Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1894-05-10
JOBY PAID HIS FARE.
AND WON HOME AND A FRIEND AT
THE SAME TINE.

The stout ship Falcon. leaning gal.
lantly 10 the wind, was making her
way down the channel. bound for
America The sails had been reefed.
the cables coilt d. 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 quar- ter deck, gruffiy
humming little song. the greater
part of which was lost in his thick,
bushv beard. though now and then
you might have caught some words
as "The sea is tie place for me. my
lads, or "A lively ship sni willing
crew."
Capt Essex's little song was inter
rupted bv a sudden commotion in the
forward part t the vessel There was
a sound of loud, angry talking. hasty
scuffling of feet, followed by tbs fright
ened 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 stowawav on my ship!" growled
the captain. "Bring he rascal herel
We'll give him 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 very small
and very ragged boy
The anger in the captains face gave
place to look of aston;shment, min
gled with pity, 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 do
ing hereP'
IN nothing. sir, was the trembling
reply.
who are you aud whore did you
come fromP Speak up, now! No non
sensei'
PPM Joby-Job Oliver. sir, said the
boy, between sons, which 10 yainly en-
deayored TO choke down. Il live in
London by the docks, sir.
what are you doing here theDP"
''T-I hid away down below. and
and they found me, | wasn't doing
anything. | didn't touch a thing. J.
thought they wouldn't mind. I'm not
very big, you see, ard | don't weigh
much
He broke down with gasp and
pressed his small, grimmy fists into his
streaming eyes. Then as the capt hin
remained silent, but continued to gaze
at him with tremendous frown, he
made brave effort to go on with his
story.
~ haven't any mother or father,
you see, and | have to earn my own
living. Everybody says: He's too
small. What's be good for?' and they
don't take me, though am strong /
can lift trunk-a little one. | can run
errands v,ry fast, but everybody says:
Oh, he's too ragged aud too dirty
If could ges jobs, you see, / could get
me new suit of clothes. but every
body don't want me, and"
Here fresh storm of sobs shock the
small frame
"But you haven't told me yet what
are doing on this ship?' said the cap
tain, preserving his severity with an
effort.
The ship was going to America, "
answered the boy. Everybody is rich
in America. Everybody wants you
there. you see. Tom Dixey went there
and be makes load of money"
That's all very WE'LL" responded the
captain, but people who go to Ameri-
ca pay for their passage, and to hide
away so as 10 60 without paying is just
the same as stealing so much money"
Evidently the boy had never t,ken
that view of the question. He looked
up at the captain s stern face with
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 silver sixpence and from a
third shilling, much battered, Clipped
and defaced. These he held out toward
the captain.
This is all I've got now, earned
the sixpence and the Two pennies the
shilling gentleman gave me. It's
broken but its good silver. all the
same
'.And what am to do with theseP"
asked the captain.
ITO pay my fare,n replied the boy.
''lt's most enough, / think. / will
earn the rest soon when | get over
there
The good captain could maintain
his gravity no longer. A smile light
ed up his rugged features as he said,
kindly:
There. there Joby. keep Your mon
ey, my hoy. You are an honest little
fellow, afser all. You shall stay with
me on the Falcon, and we will make
man Of Won >
All day long the good ship labored
with he mountainous waves, leaping
and plugging TIL it seemed as tho lgh
the grooming. creaking masts must
come out of her. Bnt she was a sfanch,
we'll built craft, and had passed safely
through manv worse tempest.
With the fell Of night the gale in
creased in violence. The sails had
been reduced to the heavy lower can
vas, just sufficient to steady the vessel.