The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-07-24
LIFE.
REUBENS FIRST VOYAGE.
DY MARLToN DOWNING.


shores of the broad Atlantic there lived
farmer who had three sons.
With his oldest and youngest children
We have nothing to do, for they were
willing, sturdy youths, who ob,yed their
kind parents every mandate, but it is
upon Reuben, the second born, that the
interes: Of this story centres.
He hated the work about the farm, In
fnct, detested labor of any kind; nc was
~ilful and disobedient, and was sore
trial to the entire household.
II the lad was sert To drive the cows
TO pasture, he would leave them to wan
der away by themselves, uncared for,
while he went to chase butterflies, or
-- .tral,ea. -lanu ths eas.o ot tka rooL rod
in hand, trying to catch the spotted trout
which darted hithcr and thither in the
babbling stream.
Very fond of reading was the boy, but
ne cared nothing for books that were In
structive, he rather chose those contain
ing tales OF adventure, which, IL must
be said, he dcvourcd ravenOusly, until
he began to long to become fierce buc-
cancer, or nm Indian slayer of the pIaius.
One cay his father called Reuben to
his side, and said
"My son, wish you would tnke the
brown mare and put those two sacks of
corn ,thst arc in the barn upon her back,
and drive to NcIghbor Griswold, the
miller. If you do not tarry on the road,
you can easily get there and back before
milking time"
This did not at all please tho youth,
for he wanted to get away by himself and
play; however, he dared not openly dis
obey his father, so he reluctantly started
for the mill with the marc and the two
sacks of corn. But first he stole NJ into
the little nttc chamber which wns occu-
pied hy himself and two brothers, aud
taking Il pillow. case from the bed, he
thrust into II a few articles of clothing,
and then fastened down again without
being observed by any member of this
busy household.
~ shall leave the old farm," he said,
"and no one in this village shall know
where | have gone until return a rich
man"
The lad drove the mare straight to the
mill, and tying her to n tree before
Neighbor Griswold's door, he told the
miller that his father would come for her
soon.
Then the boy hurried along the coun-
try road toward the nearest sea port.
Several miles he travelled, until at
length feeling tired, he turned aside and
lay down beneath the spreading branches
of chestnut tree, and placing his bun.
H&,epAF. his 1hS3d ,ohe e"'Khts slept "Ht d,a
not know, but suddenly he was awak-
ened 10y feeling some one shake his arm
and hearing voice in his car saying:
"What, my son! sleeping away the
best hours of the day? If you are on a
journey the time to travel is between sun
up and sundown."
As Reuben opened his eyes he saw
bending over him large man with n
pleasant face, although bronzcd and
wrathcrbcatc cy exposure tn the Gle
mcnts. AT the first glance the lad saw
by the stranger $ clothing that he was o
sailor.
Now the 10y had never met Il real
mariner in his llic but he had seen many
pictures of them and he was right in mis-
conjecture
"Who are you?' asked the young al
vcnturcr, arousing himself and sitting
up
,,,... I'll A.. ~
away ann ynn,., nrn,s" ' % '"t ,, % n""', ,;''h,
y" ''' ~
..It matters NOT what 7 or, -e,,;od
the hoy. "but will tell you what ! an
49, "''
.,ca ,a
w" ,'' III. n'"''! "'" 70" ''
cr,f, ~ c,,,;s,, ..;,k ,fS n'a ;.t W
and m coon h.,,,, $780,, .,,,,, ~
t;,c , eb;,, -. .,.,,. s.,,,,.I s., ~ 90
Ro,J,o, v,s III; ;slh,.'I
ture !, .n nm;oL l., GnJ;,, "n s"u" 'o'
tn cor,r on, h;' ,,,,. III py
n,,ns ard s,riru;rr .o b;s .,. 10 S..'.
hrs burdI. nvor h;s aha,I,as NV, M
..J ,m ro,dr Io, "u" I"''
inro,ior, - ho .,...,. e. '"' "m
SO, ~ '''>
"Avast there sbi,m,to ov,s, " ~
c,,;mcd ,bo ,,;lor ..No,.,u .,a.,
cruise without first taking good de-
partue.' So he seated himself on log,
i