River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-04-26
J0BY PAID HIS FARE.
And Won a Home and a Friend
at the Same Time.


America The sails had been reefed,
the cables coiled, and everything made
snug for the night. Capt Essex,
pleased, as an old sailor always is
when his vessel is well away from the
dangers of the land and making good
progress under a steady wind, paced to
and fro on his quarter deck, gruffly
humming a little song, the greater
part of which was lost in his thick,
bushy beard, though now and then
you might have caught some words,
as THE sea is the place for me, my
lads" or "A lively ship anu willing
crew"
Capt Essex's little song was inter
rupted by a sudden commotion in the
forward part of the vessel. There was
a SQUAD of loud, angry talking, hasty
scuffling OF feet followed by the
frightened sobbing of child.
''Hello!' exclaimed Capt Essex,
what is the meaning of that row?'
"A stowaway, SIR" answered one of
the men from below.
"A stowaway on my ship!" growled
the captain. Bring the rascal here.
Wen give him a taste of the ropes end
first, and then--but what is that?"
THE stowaway. SIR" was the re-
Spouse as two of the crew approached,
leading between them a very small
and very ragged boy
The anger in the captains face gave
place to look of establishment, min
gled n pi' as his eyes rested upon
the shivering form of the intruder
But he maintained the sternness of his
tone as he addressed the boy.
well, said he, what are you doing
here?"
'N-nothing, sir" was the trembling
reply.
WHO are you and where did you
come from? Speak up, now! No non
sense!"
Pm Joby--Job Oliver. SIR" said the
boy, Ietween soils. which he vainly en-
deavored 10 oh IKE down. ~ live in
London oy the docks, sir"
what are you doing here, then?"
IL hid away down below, and
and they found me. l wasn't doing
anything. | didn't touch a thing /
thought they wouldn't mind. I'm not
very big, you see, and l don't weigh
much"
He broke down with a gasp and
pressed his small, grimy fists into his
streaming eyes. Then, as the captain
remained silent. but continued to gaze
at him with tremendous frown, he
made a brave effort to go on with his
story.
i haven't any mother or father, you
see, and have to earn my own living.
Every body says: He's too small.
What's he good for?' and they don't
take me, though i am strong. | can
lift a trunk-a little one. can run
errands very fast, but every body says:
oh, he's too ragged and too dirty" If
could get jobs, you see, could get
me new suit of clothes, but every
body don't want me, and"
Here fresh storm of sobs shook the
small frame.
"But you ha vent told me yet what
you are doing on this ship" said the
captain, preserving his severity with
an effort.
''The ship was going to America"
answered the boy. Every body is rich
in America. Everybody wants you
NhCANs NOh SCI AOAh AtfNNg NNht
and he makes a load of money"
That's all very WELL responded the
captain, but people who 60 to Ameri-
ca pay for their passage. aud to hide
away so as To go without paying is just
the same as stealing so much money"
Evidently the boy had never taken
that view of the question. He looked
up at the captains stern face with a
frightened and startled expression.
Then he began a hurried search in the
pockets of his ragged jacket. From
one he drew forth two coppers, from
another a silver sixpence and from
third shilling, much battered. Clipped
and defaced. These he held out toward
the captain.
This is all I've got now. l earned
the sixpence and the two pennies-the
shilling a gentleman gave me. It's
broken, but it is good silver, all the
same"
And what am to do with these?"
asked the captain.
ITO pay my fare" replied the boy
"It's most enough. | think I will
earn the rest soon when ! get over
there"
The good captain could maintain
his gravity no longer. A smile ligh
ed up his rugged features as he said,
kindly:
There. there Joby. keep your mon
ey. my boy You are an honest little
fellow, after all You shall stay with
me on the Falcon, and we will make
man of you"
All day long the good ship labored
with the mountainous waves, leaping
and pluLging till il seemed as though
the grooming, creaking masts must !
come out of her. But she was
stanch, well-built craft. and had passed
safely through many a worse tenn
pest.
With the fall OF the night the gale in |
creased in violence. The sails had
been reduced to the heavy lower can
Nas, inst sufficient to steady the YES
sci The captain renamed on deck, |
taking position near the rail, where
he could keep an eye on the rigging.
Near him, sheltered by the bulwarks, |
sat little Joby on a coil of rope.
Suddenly, just as the captain was
shouting an order through his trumpet
a vast Siliow seem ed to rise out of tn
gloom and bear down upon the ship. |
1t struck the vess ei's side with an aw-
full roar, throwing tons of water on the !
deck Before he could save himself the |
captain was lifted from his feet and |
flung overheard into the sea
Almost at the same instant a small |
figure was seen TO leap upon the rail, |
cling there moment, and then leap |
into the darkness and disap- |
pear.
Man overheard"
The terrible cry rang above the roar
of the tempest For a moment all was
panic and confusion. Then. under the |
mates command. the ship was rounded
to. with her head to the wind. and a
boat ordered to be lowered.
No use" said one of the men to the
mate. who stood by the rail near
where the captain had fallen over
board I'VE could never find them in Il