The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-12
STEALING A JOSS.

But there was no lubberly landsnal
good enough for her, warrant you. Slit
had hauled down her colors long ags
and surrendered to Jack Crowninshield
| the big captain of the East Indiama1
Coromandel, lying down at the dock anG
taking in cargo for Colombo.
The skipper was as smart sailormar
as ever took sight at the sun and the
Coromandel was as splendid ship al
ever few the saucy stars and stripes
from her monkey gaf. Mind you, an
spinning yarn of times ever so long
ago, when Salem was busy, thriving
maritime town with her merchants en-.
gagged in the Indian trade, and when he1
ships, laden with oriental silks, spices
hides and other products, were continu.
ally coming into port. | was q lively
lad in those days, having taken to the
sea like goose to the pond, and when
my captain, Jack Crowninshield, got
spliced to Clara Kinghan in the little
stone church on the hill 1 was there as
large as life.
The skipper seemed more fustered
than she did, and as they passed down
the aisle it was admitted that hkelier
couple had never before been united at
the altar. They went to Boston to spend
the honeymoon. and went back aboard,
took off my Sunday o-to-meeting toys
and went aloft with my tar brush.
All our crew was already shipped, as
we were to sail in three weeks time, and
we were trying to see how pretty we
could make the old packet look before
we cast off from the dock and pointed
her nose to blue water. Our sailors
were neither Dutchmen nor dagoes
such as one meets with In these degen-
crate days. but good Americans-the
finest seamen In the world. Pompey,
the coal black cook, was an American,
too, and nobody could handle the fore
sheet as well as he; and tell you his
pork and beans was a dish that would
make you blubber like baby for more
and his plum duff was so indescribably
luscious that every Sunday forenoon
while it was a-sizzling IN the coppers
you would find the watch on deck, all of
them under the lee of the galley with
the water fairly running out of their
mouths as they inhaled the fragrant
odors of plans and spice.
The Coronandel was one Of the fast
est clippers hailing from Salem, and IL
was the ambition of every old woman
who had sons to dispose of to get them
aboard of her. Mothers used to bring
their boys down TO the dock and waylay
the skipper. Some Of them would fall
down on their marrow bones and Just
beg OF him TO take their bows. 1t was
proud day for me when | was shipped,
and on that occasion felt as naughty
as a dog with two tails This was my
second voyage, and the skipper took
quite an interest in me. | was given
charge of his cabin and used TO keep his
traps in order when at sea, the steward
being little old and shaky on his pins.
The day before the ship was to sail
Captain Crowninshieid brought his wife
back from Boston and installed her in
the dearest little old fashioned cottage
that ever was. 1t was covered with
creepers and vines. and in the little gar
den that surrounded 1t hollyhocks, sweet
williams and any amount of other scent
ed posies grew luxuriantly and perfumed
the air.
Mrs. Crowninshield came aboard the
ship that afternoon. and while her hus-
band was at the custom house getting
his clearance papers and traasacting
other business she and l fixed up the
captains cabin, 1t did my heart good
10 see that dainty little woman decorat-
ing the cabin with ribbons and putting
everything in apple pie order. The con-
trivances for his comfort that were
evolved from her shapely little head
were SO ingenious that | fairly opened
any mouth with admiration. 4 lucky
fellow was Jack Crowuinshield. always
eating the fat and drinking the sweet of
life But while this labor of love was
the little woman's mind and
busy fingers big tears were yelling up
n her blue ewes for tomorrow was the
Law of sorrowtUl parting, and she would
lot be likely to see that big husband of I
hers for al least Two years. | fell in love /.
With her Al sight. and for nearly two /
-ears dreamed about her
In the morning there was a large
,rowd TO See us of When the skipper
tepped aboard | noticed ne looked sad
md grave-So different from his usual 4
eckless and joyial appearance. Mira (
did not see the ship of F..
The strain would nave been too much .
or her They gave US three cheers as
We spread orr canvas 10 the breeze and /
allied ont to sea. The wind was fair
nd II was a delightful August day. |
Ne gave Ecr every stitch she would
tagger under and Salem was soon out /
II sight.
Nothing particular happened during
he passage oEt. TIE skipper oonhded
o me that he IN lacd 10 make collec-
ion Of -'cu - lor his WIG. who wss
'ardcuIar adGllrer n things from for
ign parts. / wss only - youngster. IS
have SAID before. bat Il the captain had
My known how mSdly | was IN love
nth his wife he would doubtless have
licked me around The decks I think
-as fifteen years old ar the time. and
as as foolish As / Was Young. II Is as
Jnishirg what influence 4 kindly word
rom Il pretty woman las aIon sailor
oy accustomed 70 fewer hai-,snce than
icks, Besides, nay love was akin 10
piritual worship.