Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1894-02-03
A JOVIAL PASSENGER.

river MerSey, DOunQ IOr MeIDOuFue
We had a good ship-Janet's Pride
loaded with miscellaneous articles
On board were fourteen passengers
and, take them all in all, a pleas
anter lot l never Steered across thu
stormy seas.
There were three old gentlemen
who were going out to share theil
fortunes, come what might, anC
which, poor old souls, they seemed tt
think fashioned in the brightest color.
long before the English coast was ou1
Of sight
Then there was so itarY old gen
tleman, who, judging from the gen
eral tone Of his conversation, was
seeking the new world for the os.
tensible purpose Of finding fault with
it.
There were young married couples,
all full Of hope and activity, bent
upon making new home far away
from their native land.
There were also very jolly elderly
brother and sister, neither of whom
had ever entered into the bonds OF
matrimony but, instead, had stuck
by each other through life.
There were three old Australian
] settlers who had been over to have a
peep at the old country and who were
now returning to the land which, to
them, through long communion, had
become the dearest to them of all
others-''hOme, sweet home"
Last, though not least, was a soil
tary passenger who soon became the
pet Of all on board. He was a man
OF %, with clear complexion, a long
beard and a silky mustache. His
name was Reginald May. His rel>on
for taking the sea voyage was the
delicate state Of his health.
There was not the least doubt that
the poor fellows chest was considera-
bly, affected, for his voice, though
charminglY sweet, was one of the
weakest ever heard; besides, it's hol-
lowness suggested consumption. He
always wore a muller round his
throat
In all my wide experience l never
knew any one with so many friends
and such undivided esteem, in so
short time, as Reginald May. 1 be-
lieve there was not a sailor on board
who did not entertain the warm st
possible liking for him. As for the
passengers they never seemed so happy
as wien listening to his amusing
anecdotes, Of which he seemed to
possess an ineXhauStible store. And
this delicate young Englishman had
made his conquest over all our hearts
before we 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 oys-
ter to an elephant and at making
models of ships 1 never met his equal.
He was besides most kind and con-
siderate toward his fellow passengers.
When the three elderly gentlemen
who imagined their fortunes made /
were afflicted; with sea-sickness, he !
was the first to offer to help them |
about while they slowly recovered !;
He would insist on their taking his
arm, weak as he was himself, and he |
would lead them about on deck with |
q tirmneSs that spoke well for his sea
egs,
do not remember any voyage pass
ing so quickly as the one on board. I
could here make long pause to dwell /
on the pleasant memories / still en- |
terrain of that young man.
We were within a weeks sail of !
Melbourne. May had all but COM
pleted his model Of the Janets Pride,
which he purposed pres 2nting to ME
on The night before we landed He
worked at the model on deck, choos- |
ing for his table an empty water
cask under the shelter of the bull
warks. He was always at work in
the morning long before any Of the
other passengers turned out of their
snug berthS
As have stated, we were but
weeks sail from Melbourne. For the
fist time the joyial passenger ap-
peared at the dinner table with
solemn face and silent tongue. /
asked him the reason for the change
in his wonted cheerful manner. At
last he tried to evade my queries, but
! pressed him until / won from him
an explanation.
perhaps, after all, it is only fail
that should explain a little" he
answered. The fact Of the matter
Is, my friends, that my watch has
been stolen"
Stolen" we all cried.
Undoubtedly. But / pray you,
captain" he said. turning to me, mot
to say one word about 1t. The only
thing that renders the loss Of it Of
consequence to me is the fact that it
was once my mothers On that ac-
count 1 would not have lost it for any
amount of money. However, it is
useless to cry over spilled milk, as the
old adaee has it,"
III the watch is in this ship We
ought 10 find it," said.
s'My dear captain. il you will leave
the matter entirely in my hands l
think may recover it, This request
lam s&S-e you will oblige me by grant
Ing"
why, certainly, my dear sir" 1
aaid. but still