The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-08-11
CHAPTER VI.
FIRST GLIMPSE OF THE MISE.-UNDER 1HE
SPA


FIRST GLIMPSE OF THE MISE.-UNDER TIE
SEA.
1t must not be supposed that my uncle and
aunt, although they had adopted me, could
afford to allow me to eat for very long the
bread of 1dleness Had if been necessary,
they would willingly have shared with me
their slender means; but it was not neces-
sary. / was fourteen years of age, had re-
ceived a good education, and | was in every
way fitted to earn my bread. But what could
/ do? My inclination was for the sea- |
longed TO become a sailor: not because had
any particular love of ships, but because
had some wild idea that it might ultimately
be the means of bringing me to Madeline
Besides, | must own that was not exactly
proud of my newly found relations and
home which was so different ~ MINISTER'S,
Sometimes at night when / sat furtively
watching my uncle smoking his pipe in the
ingle, and my aunt darnng the stockings, /
fell to wondering what the boys would say
if they saw them, and my cheeks burned
with shame. 1t was on one of these even
ings ventured to express my wish to 90 to
sea. My aunt threw up her hands in horror.
ssLawd love the lad ~ she cried; IF he
be'aint like his father already! You'd like
to gaw to say. would We? to wander over the
did. without roof TO cawver your head? A
sailor! Lawd love zee, and why would you
be sailor?"
| stammered something about wishing to
work for my living, when my uncle eut my
explanation short by patting me on the head
and saying:
'sYou'm a good lad, Tn glad to hear zee
talk saw; but there's no cause for ZEE TO gaw
to say. You'm comm to waTk WI me,
Hughp'
In the mineP p exclaimed in delight, for
my strong desire to 90 down the shaft was
growing; but my uncle shook his head.
Nav, nav, lad; the mine be only for big
coarse men like me; slip of a lad like you
will be better whar you'm gawing-inta the
awice"
''The Officer repeated, my ardor being
considerably damped-
"Have zee fixed it all, TawmT' asked my
aunt
'Iss, mother, fixed it WI the master this
fawrenoon. Hugh can gaw on Monday and
begin"
( Thus it will be seen that nay destiny was
mapped out for me. On the Monday began
my duties as under-clerk, with but little sat
isfaction to myself beyond the fact that l
contributed six shillings a week toward the
household expenditure. Thus my new life
began, life which promised to be unevent-
full enough. At first chafed somewhat; but
| time, that healer of all things, brought solace
I to me. As months rolled on the memory of
MINISTER'S began to grow dim; and when
thought of Madeline it was of some lovely
vision seen in dream.
M0notonous as my days promised to be,
soon managed to infuse little pleasure into
them, principally with the aid of my friend
and ally, honest John Rudd; for we soon be
came close ehums. He conceived great re
spect for me, partly on account of my super
ior education, and partly because 1 rendered
| him such valuable assistance in the transcript
ton of his poems. He placed his boat en-
tirely at my disposal, also lent me his gun, Z
rusty old Joe Manton, which kept in secret
and with which / used to amuse myself il
the evenings when my work was DONE
But the one great fascination for me wa
the mine. 1t was becoming q sort of Prank
enstein, haunting me by night and by day
/ saw if before me as sat writing in tie OF
fee, and when was asleep at night saw /
in my dreams, opening its huge black jaw
and preparing to crush away some haples
life. The more heard Of it the strongel
grew my wish p s13Ase fok myself those
dark bowels Of thu ea
Again and agai - begged my uncle g
take me down, bu[ - H{zse<l ~ - now' ~.
cyer, ono Sunday - G Re eeme g e