Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-03-08

merry eyes had boarded their craft. He
sailed with them in and out of the maze
of islands. He brought them to his own
curious launch as guests; his Happy
Thoughters, he called them there, and
everywhere among his friends. He
humored their simple ways; Tended
them indeed from much jostling and
insolence; and, as they left Bar Harbor,
steamed alongside their craft, telling
them that if they sailed as far as New
port, they must surely find him out, for
he would be at home in fortnight, at
Spraycroft Villa.
"Any one will tell you where that is, "
were his CHEEKY parting words. "Just say
you are Charles Bar Harbor friends. If
I'm not there, sister will be, and she's
regular beacon ligh. to jolly old tars like
you. Why, she was born on the water,
tool She'll be glad to see you. Good
by, and God bless you, Happy Thought
ers, all ~
This one little bond OF human SYM
pathy held their course sure and true
through disappointment after disap-
pointment-at Bristol, at Bath, at Port
land, at Old Orchard Beach, at Glouces-
ter, at Marblehead, at Nahant; bringing
them at last to the fine old city of Bos-
ton, perplexed and disheartened, but
still determined, as they paused for
their bearings beneath the noble Cam
bridge elms.
The directions given them by grave
young men in cap and gown; the in
structors to whom they were sent with
curious and conscientiously repeated
messages of student railery and cheer;
the class.rooms they wcro hidden to
enter on sober assurances that the
"capting" was awaiting them there; and
the hearty invitations they received to
join the VARSITY crew." remained
pleasant "reminiscences of Harvard
undergraduate life long after the crew
of the Happy Thought had departed;
but they brought the three old captains
finally face to face with the dean in no
amiable frame Of mind.
'Be you TIL captingp" inquired Cap
tain Ballast, with flashing eyes and a
sweep of his arm and sou'wester as
comprehensive as the curriculum of
Harvard itself.
81 am the dean. What can / do for
you, my dear fellows"
I1o was uluu VI ulllu speGCu, anu
seemed to mellitluously breathe his
words instead of utter them; but he did
no more than glance for an instant from
his writing upon his desk.
mo good fellers' about i'll" roared
Captain Ballast, bringing his companions
into line. "This 'ere's Capting Rudder.
This un's Capting Tacker; an Pm
Capting Ballast; schooner Happy
Thought; sixteen days outen Pembroke.
That's who we be, Capting Deanp
~ presume you are in search Of the
custom house;" returned the dean
pleasantly.
"Not a bit of it. We're searchin' fur
Whey Jetsum, an we're"
"Goin' ter have her, toom exclaimed
Captain Rudder, coming pointedly to
the help of his friend.
"Ah? Quite right; quite right" re-
piled the dean, musingly.
"See here, Captain Dean, none O. yer
tackin' an hounderin'. Bring him right
in; right afore us. Stan HIM right thar
on that ar sou wester." Here Captain
Ballast slammed his storm-beaten head
covering into the middle of the room;
sprang upon it; leaped back into line
with his friends; and fumingly awaited
the turn Of events.
"He's got ter git licked, right here l''
hoarsely asserted Captain Rudder, as he
grasped Captain Tacker's hand.
"Why, gentlemen, there must be some
mistakes" said the dean soothlngly, but
rising from his chair in alarm. "Who
is this party that has so offended you
And what about the young woman you
wish2
He was now evidently so wholly dis
ingenious and sincere That all three OF
the captains pressed forward with fervid
explanations. Captain Ballast waved
them back with, sits fur me ter keep
our compac' here;" and then ominously
began:
ats our gal, Whey, we're arter, Cap
ting Dean; one as us loves better n our
very lives. Your colleger cum canoein'
m geologin' down ter Pembroke two
year ago, July last"
The dean here seated himself at his
desk and began turning over the leaves
of the university records.
captain Dean, that ar shark hadn't
been gone month afore our Whey
slipped her moorin's an stole out o
home port?"
There was genuine sympathy in the
deans face now, as he asked the cap.
tains If they remembered the young
gentlemen's name. They consulted in
whispers for moment, when Captain
Ballast replied:
mot rightly, sir; but it had Dick
an sunthin' like 'gearin, inter it."
You see, gentlemen" resumed the
dean kindly, between mumbled repeti.
tons of "Richardr' "kichard p and
"Gearing," "Geary," "Gear," while run.
ming his finger and eye carefully from
top to bottom Of the long, closely writ
ten pages; "it is very difficult indeed ia
get at matter like this in moment
among thousands of graduates names. i
"Thousands p echoed the three cap.
tains, completely appalled,.
Thousands thousands like that crit.
ter turned outen here, to canoe it an
geologer it, up an down tn coast o. this
kentryp shouted Captain Ballast, while
the three seafaring men began pacing
the apartment dejectedly.
But at this moment their rueful faces
frightened at the deans methodic words
"Ah here we have it at last-Richard
Tredgear."
Three old grizzled and trembling heads
were beside the deans in an instant.
"Graduated with the highest honors
June, 'S0. Twenty-six years of age
Father, manufacturer. Residence, New
York, Vacation address, Newport.
think" said the dean, relapsing into his
unruffied manner and writing the name
and address upon slip of paper, which
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