witt
cream of liquid of & ld.
Just before the laat plank was hauled
IL, stranger stepped hurricdly on board
and inquired for the captains st.,te-room
Being conducted thither, he entered
and with Il slight bow, accosted the cap
tain, who sat writing ut his desk,-
"You are for Liverpool, believe, sir3
"Yes, sir.
al am in poor health, and, intending
to spend the winter in Italy, wish to &c
passage in the first ship that sails 70
Europe. Will you take passenger
capmin?"
Certainly, sir, if my accommodation
will suit you"
mo matter about acr mmodation'
1 am an old sailor, and know how to AZ
commodate myself. Beside, the trim {
your ship suits my eye"
The allusion to his health attracted m
grandfather's scrutiny, and the inr,
duction Of himself rs an old sailC
touched his heart. On noticing hi
more particularly, he was struck with 8
uudefnable feeling or curiosity an
sympathy at the mans appearance.
"Tall, straight and rather slender, |
was dressed in fine black broadciot
with q sort of Spanish cloak of the san
color and quality. A two-edged swor
common on shipboard at that time, al
improperly called a cutlass, was part
T covered by his cloak and hung by Il
side without sheath. His hair W
quite gray, and his manly features wou
have been handsome had they not bee
so emaciated as to give uupleasa
prominence to half-a-dozen deep sea
II, on his face His eyes were blue al
G full of expression, but restless at tim,
It showing q sudden abstraction. T.
y looseness of one of his black gloves ga
e evidence that he had lost finger or t,
'f from his left hand. These observatio
= were made by the captain, while t
As stranger was looking at beautiful st
re tant on the table. Turning, as if start
% :, at his forgetfulness, he resumed,-
"Name the price, captain, and "
n pay it to you now"
i My grandfather had already fixed
in price in his mind, and replied
s. "You are q sailor, sir, and sick. I
- accommodations of my ship, as well
Iy my own services, are at your free CO
III mand."
. The language of n sailors heart C
not be misunderstood, and knows no
r. terpreter; and the stranger knew &
- remonstrance would beOungenerous
H. ,,,oJo 40 royl,, b,,t ,,o ~
" extended his hand, and my gra
:, father, as he shook it, thought he sa
tear in the strangers eye. But no
hearts are impatient of exhibitions
i. gratitude, and he quickly added
"I am ready to sa !, sir. Is your b
gage on board ?"
"This is all my baggage, sir, . he
piled, showing him II small black satC
under his cloak.
Leading to a state-room, the cap
- left him and went on deck, and TO
LOO the ship already under way. the s
,0S ,%S filed with stiff breeze, and whm
warehouses and spectators fast grow
lay darkness shut i'll the view, tho wine
- creased to gale, and from IL gale
IL tempest and for ten days and MI
the noble ship which lad ploughed
- sens of every latitude, from Spitzbe
ave to New Zealand, underwent such n
AK | hict with the elements as she had Il
OIy before encountered.
=. During all this time. the stranger
been confined below with an nppart
4, rapid consumption, which r'
y, weather had swiftly inatured. The
ties Of the captain were SO urgent du
the storm that he could only !
snatched and hasty visits to the
81. man ana although they could
been spared from their quarters
could have hoped for little aid or
pR. pathy from any Of the crew, who,
tied the easy tendency to the supersti
Wee peculiar TO their class and assoc
wv his presence with the perils of the