Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-07-25
AMONG The BREAKERS.

At a pleasant family reunion ID
/ New York the sons and daughters
of an old commodore of the navy
we're assembled at the house OF a
well known citizen to celebrate a
domestic anniversary.
Tie table had been cleared,
cigars lighted, and the veteran, be-
ing urged by the young ladies' to
SPIN them a sea yarn, rela'ed the
following story:
1t occurred, he said, soon after
[ entered the service, now more
than forty years ago. We were
lust about to leave Hampton Roads
on a cruise, when the captains glg
dashed alongside, and with the Old
skipper came a slight, girlish, fail
haired boy, apparently a mere
child. but dressed in the unlfOrn
at that time worn by the mldship
men of our navy.
The little fellow had been sent
to sea to learn an honorable profes
sion. because his father, since his
/ bankruptcy, could not educate his
son at home in a manner becoming
his former station. He stood un'
certain for a while on the quarter
deck, alone, neglected, abashed
until the captain, suddenly recol'
lecting himself, turned round and
introducing him to US ended by
committing Harry BroughtOn, as
shall call him, to my oversight, as
tie oldest mldshlpman on board.
We we're soon on intimate terms
and he was so frank, generous and
winning in his manners that you
could not, for the lite of yOn, escape
loving the little fellow. Even the
rugged old tars wonld do anything
to please him, and the severity OF
the first lieutenant himself otter
relaxed itself when little Harry, as
we all called him, had offended
against some paltry rule OF dlscl
pline. Always the first to turn ou'
| in a gale, never to be found skulklng
like some of the other youngsters
from his watch, and at all times
eager TO volunteer on any extra
duty, he gradually wound himsel
into the hearts of every one Oh
hoard, from the landIubbers in th'
waist to the captain in his ate
cabin. If we went on shore Harr
/
was sure to be one of our compan
for he was su3h a favOrlte VIII
strangers on account of his yout
and beauty that we were alway
T better welcomed if he was along.
We had been out nearly thrt
wears. cruislu on the Pacific static
when we we're ordered home, an
right glad we all were to hear Il
news. The long beautiful moo
lights came and went Ike u
sound of music, and a hundr'
; Gallant fellows danced away q
; Iesening watches to the lively not
: of the violin.
w, reached the Philippi
: Islands. passed the straits and
! last entered the Bay OF Beng'
a We were all heartily tired OF clio
. confinement on shipbOard, ana
solved to run up the bav and VII
. q few of the chief stations on
coast. 1t was a glorious day wh
we first caught sight of Madr'
with the sunlight playing full
its walls and minarets, the lol
low beach of white sand crown
with the walls of the fort ao0'
and a tremendous surf rolling a
laundering II ahead. Every be
heat high with pleasure. and
WAS not a difficult matter to o0t
nern ission to land. A party
officers, among whom were Ha
and myself, resolved to make
excursion into the town.
7 should haye mentioned t
,r' there is no port for vessels VIII
led twonty miles OF st. Georges II
and as our fngate would be g
:, neIled to stretch out and in nj
~ our return we had but little 6
for our adventure. We had inte
- ed when we started to leave
s. hoots ontsida the surf and to i
b, fats which are used for pass