Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-06-15
THE LIGHTS BOTHERED HIM.
The Druggist Had His StarbOard and Port
Signals Mixed AbominabIy.

Those drug store lamps bothered him.
He was an old sailor and had retired
from active. service to live with his daugh-
ter in a little cottage in East Newark.
There was nothing for him to do, and time
hung heavily on his hands. Every day he
was in the habit of walking down to the
Passaie river Here he watched the craft
at the wharves, and the scent of the tarred
cordage made his nostrils dilate and his
chest swell out.
When he found any one to talk to, he
reveled in telling thrilling adventures of
the sea and tales Of wreck. His sneer was
masterpiece when he compared the rig
ging of the two and three masted schoon-
ers with the briggs, barks and other square
riggers" in which he had served.
Yet with all this there was one bit Of
wormwood which tasted bitter. That was
the drug store window in Harrison avenue.
In the window of the apothecary were two
large globes of colored water. One was
tinted bright green and the other ruby
red. At night they were brilliant and beau
tiful, with the Pickering gas jets back Of
them, and lent a bright color to the neigh
borhood. 1t was when the lights illumed
the tinted liquids that the old salt was
worried most. 1t was not the colors that
met with his disapproval, but the fact that
the colors were misplaced, according to his
nautical instincts.
Many time he thought of speaking to
the druggist, but refrained. He's the
cap'n, and if it's not shipshape it's none
of my business. I've got no call to med
die with strange quarter deck"
For two years he talked to himself and
frowned as he passed the place and hoped
against hope that change would occur.
At last he saw a sign in the window. 1t
read This Store VIII Move Across the
Street on the First of Next Month"
His heart leaped with joy as thought
sprang to his mind. He went down to the
river to cogitate and was SO absorbed that
he did not notice the unusual appearance
Of a barkentine at the mooring. He thought
deeply, and at last he exclaimed, IN do
1t if lose my fores'll"
1t was growing dark as he approached
the drug store, and the offending lights
were casting blocks of color upon the side
walk. He stepped boldly into the store,
and the druggist approached from rear
room.
The old salt touched the brim Of his hat
Ill ICSpOuSC W OllO 4uCly VI OAlO VI u65AoV 10
to what he could do for his customer.
II presume you're the cap'n of this ere
craft, and make SO bold as to come to
you and tell you that for little more'n
two years you've been moored here with
your sta board light to port and your port
light to sta'board, which amt accordin
to marine laws and customs.
"Ihain't never said nothin to you about
it afore, cause you was allyn here at an
Choir and no danger of any other craft a-run-
min foul of you onless it might be boss
with the staggers. But now, how bein's
you're a-goin to slip your moorin's and
move across the channel, make SO bold to
take that you're q landsman as don't know
the meanin o. them lights. So thought
as how I'd come in before you start and
tell you that you'd orter put the red light
to the port side, which is the left hand
side, and the green on the sta'board,
which is the right hand side." And touch
ing his cap he departed.
The druggist laughed. Then he laughed
again. But that night, without waiting to
move across the street, he shifted the lights
so that the "sta board and port" signals
were in proper position, and one old salt
happily slipped his grog after two long
years of worry and anxiety.-New York
Recorder