The Portland daily press., 1892-07-04
ONE SIDE OF A TALK.

A windy November evening closed In
dark and dismal, threatening wild
weather in the night. The tea things
put away early, we gathered around the
fire, each of us in chosen cozy corner,
for long, quiet evening, listening to
the wind and the surf, half looking for
shipwrecked crew to come to us, when
brisk footsteps sounded outside and our
friend Robinson Crusoe bounded in,
leather jacket and fishing boots dripping
with rain and salt spray, his cheeks
glowing and his black eyes swapping
with fun.
We all started up with the same quick
question Of what was the matter, fancy
ing all sorts of mishaps to his lighthouse
or his dory to account for his appear
ance in the storm and darkness from the
farther side of the always rough chan
mel. But he seated himself serenely near
the door, merely saying by way Of an
swer: "Well, how's things over your
way? Thank you, marin, I won't come
no nearer the fire; I'll set ri down here
with my boots, SOS not to mus yer floor
up none," hanging his sleek wet fur
cap on his knee to drip and to dry.
"That plaguy dory of mine. she leaks
like thunder. Dunno how she'll stand
it, laying to your wharf in this way c.
the wind, while I set. But guess she
won't damage none but what can git
acrost in her. 'Tain't only a couple
O. miles anyway"
His shaggy black hair dried in a
tangle as he talked, smoothed down
from time to time by a hand sent aloft
when not fdgeting with his buttons, or
the chair, or his cap.
81 dunno how my man Friday1l get
along while I'm gone. He's kinder scat
O that leetle tower O. mine, an don't he
hate wuss'n pison havin me gone! By
thunder! But eff he amt old ernuf tel
stay alone nights awhile I'll tell him he'd
better be gettin him another job. Lordi
he's forty-one, an me goin on twenty five!
An amt scat. Oh, he's a big fool!
It's his watch till 10 tonight, anyway,
an he can make the old gal go well
enough if he's mind to an don't go ter
diclerin with the machinery"
There was shade of anxiety in his
tone; he rose and tiptoed heavily to the
window, peering out to catch glimpse
of his faraway light.
"There she goes" he said. "Shes all
right. Red, ten; white, five; oh, I guess
the old boy knows what he's about, but
he's such an old fool, really, he don't
know half the time which side his breads
buttered."
Sitting down again he stretched one
leg out, while he dragged up from the
depths of his trousers pocket a letter
wrapped in newspaper.
81 come over to see if could borry a
postage stamp" he said; then suddenly
laughed aloud at his thoughts.
"Jim's so scat I didn't say a darned
word how was comm off after supper. |
jest set him washin dishes, and that
takes all the mind he's got, an I snuck
out an let the dory fly; an when she
struck the water he come a-bustin out
the door on deck; thinks I'd fell over
board, ye know; and I sings out, pullin
out from the tower, an the wind blow
in-I says, 'Goodby, Jim,' says I, I'm
goin ter leave yer now;' an my Lord! he
stomped int the entry and slammed
the door to. Choking mad, he was. My
Lord! guess he hain't got over a-cussin
yet! Allus says when do somethin out
o. common, says he, sDeuced tomfool
cry says he;" and Crusoe buffeted his
cap in tumult of boyish glee.
"When git back he'll be awful glad
but he amt a-goin ter let on, mind; he
thinks hain't got but half an eye, any.
how, an ain't never up to his tricks.
But know him, sir-marm, like book
He'll let me haul the old dory up single
handed an think he's takin his spite Out
that way, but, good Lord kin run all
round him, as fur as tricks goes. Why
it don't take more mind than I've got il
| my collar button to git 'roun ole Friday
| Don't mean no reel harm, nor I DOM
never RELY hurt him, but he is SIGH an
| old fool / like to hector him some. Ri
it blows hat puff O wind he's scat 81
the tower tumblin down.
'"That night it blowed so-it's two
| weeks come next Monday-I tell yer the
old gal shook, an that's fack. But, my
gracious! she's as tight as the hair OF
yer head, an don't scare me none. Bu1
when we was to supper, an the seas wa:
| a-bangin an a-bustin on her, and thu
dishes a-rattlin, jest hit the table leg {
clip an says solemn ter Jim. says, Jim
we're goner!' an he up an down a-pray
in. ooh, what'n we dor says he. An
says, 'Jim,' says I, 'mebbe she'll fall *
landward,' l says, an by gosh! WASH
| he mad when he ketched on!
81 ben washin today. Did yer see M
washin out? Washed and ironed sam,
day. See my shirt? Amt it clean
Can't I wash good?" he asked brightly
standing up and throwing open hi
jacket, beating his breast, as if we, too
might come forward if we would ans
Slnite upon his manly shirt front.
A fine deep red surged up in hi
weather beaten cheeks in pride of per
Torrance. eve git done terrible quick
we do. Shove the table up 'longside tn
stove an let her go. Hain't got but on
fiatiron, so l drive her awhile, an thel
Jim, when she's hot agin., But dom
Jim make a kick, though! My Lord