New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-13
ing: "why, the poor fellow walked 81
thought he was tired"
THE LOVE OF THE SEA STILL SIRoN"'
NOW THE MEMORY OF YOUTHFUL DAYS Ar
rr,yrrn A RETIRED MERCHANT.


He was porly in figure and had on his face tn''iovA
., contentment and peace which comes with the po'
session OF plenty OF the worlds goods ana inc vi
rosition and ability to enjoy tlem lie WIZ We"
dressed wore a silk hat, carried gold-heaueu '"'
and would have given to a casual observer INC -.
prcsslon that he retired merchant one Vi -.
many men in this great big city who have success'
fought the battle OF life and calmly settleu "o"" "
oriov the fruits Of victory. The casual ooser'ei
,rould have been right I'm his impression. lie was i"
,,rod merchant lie had wealth In plenty. Ih'
homo was fitted and filed with all the uxuries WHICH
the unsparng of money could procure i'i' WI,
a daughter appeared at all the fashionable soci'
functions and he and they were welcome guests !"
the proudcst homes OF the great city.
u was n civic hollday-the day OF the naval review"
and all the town had gathered on the banks oil inc
,,, ., soe the fleet OF warships gathered 10 no
honor IN thc memory OF the great dscoverer. IL was
= dov OF moisture and dampness, ana the piers Vi ~
East River side OF the city were deser'en' s">' "
tho fev lonely men who kept wach ana VIII" o''i -"
hio shns which squeaked and groaned as they r"pDeu
ho sdos against the tide-swcpt piling OF their tem
pOrary resting places u
sheltered from the falling rain by large "'hDl.i,
M or,,ored down sonth-st as unconcernedly rs II he
,rora a hundred miles from any excitement ihS'c"" VI
being ONLY short distance from the scene vi so"'
celebration At Burling slip he stopped iooheu ''
fully around and went across southst' anu "o"I w.
nicr where a big ship WINS tied up Inc sa"s"",
stretched from the rail OF ship to the pier hoor anu
nm tbe narrow walk, the rail anu uo"h "" ~
the deck he went. The watchman was unere' ANU
t,or a hriof talk they went aft and down the c"'''i
roncwav He gave sniff Of delight anu a ''sn
satisfaction as the warm air from the ca'i' -.
ND the gangway, and he disappeared n''o '"' ''p'
whence II came. a., .oh
When he reappeared he wore suit OF the VAN
mans clothes. and the silk hat was replaced WIN a
y, = horn and bred sailor took look abort III way
which showed that he knew what he was 'ooN'"s az
unlocked the cooks galley and explored IT 'ho,ouH.'
wont into the paint-locker and fumbieo arouhu H'os
sIush buckets. paint cans scrapers' oo sun
obs and far pots then he went into the sail locker
md stretched himself at full length on the jos anu
s,avsalls which carefully rolled up ana p'o".u
- In tho little room. Long, deep breaths NE
tool and \ look OF bright, buoyant happiness can'e
into his eyes. ., an.
rho Mo iron eve at the cew OF topsail stuck out
from a mass Of canvas near him, ana ne pa''eu al"
stroked It. and spoke soft. low words 10 It, "9 '9
{, were the hand OF q woman whose heart ne hopeu
~ -. 80. ,ho great folds Of storm. stained duck ne
ud = nd tossed and nj last went out and closed lhe
az With a "cood.rvr which was partly Whisper
md partlv a sob: then into the "foc'sie' WIFI i'
hrec tiers OF hunks deserted, save by the punse" w
which Is always part OF '"cA' " - ona
Th.ro was the forward bunk always the in'' ~
toro and AFT. its owner may wake up ana ma 'na'
oo,tn chin, has placed his heels higher than his
hon, and lack prefers sleeping on an even KEEL
Tr,o ono NJ the hunks he crawlod. and carved lis
initials on the board which separated II rom 'e one
inst forward Of It. Then out ana lor"aiu " ~
,, ,ocler the big box where the anchor chains are
laid AWAY Then came the old verse WIN" e'
the labor Of sailors on American SHIPS
Civ d,vs shal, thou work and do all thou art ape
and
c,u, forward way under the forecastle deck. where
tho du CLINT Of the water came up through 'he s'ea'
IN, ove, ~ thc ship. the hawse holes the ar WIS
81, ~, - damn sticky odor that told Of stores OF SAT-
,, ,or M. men and a pig for the cabin. Bach
,co,n by the big windlass. which received io'i"e
NAT from the hand which only short u'he oeloie H-
haen soft and white hut now was SoiIeu oS 'o"'"'
with almost everything It had been apie 10 rc"oN VI.
hoard the ship. Giving pull at the hea''S ooneu
ropes As he went by. he talked TO 'Ae", ~ " -,
cr, old friends gave the main deck capslsh I'LL
nckod mn n neSpkc and carried II 10 VA. - ~. g.,
inund a Delaying pin and put mo w., hact f.
,bc mil where II belonged. ana az ~ 70 80 ~,
hc cnldn where the Waterman had IN pan h % NJ
and a couple ~ "hardack' waiting iol nia. ILL.,, on
Financially h" raped the soup ph'rr tra ~. w.
hr ishir and dropped them into ne h1l 'onee hmap
"Tbry'rr too hard for the creeperS' h"' po''
Yes was the answer 1T is habit W pen n "vs
moS w., us,d 10 get bareback that would nav
r.L.d overheard II II hadn't been KEEP III o"i a.,
49," - .m,u Of the old mans dinner was tr'at ="
~, a. Let, scc-wc had 'hurgo" anu uul.S
~, and horse and hawser.' and We got our " W
MN -, IN, .,cutlc butt and tn" horse our Oh "'e
harnn.s cosk' and lime-iuce twice week anu
.rnpcs ending every month . ,, .,o watch
Them was great times SIR re""rA'o '"' "
man. , .,o,. covc mo tho love OF
-. Nm Did you ever feel IT, Waterman 4. in M
, fr the sea and It's ships. and the ne "i I'll NJ
Nv, nc,. Won have tasted + always with you I'M
"Loe ~ shin a living being, to be loved anu pe,u
nd ,oLnn care Of and chded and watched oNtI'na s
make # "A part OF your own HE, anu a'ino'' ~
precious 7" ou,dr,t bo here now"
orsvnrcd tbr Waterman. and the men, SO wlr'iN HeP
rated hy circumstances. but with kindred heu.'''
Ella mod hands and then "spccd the nam ora US 10.
Thcn he changed clothes again put on MS SIN IA, "a
and went ND on deck with the Waterman ~ nv
riI no stopncd and shook hands once more WIN 'he
ships guardian. 80 . o~st love
and She rented me so harShlv that left hef bni
cannot get rid of the old feeling ana once VI a"hir
n cononcrs me- Now I'll go home again ana DE an
ricbt for time Good by" and rs the Waterman
hand closed over a fivedonr gold piece his Nlsl'or
vent M the pier the street with llght sPrlnSN
stcp and a slight roll which showed that me success
mi merchant had not entirely obliteratou the Slnpr
lad OF years gone bv. and that the Sc ana her ways
had not been forgotten.