The Delta independent., 1897-04-21
ny wIhhIAH T. NICHOLS.

the very loneliness of it, for which l
loved il, sometimes terrified me.
Ny uncle's death, cutting short my
stay in Rodney town, led to my removal
to the far different scenes of u small
city in central Illinois. where dwelt an
other of my fathers brothers, n child
less widower. He was an austere man,
intensely practical, and well calculated
10 cure ne of the romantic moods had
learned to cherish. had we but come to
terms of affection. Unluckily, however,
we had too little in common to reach
even amity. At is was told the time
for study was over. that the time for
toll had arrived. He took me into his
shop--he was n merchant in a small
way-and for n year strove zealously
to discover some trace of business Ca
pacity in his assistant. Failing utterly
in this, he called me before him, gravely
passed his verdict on my manifold de-
ficiencies, and inquired whether i had
any plans in mind.
One of my friends-a few had been
acquired, perhaps by force of circum-
stances-hnd entered q medical school
in q ncighboring city; and, on the spur
of the moment, 1 elected to follow his
example. My guar,lian-he held that
post in virtue of the small estate left to
me by my first protcctor-otfered no
objections. though he gave formal no.
tice that the funds in his possession
would hardly suffice to do moro than
carry me through the school. Unde-
TERED by the warning, matricu!ated.
and for two years studied faithfully,
receiving n degree at the end of the
second, and thus becoming entitled le-
gally to experiment on humanity. As,
by virtue of strict economy, there was
still some money to my credit, l de-
termined to spend year at n famous
eastern school; and I carried out the
plan, only to meet one of the kccncst of
dinppointments at the close of the
period, through failing to secure q COW
eted appointment rs a hospital inferno.
just ut this time, too, came news of
the death OF my uncle. lie bcqueathctl
10 me n letter of sound advice and u
thousand dollars. by means of the lat
ter-aEd disregarding the formcr-I
spent n fourth year in study, this time
selecting another of the great institu-
tons. The balance left mt the end of the
the city, in which Capt. Peck found INC.
just entering my 25th year, with re-
sources exhausted and hopes blightcd
by the drcary waiting for paying pa
tients who did not come. Add to thcs..
troubles n share of anxiety ns to my
health, and one can understand the will
ingness with which I became surgeon
of the Mary Peck.
She was almost new ship, Maine
built, Yankee-ofIicered and manned by
crew representing many nations. She
was OF about thousand tons burden,
and was freighted with n cargo of con-
siderable value. Her living quarters
aft were comfortable, IL Eot luxurious,
md the cabin fare was excellent. The
captain and his wife, the two mates and
l, made up the population Of that part
of the vessel.
The Mary Peck's run to the equator
was made in circumstances of the sort
to delight both the skipper and the
pair who were making their first deep
water voyage. Barring a sharp gale
soon after she cleared the coast, the ship
encountered fine weather down to the
line, with plenty of wind, but not too
much of it-a very important qualifica-
tion in the eyes of the noyiccs. AS the
days grew warmer Mrs. Peck throvc
amazingly, the color came back 20 her
cheeks, and her strength increased, un-
til we almost forgot that she had begun
the voyage an invalid. She herself
credited old ocean with her improve
ment, and the captain was much Of her
way Of thinking, while my notion of the
matter was that the companionship of
her tall, bronzed husband counted for
more with the little woman than sea
Dir and sunshine combined. At all
events, however, the surgeons post
promised to be sinecure.
To the line, as has been said, fortune
showered her favors upon us, but no
sooner was urprow cleaving the waters
of the southern hemisphere than the
gifts of the tickle goddess ceased. For
fortnight we had calms or breezes so
faint as hardly to give the ship steer
rge way. Yetshe contrived to crawl on,
daily putting some leagues of her road
behind her; for her master was a smart
seaman, and made the most of every
cat's-paw. Nevertheless IL was slow
work, and all of us longed for cooler
days and fresh winds with an invig-
Grating keenness in their rush.
1 was leaning against the rail >one
night, lingering beyond the usual hour
and 10th to quit the coolness of the
deck, when the captain came up. and,
standing beside me, lighted a cigar.
The night was still and moonlit, and the
chip lay almost motionless.
still ocean holiday weather." said ].
DO you look for much more of it,"
II hope not" said he, cmpl,aticslly.
Its the sort Of holiday that's worse
thnn labor
And when steam discounts canvas" !"
Yes" he observed; 'iCs enough TO
make one pray for engine and screw.
But perhaps ought not to complain.