Middletown transcript., 1895-11-30
HIS PET THEORY.
The Commodore Had an Opportunity o
Putting It to tho Test.

HIS PET THEORY.
The Commodore Had IN Opportunity oi
| Putting It to tho Test.
Commodore P. F. Pettibone was
in a tender, reminiscent mood,
| writes Eugene Field in the Chicago
Record. He had just heard one Of
the party at the club remark that
| the world was full of sentiment OF
the kindliest quality. This set the
amiable commodore to talking.
"Six OF eight years ago., !" said he,
"Iwas summering in Michigan. One
evening telegram came announcing
the death of my little nephew, a
child to whom I was deyotedly at
tached and for whom I felt a special
affection, because he was my name
sake. It was imperative that re-
turn at once to Chicago. I made my
way to Manistee, but did not arrive
there until after the departure of all
trains and boats. Every possibility
of reaching Chicago in time for the
funeral seemed gone, and I was near
ly overcome by grief and disappoint-
ment. In this dazed and irrespon-
sible position I wandered about the
wharf at Manistee and by the merest
chance found lumber barge about
to set out for Milwaukee. made my
way aboard this boat and asked the
captain to take me with him.
impossible, said he. I am not
permitted to carry passengers. If I
were to be detected violating the
law, I should be put to no end of
trouble.
But I can go as sailor or as a
deckhand, said I.
That would be an evasion which
] do not care to practice, said he.
"I saw he was not to be moved in
this way. So just opened my heart
to him.
Captain, said I, this is an i'm
perative case. I must go to Chicago
tonight. A dead child, one whom I
love, awaits me there, and
"'Go aboard. said he. not wait
ing for me to say more. I sat out on
a pile of lumber aboard the barge in
the darkness and rain until after we
left the dock. I was prepared to
work my passage. But after we had
gotten under way the captain came
to me and bade me come to supper
"a splendid meal prepared specially
for me. Then he showed me into
his cabin. Irebelled against turning
him out of his own berth, but he
b1uff1y told me that the mate and he
would stand off on watches that
night and that the mates cabin
would answer their purposes well
enough when they wanted to,sleep.
Next morning we were in Milwau-
kee and I made a railroad connec-
tion with Chicago, arriving home in
time to discharge the last sad, ten
der duties to my beloved nephew.
ST have never forgotten the barge
Hilton and Captain Tom Richard
son. Occasionally meet that bluff
but noble old sailor. Sometimes it
is upon the lakes while / am cruis-
ing in my yacht" On such occasions
l always salute the Hilton with a
round from the cannon, and dip
my colors with all possible formal
ity. Captain Tom Richardson an
swers in cordial style, and the Hilton
toots her whistle till the Michigan
shore fairly rattles. It has fortuned
several occasions that ! could do the |
captain a good turn, and you can
depend upon it have always jumped
at those opportunities. I feel that
am yet and always shall be his debt
or, for in his quiet, noble response
to my cry for help he confirmed a
pet theory of mine, which is that
one who is in trouble in this world
Of ours has but to lift up his eyes
and to stretch forth his hand to
know and to feel the presence of hu-
man sympathy about him every
where"