The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-01-24

The liv,ag ana tho dead-apace
Ny lover-husband rides.
HE steed 4 stamping on the stone,
| His hand Is on the door.
hear tho music OF his feet
Along the marble door;
run 70 meet his kiss and hide
Ny face upon hts breast
Pc queenly dead-she loves you WELL
But shall love you bestf'
-Ninns Irving. in N r Mercury.
MY LAST SWIM AT SEA.
Hair-Breadth Escape from the
Jaws Of . Shark.
can not recollect ever learning TO
swim. 1swam naturally. and in boy
hood was almost - much 1t home In
as out Of the water. Diving, an art in
general only acquired by long prac-
tice, was to me easy from the begin
ming. Ny skill in aquatic sports
passed into . proverb. and now that
years have passed and / have reached
middle life, the renown of my boy
hoods feats cling to me yet in my ma
tive place.
But am swimmer no more: the
love that vas 30 strong has given
place to such q loathing hate and
horror Of the water that when / think
OF 1t cold shudder comes over me until
the tide OF thought IL turned. An adj
venture In tropical waters was the
cause Of thia
Il happened thus: was on my Sec
ond voyage The ship lay becalmed
amid the Molucca islands on the pas
sage for China. It was near midday
In tho forenoon watch. The suns
hottest rays we're pouring down upon
tho deck with scorching violence, and
vainly did seek for some cool spot
where momentary comfort. at least,
could be found. The painting. half
nude forms OF the crew were spread
out beneath the shade of a canvas
drawn over the forecastle capstan,
which they tried to persuade them
selves yielded some shelter from the
heat Above. not q cloud could be
seen In the broad blue expanse Of the
sky, which seemed a heated caldron
turned above US. Against it tho state
" spars and heavy white sails swayed
with the roll OF the ship in royal idle
ness and majesty.
Too hot to work or to read, uneasy,
praying for breeze which it seemed
would never come, lounged about the
deck vainly seeking relief from my dis
comfort. Gazing over the side down In
TO the deep blue waste beneath. my eye
sought some object by which to note
tho vessels progress, however slow it
might be, but nothing could sec save
water. dark and unfathomable. The
polished coppered side OF tho ship
shone brightly out upon the surface for
few feet. and as ] gazed upon Its
quivering beauty. and remarked how
very stiliwe lay. the thoughtstruck me:
what . chance for swim!' What
q relief from all this broiling, swelter-
ing, oven-like heat
To think was to act turned to the
boys.
Here John! Billyl Jimmy! Let's
30 In swimming. Never was such q
chanoe!' cried I, springing down from
the rail. Lets sling the ladder over
from the fore-chains so we can get up
the side easily. and we'll have good
time; she isn't moving bit; come,
bear hand, and let's see who'll be
overheard first"
The ships officers made no objection,
and was quickly joined by four or
five Of my shipmates. each as anxious
as myself for something to vary the
lnonotony. The fore-hatch ladder vas
quickly slung and dashed to tho side,
and we stripped to 60 in. The rest Of
the crew had gathered upon tho top.
gallant forecastle to watch III Antics.
Only one old fellow, an inveterate
GROWER known as Briton,'' eau.
toned us as he took his scat near the
rail:
You young rascals had better keep
out Of tho water or the sharks II
gobble up some Of you. There's plen.
ty Of 'em round for all you don't see
'em.'
"Oh, you're always croaking, you
web-footed old barnacle- back" cried
Billy Option, mounting the rail and
posing himself for q plunge. We
never can do any thing but you mus,
throw cold water on It,"
''Oh, go ahead! 60 ahead! don.
care what you do; you're not obliged
10 take my advice, but II you were q
ron Of mine you'd not go overheard in
these waters" growlcd Briton.
well, as I'm not your son, and a.
you don't care what do, here goes!'
said Billy, and suiting the action Il
the word, he sprang lightly to the rail
glanced In mid-air for an instant IN,
the next was buried fathoms deep ii
the liquid blue. Rising quickly to tn
surface with shake OF his curly hea.
to clear his sight OF the water which
dripped from his hair. nc gave an en-
couraging cheer to the rest and strucl
boldly out from the vessels side.
Emboldened by his confidence, sew
eral more began taking of their clothes
TO join the merry band who were sool
tumbling about under the bow O.
splashing water up at the lookers-or
above. Twas delayed through having
to put some guys to the ladder, unit
some seven or eight had gone over tn,
side Their shouts and laughter an.
tho fear that ] was losing half the ful
fastened my movements. as throwing
my clothing into my bunk ! ran GU
and clambered into the fore-chains TO
q dive. As paused q moment to TAX
breath and cool my perspiring bod.
eighty before going In. looked dow