Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-01-09
TANNING A SHREW.

have always had slight suspicion
that the following narrative is not quite
true. It was related to me by an old
seaman, who, among other incidents of
a somewhat adventurous career, claimed
to have received Napoleon's sword at
the battle of Trafalgar and wound in
the back at Waterloo I prefer to tell it
in my own way, his being too garnished
with nautical terms and expletives as to
be half unintelligiblo and somewhat
horrifying. Our talk had been OF love
and courtship, and after making me
present of several tips invented by him
self, and considered invaluable by his
friends, he related this story of the
courtship of chun of his as illustrat-
ing the great lengths to which young
bloods were prepared to go in his days
to attain their ends.
It was a fine, clear day in June when
Hezekiah Lewis, captain and part owner
Of the schooner Thames, bound from
London to Aberdeen. anchored off the
little out of the way town of Oxford, in
Suffolk. Among other antiquities the
town possessed Hezekiah's widowed
mother, and when there was no very
great hurry-the world went slower in
those days-the dutiful son used to 20
ashore III the ships boat, and after a
tilial tap at his mothers window, which
often startled the old lady considerably,
pass on his way to see young lady to
whom he had already proposed for five
times without effect.
The mate and crew of the schooner,
seven all told, drew up in a little knot
as the skipper, in his shore going clothes,
appeared Oh deck and regarded him
with an air of grinning, mysterious in
terest.
''Now, you all know what you have
got to do?'' queried the skipper.
"Aye, aye replied the crew, grin
ming still more deeply.
Hezekiah regarded them closely, and
then ordering the boat to be lowered
scrambled over the side and was pulled
swiftly toward the shore.
"Lawk mussy me!' as he tapped at
his mothers window assured him that
the old lady was alive and we'll, and he
continued on his way until he brought
up at small but pretty house III the
next road.
Morning, Mr. Rumbolt," said he
heartily to a stout, red faced man who
sat smoking in the doorway.
Morning, cap'n, morning." said the
red faced man.
SIS the rheumatism any better?" in
quired Hezekiah anxiously as he grasped
the others huge hand.
$50, so, " said the other, "but it amt
the rheumatism SO much what troubles
me- he resumed, lowering his voice
and looking round cautiously. cts
Kate. J."
"What?" asked the skipper.
you've heard of man being hem
pecked?' inquired Mr.. Rumbolt in
tones of husky confidence
The captain nodded.
''I'm chick picked,' murmured the
other.
.r.What?" inquired the astonished
mariner again.
''Chick picked" repeated Mr.. Rum
bolt firmly, "c-h-i-k-p-e-k-e-d! Dye un-
derstand me?"
The captain said that he did and stood
silent awhile, with the air of a man
who wants to say something, but is half
afraid to speak. At last, with a desper
ate appearance Of resolution, he bent
down to the old mans ear.
THAT'S the deaf un, " said Mr. Rum
bolt promptly.
Hezekiah changed ears, speaking at
first slowly and awkwardly, but becom-
ing more fluent as he warmed with his
subject while the expression of his lis
tener's faco gradually changed from in.
credulous bewilderment to one of uncon-
trollable mirth. He became so uproari-
Gus that he was fain to push the captain
away from him and lean back i'll his
chair and choke and laugh until he near
ly lost his breath, at which crisis re-
markably pretty girl appeared from the
back of the house and patted him with
hearty good will
'"That'll do, my DEAR said the chok-
ing Mr.. Rumbolt. ''Here's CAPTAIN
Lewis. -
81 can See him. said his daughter
calmly. whats he standing on one
leg for?"
The skipper. who really was standing
in a somewhat constrained attitude,
colored violently and planted both feet
firmly on the ground.
"Being as I was passing close in, Miss
Rumbolt,' said he, "and coming ashore
to see mother
To the captains diseomfart, manifes-
tations of a further attack on the part Of
Mr.. Rumbolt appeared, but We're
promptly quelled by the daughter.
Mother, she repeated encouraging
ly.
st thought I'd come on and ask you
just to pay sort O. flying visit to the
! Thames. -
'"Thank you. I'm comfortable enough
where [ am, said the girl.
Give got a couple OF monkeys and
bear aboard which I'm taking to nan-
agerie in Aberdeen, y continued the cap
tain, "'and the thought struck me you
7airht .nassiblv like to see 'e1n. ''-s
wen, don't know. " said the liam.