Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-07-08
THE JOVlAL PASSENGER.

weighed anchor and sailed out OF the
river Mersey, bound for Melbourne.
We had a good ship-Janet's Pride
loaded with miscellaneous articles.
On board wore fourteen passengers,
and, take them all In all, q pleasante,
lot / never steered across the stormy
seas.
There were three old gentlemen who
were going out to share their fortunes,
come what might, ami which, poor old
souls, they seemed to think fashioned
in the brightest colors long before the
English coast was out Of sight. Then
there was solitary old gentlemen,
who, Judging from the general tone Of
his conversation, was seeking the new
world for the ostensible purpose Of
finding fault with it There were
young married couples, all full OF hope
and activity, bent upon making . now
homo far away from their native land.
There was also . very jolly elderly
brother and sister, neither Of whom had
ever entered into tho bonds Of matri.
money, but, instead, had stuck by
each other through Life. There were
three old Australian settlers who had
been over to have . peep at the old
country and who were now returning
to tho land which, to them, through
long communion, had become the dear
est to them Of all othsrs-"home,
sweet home"
Last. though not least, was Q soil.
tary passenger who soon became tho
pet of all on board. He was man Of
twenty eight. with q clear complexion,
long beard and silky mustache.
His name was Reginald May. His
reason for taking the sea voyage was
the delicate state Of his health.
There was not the least doubt that
the poor fellows chest was consider
ably affected, for his voice, though
charmingly sweet. was one OF the weak.
est 1 ever heard; besides, its hollowness
suggested consumption. He always
wore muffler round his throat. In
all my wide experience I never knew
any one with SO many friends and such
undivided esteem, in 30 short a time,
as Reginald May. I believe there was
not sailor on board who did not en-
tertain the warmest possible liking for
him. As for the passengers. they never
seemed so happy as when listening to
his amusing anecdotes, of which he
seemed to possess an ine1haustible
store. And this delicate young English
man had made his conquest over all
our hearts before wo had been three
weeks at sea. He was, too, very clever
with his hands. He could shape You
anything out Of a piece of wood, from
an oyster to an elephant, and at making
models of ships I never met his equal.
He was besides most kind and consid-
crate towards his follow passengers.
When the three elderly gentlemen who
imagined their fortunes made were af-
tiicted with sea-sickness, he was the
first to offer to help them about while
they slowly recovered. He would in
sist on their taking his arm, weak as
he was himself, and he would lead them
about on deck with firmness that
spoke we'll for his sea legs.
We were within weeks sail of Mel.
bourne. May had all but completed
his model of the Jsnet's Pride, which
he purposed presenting to me on the
night before we landed. He worked
at the model on deck, choosing for his
table an empty water cask under the
shelter Of the bulwarks. He was al
ways at work. in the morning long be-
fore any Of the other passengers turned
out of their snug berths. As I have
stated, we were but weeks sail from
Melbourne. For the first time tho
1ovial passenger appeared at the dinner
table with . solemn face and silent
tongue. I asked him the reason for
the change in his wonted cheerful man.
ner. At first he tried to evade my
queries, but I pressed him until won
from him an explanation.
"Perhaps, sfter all, it is only fair
that should explain little" he an
swered. The fact of tho matter is,
my friends. that my watch has been
stolen"
''Stolenr' We all cried. c.,~
"Undoubtedly. But I pray you,
Captain. he said. turning to me, mot
to say one word about it. The only
thing that renders the loss of it Of con.
sequence to mo is tho fact that it was
once my mothers. On that account
would not have lost it for any amount
of money. However, it is useless to
cry over spilled milk, as the old adags
has it."
If the watch is In this ship, we
ought to find it" I said.
my dear captain, if you will leave
the matter entirely in my hands, think
may recover it. This request I am
sure you will oblige me by grant.
ing"
Why. certainly, my dear sir. " said.
"but still"
Exactly" he interrupted. with his
pleasant smile. "You would like to
investigate the case to tho utmost OF
your power, know, my dear captain.
But can trust you to keep your prom.
ise and leave the thing entirely in my
hands, cannot ?"
How could I refuse him.?
You may readily imagine what con.
sternation this event gave rise to among
the other. passengers. The three old
gentlemen at once began to explain
that they owned jewelry to tho value
of 9400, which they usually kept
locked up in q brown leather writing.
case but, unfortunately, at the pres
ent time the look was out of order
Mr.. May suggested o safe deposit for
their vsluables.
The young married couples an
nounced the fact of their having at
least G2O0 worth OF jewelry, and they,