Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-03-24

wave Of the hand; and Tad. who had
listened 10 these nautical queries and
replies with great marveling. wondered
what made the Captain Of the ship
double himself up. like . man with >
sudden attack of collie. or like a person
in an agony Of laughter. rs the great
vessel went plEnging onward toward
her destination.
Them that goes down 10 the sea I'm
ships has Gurus e1per' ences. Thad-
deus" said Captain Flagg. laying down
his big trumpet with an impressive nod
Of the head
With vivid recollection Of his own
experience of the previous night. Tad
replied emphatically that he had no
doubt of il.
when you come TO be q sailor.
Thaddeus. and. may be. ship-master.
ike myself" pursued the Captain.
feeling mechanically in his pockets for
his pipe-which he discovered. n mo-
ment later. TO be on the deck. in pos
session of Bounce. who was grarelT
dragging il away to the immeasurabEs
delight Of Poliy-"an' you've gone
through the responsibilities. an
dangers. an typhoons - an things
gently" lie rather hazily concluded.
as he recovered his pipe from Bounce.
you'll realize that what solomon says
about truth being stranger'n 4 fiction is
jest about as he's put it.
But I-I-don't think want to be
a sailor" faltered Tad. with downcass
eyes.
''What-not want to be a saIvsr
bold, and plOw the ragin' main. ex-
claimed the Captain with look Of IN
utterable amazement.
mo. sir, family replied Tad And
as he thus spoke. he hung his head SO
far one side that the big fur cap fell
of, and was Immediately seized BY
Bounce. who began to worry il. evil
IDENTIFY regarding it as some new spe-
cies Of the feline race. until. in the
fervor Of his attack. he fell into it bod
ily. and gave vent TO small yelPs. ex-
pressive of extreme fear.
1t was some time before the Captain
recovered from the shock occasioned
by Tad's reply. That a likely boy
should prefer a Prosaic existence
ashore, who had once tasted the pleas
urable excitement Of "a life on the
oceaa wave" passed his simple COM
prehension- But gradually yielding to
Pouy's artful arguments. Captain
Flagg's brow began TO clear.
"Al right, my lad" he said. quite
cheerfully. al own rm n biz struck
sback, but, seeing you don't take
naturally TO sailorizin'. there's no press
gangs nowadays TO force you into
goin' against your viii. Only" re-
marked Captain FIagg. fitting back his
oil-skin hat. and scratching his head
refectively, II don't just know what
to do with you, now you've changed
your mind"
al known suddenly exclaimed
Polly. clapping her hands.
"Well?" asked her father, interroga-
lively.
"We'n find him chance on n farm
when we get to Bixport," returned
Polly. confidently. You'd like farm
ing-wouldn't you. Tad?"
Tad nodded with growing enthusi-
asm- He knew that farming had some
thing to do with new milk and fresh
butter and driving horses. Whatever
It was. it would be far preferable to go
ing to sea. And so it was pretty def
nitely settled that Tad should be
farmer, provided he be able. through
the Captains influence. to find a sisua-
ton.
When Tad came on deck at sunrise
the followingmorning, sleepily rubbing
his eyes, he rubbed them still harder.
and, moreover. gave his elbow q sly
pinch to make sure that he was fully
awake as he saw the strange transform
alton that had taken place in his sur
roundings Of the previous night
For loi in place of the far-reaching
sea, green fields, alternating with for
ests Of oak or pine. sloped down on
either hand to the edge Of broad riv-
er as smooth and clear as glass on
whose upmoTing tide the Mary j."
was slowly drifting.
Why" exclaimed Tad. staring
about him in glad surprise. ''where is
this. anyway"
This is down East Tad" laughed
Polly. enjoying his look OF PerPle1ity.