The Press., 1890-01-30

gentleman TOT season COnCeACfaIeO himself entirely on me. He ordered me with broom and scraper into the ships pig pen, which he argued needed clean ing. This was my first well defined maritime duty. It was lower round of the ladder than I had anticipated. It seemed in it's nature an occupation more. bucolic than nautical. I would have preferred, also, that compliance with the order had not been exacted until the ship had left the wharf, because there were several shore visitors on board, and among them two of my intimate friends, who had come to see me off. There they stood, in all the bravery of silk hats and fashionably-cut attire, conversing on terms of equality with the first mate. They could talk with him on the weather or any subject. I, by virtue of my i'm ferior position, was not at liberty to speak to this potentate at all.
 jumped into the pig pen. Thus des- tiny, despite our inclinations, forces down our threats these bitter pills. The fourth mate was not more than year my senior. He stood over me during the entire process and scolded,, cursed and commanded. My shore friends looked on from afar and grinned. Already they saw the great social chasm which yawned between me and them, and governed their actions accordingly. AL ready did they involuntarily patronize me. It requires wise man to detect the wickedness and deceit in his own nature. Probably should have sinii- larly acted had our positions been rel versed. The mate was very particular. He made me sweep and scrape every corner with an elaborate and painful accuracy. He sent me into the pigs house to further perfect the work. Twas obliged to enter it in an almost recum- bent position. The pig ran out disgust ed. I scraped his floor in similar mood. Thus commenced life on the ocean wave.
 But got even with the mate. Destiny made me my own involuntary avenger of the indignity put upon me. By in dignity don't mean the cleaning of the pig pen. That was an honorable though menial occupation-at least, in theory. Cincinnatus on his farm may have done the same thing. But do mean the scur- rility and abuse the young officer be- slowed on me, while did my best to execute his bidding.
 I hauled the young man overheard about three minutes afterward, but he never knew did it, and never allowed myself to think of the occurrence while on shipboard, for fear the powers of the air might ventilate the matter. It came about in this way: A line was passed through hawse hole forward to the tug, which was puffing, fretting, fuming, and churning with her screw the mud ooze and garbage floating in the slip into 3 closer fusion. My friend the mate stood on the forechains with the end of the heavy rope in both hands, trying to pass it to those on the tug. This line running through the hawse hole aft was lying near where stood. Some one called out
 "Haul in on that line" supposed that the order referred to me and the hawseI lying at my side. So hauled with all my might. felt at first some resistanct something like tugging at the otlel end. I hauled all the harder. Then something seemed to give way. Il hauled easier. heard, coincident with these sensations, splash, loud cries much swearing and the yell of ''Mar overboard!" I raised my head over tht bulwarks and there was my mate floundering amid dock ooze, rotten or anges and salt water. It was he who held the other end of the line, and my hauling had caused the center of gravity in his short body to shift beyond tht base, and in accordance with a natural law he had gone overheard. He wa. the general exposure of all eyes. They fished him out, wet and swearing. Ther' was vigorous demand for the miscre ant who had been hauling on the line. was as far as possible from the spot ant kept myself very busy. Bluster wen below and changed his clothes. wal avenged.
 We were lowed into the stream ant anchored for the night. To look at New York city, with it's many lights and it thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ships deck, without tn possibility of joining, them, was to fee for the first time the slavery of marin life. Emerging very early next mornini from the ''boys' house," found every Cnlng III the OuStle dD1 conIuSAOn o1 get ting under way. A long file of men wer tramping aft with very wet hawser As stood looking at them my ear wa seized by our Dutch third mate, who ac companied the action with the remark "Cooms, put you to work" He con ducted me in this manner to the rope an, bade me lay hold of it. did so. Icoul, have done so with better heart and vii had it not been for the needless and de grading manner in which he enforced hi command. Most men do their work jus as well for being treated with certail courtesy of command due from tn superior to the inferior.
 PRENTICE MULFoRD