The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-12-29
Balng YarnsSpun on the ForscastIe Of a New
Cruiser by An Old Salt.
lila ROMANCE OF OLD POINT COMFORT.
The Old Boatswain's Iate Endenyors
to Convince His Young shipnatcs
that Riches, Do NOT Always Bring
Happiness-A Fragment from Life
at virginin's Seaside Resort.

stately white cruisers ut anchor in
Hampton Roads, frowned upon the
granite bastfonS of Fort Monroe and
the triple galleries of the Hygeia Hotel.
All day long steam launches, cutters
and whalebots-the different running
boats of the day from the fleet at an.
chor-had been coming and going from
snipS to shore, carrying their freiEhts
of officers, visitors from the hotel and
Fort, and the regular liberty parties of
the day.
Twilight was falling rapidly and the
revolving light on Thimble Shoal was
beginning to throw out upon the SEMI
darkness of the autumn evening its
her.
Out over the desolate Rip-Raps dis
tant Ocean View and the nearer PING
clad shore Of Sewell's Point, the dark
ness was already deepening TO night,
while the gaily striped roofs of the Hy>
geia were still bathed in the last fiery
and golden rays of the fast sinking sun.
Suddenly the shutdown gun at the Fort
belched forth it's thunderous notice OF
the death of another day, and as the
smoke drifts slowly seaward odd
Glory" comes tiutterinG In graceful folds
from the lofty staff on the parade
ground, followed simultaneously by the
colors from the STATS OF the fleet and
the brazen bugle call OF "Colors' from
the half dozen different ships. The pa
Columbia" from the band on the flag
ship in u measure drown the buEle
notes, and then follows, from the differ
ent ships, the piercing pipe of the boats
wain's mates whistle, the cries of the
men, the creaking and rafting of the
blocks as all boats. except the running
boat, are hoisted to their davits, and
gradually silence falls upon the mons
sters of war silently riding like great
white phantoms to the rush of a stronS
ir,,r tin hn n
beth and the James. The Bay boats
rom Norfolk come Gown one after an
Their, make their landing at the big
Government wharf and are away again
In whrl of foam, bound to their differ
lent destinations.
AS blood red moon shows her edge,
|emerging from the ocean in the direc.
]tion of Cape Henry, Nick Clear makes
his way to his f;Lvorite nook. on the
|topgallant forecastle and. preparing
himself for the dolce far niente of the
usual hour before shutdown, stretches
lhimselg lazily OH the deck at the rear of
bthe siX-inch rifle.
Mullnney and Haggerty have been
4lwaiting him and us soon as they see
That the old man has found a comfor-
able berth they settle themselves near
Jim on the deck.
rio speak. Nick lies stretched on the
4;nowy deck in the shadow of the gun. a
2;ingle bright shaft OF light from the
daylight, swinging high overhead, fall
ing aslant upon his head, and bringing
Out IN sharp relief his Eri2Zlcd, weather.
H,eaten features. SO the trio rest for q
Hong time without q word being spoken.
$Shen suddenly. from the glass enclosed
4 ,all room Of the hotel ON shore, come
&aintly over the water the dreamy. sen>
uous strains OF Il waltz. The music in
#he silence of the perfect nightly with the
accompaniment Of the lap-lapping of the
flushing tide alongside, sounds ineXprcs-
81 ibly pa thetic. and has Il subduing and
3oftcning influence upon the trio.
n They're having {, good iime-thoSe
eople," said Mulianey. with n tinse Of
il Melancholy and discomfort il his
$oice, breaking the silence and notidins
EDWARD the shore.
II "Yeh." asscnted Haggerty with Il
Nigh. IT'S on'y the rich as can enjoy
81 lat life"
q The old man said nothing, but sucked
Mlusingly at his pipe. His eyes. across
Which the stayiight threw wavtring
8:reak Of brlliarce. had an iTtt ospcC-
a We CLEAN and he seemed not To hear
BE remarks OF his companions. After
f7nother long silence he moved rest
81 'ssly and looked UP seriously at the
8vo youngsters
~ Think there's nuthin' more wanted
"a this bloomin' world than to DC rich
So ?" he asked.
II We'll" said Mullaney. "if was rich
III shouldn't be here, you can bet Your
@veet life, and it's mighty likely that
II RI be havin' n good time where those
& .oplc are. pointing to the brilliantly
# GIFTED hotel.
81 $50 We thinks there hmint nuthfn'
81 ore needful to make n pusson happy
81 an to be we'll fixed and to be able to
{@,jy tibet kind of life over there. Dye
81 Ink all them people ashore in that
s ,tel Is happy?"
: IT don't see why they shouldn't be-"
81 oke in HagEerty.
# hey haint! Not d-n sight Not
III Of 'cm at any rate. an it's me as
&& lows It," said the old man forcibly
81 THAT ere mDosic," he continued
IA ounds nice off here an seems ter 20
"a rough We In Il pecooliar way. Seems
81 rter to work some kind or traverse
IA our innardS where n Dusson's heart
"a ght be. an ter stir up a. kinder long
"a for things outen our reach an never
eR be got at by such as us. Them folks
8hore there, n dancin to the swell o.
III EN- flddes mebbc hev reached it, but
IA all o. that, mayhap they amt as we'll
~ ed for happiness as you or me. They
3;8 s their troubles, the best OF EN-, an
S# ct they is big ones sometimes,
5# ows from experience"
M When was YOU i'll sassfety, Nick ?"
@ ked Haggerty.
III lSf We means to be funny" said
elk, I'll furgivc We for you're young
s84 an ont know no better: but for all
ut it's fact tibet the biggest heap O.
81 sery I ever me up with struck
~ Int there on that wharf years ago"
5R$8 i llllnncy and Euprnriv rnnoi,n1 a.;