Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-03-19
THE STORY OF A SCAR.


ocean steamships that sail out of this
port is TALL dark man, with thick
black hair, which he wears combed low
on his forehead. One night. as the
ship was steaming along by the palm
covered shores of Brazil, he sat with a
group of officers, after dinner, smoking
on deck. Far off the light on Selina's
Shoals marked the entrance to the Para
river and the wind blowing from the
shore was laden with tropical odors.
''Mr. c." said one of the younger
officers, breaking the silence which
had been maintained for some time,
twill you crafty my curiosity by an
swering somewhat impertinent ques-
tion2n
'sPut your question, was the senten-
tious reply.
''Well, then, why do you wear your
hair SO low on your foreheadsn
The first officer leaned forward SO as
to bring his head within the stream of
light that came from a state-room win
dow, and, throwing back the hair from
his forehead, revealed deep red scar.
All the officers leaned forward to look
They knew that story was connected
with that scar. and as c. seemed to
be in good humor one of them ventured
to ask:
''How did it happen, Mr.. CO"
The first officer le.ned back in his
chair, was silent for minute, and then
saying: "I don't often tell the history
of that scar, but-yes, will tell you, /"
began the following tale:
"When was eighteen years old
was third mate of the ship Sea Lion,
sailing out of Boston harbor. The first
trip l made aboard of her as third mate
we ran to the Philippine Islands, hav-
ing discharged our cargo and loaded
with sugar for the return trip, ready to
sail the next morning. I wanted to go
ashore and have a good blowout once
more before starting on the long return
voyage; SO after supper had couple
of the sailors lower away the dingy and
row me over to another American ship
that was lying in the harbor, where
took off the second mate, great chum
of mine while we had been in Manila.
and together we rowed ashore. Nv
friends name was Bill L.. He
was about twenty two years old, with a
frame like giant and muscles like steel.
the picture of health and happiness.
open hearted and generous, young and
ambitious. I never knew a man more
lovable than Bill Well have lark as
is lark tonight, says Bill. for the old
man says you're going to sail tomorrow.
Yes, said I, we go tomorrow Just
then happened to put my hand in my
pocket and I felt a slung shot, which /
had taken away from one of the men
that afternoon when he was disposed to
make trouble with it. Here, said I.
taking it out, Z guess Pll throw this toy
overheard No, keep it. exclaimed
Bill, we may need it before we come
aboard again. Well, wewent about the
city for an hour or two and finally came
to the door of a Buddhist temple. There
are a great many Chinese in Manila. YOU
know, and they are nearly all Buddhists.
Something put it into our heads to enter
the temple, and we did so. 1t was deco
rated in the usual manner of those edi-
fees in Manila, and at one end, with
votive lights burning before it and vo-
tive offering around it, it was statue of
the great Buddha himself. sAh!' said
Bill, the old gentleman is at home. Let's
pay our respects to him.
1--WE dropped some money into little
hox placed before theidolto receive such
offerings made one or two remarks
which we considered witty, and turned
around to go out, when it occurred to me
that it would be good joke to pull
down and eat one of the bananas, q
bunch of which was hanging among the
other offerings by the side of the idol. 1
made grab for banana and brought