The Opelousas courier., 1891-09-26

steer, or you'll never become a captain"
The boy dragged his tired limbs to-
ward the stern of the ship, where he saw
a man turning a wheel back and forth,
in what seemed to him, a most aimless
sort of manner
The helmsman pointed into the bin
naele where the compass was swinging,
and said:
"That chap there has got ~thirty-two
points, each with a different name, and
you must learn every one Of them"
ooh, / can never do that" taltered
Reuben.
eyes, indeed you can," squeaked
Rope's-end, who seemed to be ever al
the boys side, s'and that too before you
go to bed"
Now this W as a difficult task for the
youth, and he was obliged to request his
shipnate at the wheel to repeat them to
him over and over again.
But the man spoke sd rapidly that had
he been talking Choctaw, his words
would have been fully as ineligible to
the boy.
As the sun began to sink to rest in its
watery cradle. Reuben's thoughts for the
hundreth time in that long, long day flew
homeward.
In his minds eye he could see his two
brothers driving the lowing cattle up
from the pastures for the milking. His
mother, he knew, was ready with her
bright, shining pans to set the cream,
while his father, he fancied, was taking
his way to Neighbor Griswold's the mil
Ter. in search of his disobedient son. and
the brown mare, with the two sacks of
meal.
Tears filled his eyes, and chased each
other rapidly down over his pallid cheeks.
The boatswain, who happened along just
at that moment, for a wonder seemed a
little touched at the evident distress of
thelad, and as he really did not have a
bad heart, he RETAINED from calling into
requisition his invariable companion,
Rope's-end.
He told Reuben that he might go to
the galley and get something to eat, and
then seek his bunk for a few hours.
The youth was glad of this permission,
and fastened in search of his supper,
but, oh what a meal. There was none
of the sweet golden butter, light warm
biscuit, and bits of cake that usually
graced the table of the farmhouse.
Instead, he received a piece of fat salt
pork and two crackers, go hard, that al
though his teeth were sharp and strong,
hey failed to make any impression upon
hem, and our little "run-aWay", crawled
INTO his narrow bunk, tired, homesick
ind hungry.
Yet though very weary, he could not
sleep, for the faces OF his dear parents
aud brothers rose ever before him, while
The smoke which circled up from The lit
lie oil lamp swinging in the forecastle
almost s~uffocated him.
ttAh, if / were only home, he would
groan, but not loud enough to be heard
oy any one who might be near.
Suddenly there was a great sensation
On deck, then followed a loud, crashing
noiee, and Reuben felt something strike
aim as though o bean had fallen and the
water rushed in upon his face.
With a shrek, for he thought the
tide of the vessel had been crushed in
ind he was in danger of being thrown
INTO the raging sea, the boy sprang to
ais feet, to find what?
1 will tell you, dear reader. Reuben
found himself beneath a chestnut tree, a
branch of which had fallen and struck
nim while he slepti
Then he realized that a terrific storm
was raging, and that the noise of q col
iision, was a heavy burst of thunder,
while the waters of the ocean, which had
dashed into his face, proved to be
naught but the large rain drops, which
we're falling from a black cloud that was
nurrying across the sky.
Bewildered and dazed, the boy looked
around.
us it possible" he exclaimed, "that
am not on board of a ship2 Oh, how
thankful 7 amp
Quickly picking up his bundle, Reu-
Den sprang down into the road, and,
disregarding the forbidding aspect of
the elements, he hurried away from the
place where he had slept. This time,
however, his face was not turned toward
the seacoast, but his rapid footsteps were
.aking him in the direction of Neighbor
Griswold.
When the lad reached the mill the sun
was just disappearing behind the trees
to the westward.
The old mare was found where she.
had been tethered, with the meal already
upon her back. The young adyenturer
did not tarry to answer any questions Of
the miller, but pushed on for home.
As he arrived, he found his father just
starting out in search Of him.
"Where have you been, my son9n
asked the farmer anxiously.
~ have been a long way beyond the
mill, father, while Neighbor Griswold
was grinding the corn.
a0h, Reuben, when will you learn to
obey the dictates Of your conscience,
which must tell you when you are doing
wrongl'
81 have this day received a lesson,
father, which / shall never forget, and
from this time forward You shall not
have occasion to reprimand me-" an
sWered the boy soberly.
Reuben kept his word. He worked
faithfully upon the farm, was obedient
to his father and mother, and kind and
c~onsiderate to his brothers, but it
was several years before any one knew
Why the farmers son had not become q
sailor.-Ydake8 Blade.
DO Deer Ever Weepl