The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1897-11-05


just then Il big steamer lOOmeu vi
suddenly in the fog. and, without any
warming, struck The snip aft anC
smashed i'll the cabin. The poor
captain was crushed to death, but the
mate and the little boy were only i'm
prisoued by the broken timbers. The
mate cried out a number of times, but
received no answer. He could hear oc-
casiuual whistles from the steamer
for about half an hour. Finally
he made Il struggle and succeeded III
tearing away enough broken timber
to liberate himself. He took the little
boy with him, and going on the deck
fOHnd that the wreck was sinking. -
The vessel had been deserted by the
Others, who had probably climbed OIL
board the steamer. The wreck was
now nearly even with the water, and
the mate made little raft and launch
ed it. He took the boy and spranE
Oh the raft, where he dashed himself
and the little fellow Soon afterward
the wreck sank. Next morning ii was
clear, and the mate and the boy were
picked up by small iron barque
bound to japan. The barque, how
ever, got out of her course and was
driven ashore on a small island, not
far from the Philippines. The island
was inhabited by friendly natives,
who took care of the stranded crew,
but nearly three years passed before
any vessel touched at the island
They were finally taken off by a
man of-war, which landed them at
Bombay. There the mate was taken
sick and sent to the hospital, and
while in the ho-pital he was visited by
Mr.. Bradley, who had once been be-
friended by the boys father. He said
tlIatthe barque he was on was about to
sail for New York, and he undertook
to deliver the little fellow to his
friends. But now the poor boy was
on tbs way to the other side of the
| world
while Mr. Bradley was finishing
his account of how he came by the
boy, Captain Harris came i'll from the
liter cabin. and said that the little
fellow was sleeping nicely. Mr.. Brad
| Iey began to tell the captain about
how the boy was wrecked the first
time. Then the captain rose up pale
and trembling, and asked the name of
the ship. When Mr. Bradley gave the
name OF the ship that was run down,
and said that the boys father was
Captain Wilson. the skipper staggered
| back, and then rushed into the after
Ca bin as if he had gone mad We
| couldn't make out what was the mat
| ter with him. An hour later l went
| into the cabin for something, and |
saw the captain leaning over the boy
VINO was fast asleep. The captain
! looked up, and | noticed that his eyes
were red, as if he had been crying
hard. Thinks |, We'll, well, you are
, All old maid of Il captain, indeed
The next morning we were hecalm-
ed. Near by Us lay n big clipper ship,
which, toward noon, sent d boat to
US. The officers in charge of the
clippers boat said that they were
bound for New York. but were short
banded, and he told Mr. Bradley that
| he and the other men from the lost
barque were welcome to come ON
| board and Work their passage to the
uited States. Mr.. Bradley jumped
at the chance, and when his men were
all ready to leave our ship, he looked
around for the boy. We found the
little fellow in the cabin, where he was
being pettsd by Captain Harris. The
captain made u great outcry when
Mr.. Bradley said that the boy would
have to go with him. Our skipper
Begged hard for the youngster, but
MIR. Bradley said that he would have
to take him to his friends, Mr.. Brad
ley was about III lead the youngster
cut of tie cabin, when Captain Harris
fell OH his knees and put his arms
around the boy. Then he looked up
to Mr.. Bradley and said,
Won must not take him. l am his
father"
"'Hls father replied Mr.. Bradley.
What do you mean? Why, l knew
Captain Wilson myself. He was at
least ten years older than you, and
was large man into the bargain.
Come, let NE have the boyr'
mo, no. cried Captain Harris,
pressing the little fellow still closer to
him. 1 may not be his father, but l
am his
Don't say you're his mother
sneered Mr.. Bradley.
Yes l am his mother" was the re-
ply.
And with that Captain Harris
pulled of the heavy black beard |
mentioned. There was no doubt
about it. The captain had womans
face. and not bad looking one either
Mr.. Bradley started back in astonish-
ment, and cried:
You don't mean to say you are
Captain Wilson's widow
That's exactly what | am said
our skipper, rising to her feet and put
ting her beard back into place After
my husbands ship had been struck
by the steamer, | was lifted on board
of the other vessel by Two utthe men.
Ny husband and child were given up
fp- Loot oil hxneyh 4 har,oraI h.
to return and search the wreck for
them. They would have done it,
but the steamer could not find the
wreck in the fog, and it was supposed
that she had foundered Immediately
after we left her. went home to my
friends, Ny husband had left very
little money, and l found that should
have to work for living | didn't
care to hire out as housekeeper. |
had learned navigation thoroughly
from my husband, and was well fitted
to take charge Of a ship. | went to
II ship owner who was an old friend
of my husbands, and told him Just
how things stood. He thought that
under the circumstances couldn't do
better than dress up as a man and go
to sea as IL captain. He found me a
ship and I've been skipper ever
since. And now DO one is going to
take my boy away from me-"
"'That they ANTI said good heart
ed Mr.. Bradley, who then kissed the
boy and shook hands with us all. In
five minutes he and his men were on
their way to the big clipper, and our
skipper, with her arm around the boy,
was leaning against the taffrail way
ing her hand TO him
Nov | understood the captains
liking for Mr.. Wood, our mate She
was in love with him, and OF course
she was little jealous of me. The
whole mystery about Captain Harris
was accounted for.
"Dne evening some weeks after
ward, when we were in the Indian
Ocean, glanced through the after
cabin door, and what do you think l
saw? There sat our mate, Mr.. Wood,
by the side of our skipper. She had
her beard off, and noticed then that
she bad let her hair grow. In Mr.
Woo lap sat the little boy. She
was looking tenderly at Mr.. Wood,
and he was talking to the boy as if he
made up his mind to be very good to
him-fOr his mothers sake. Then |
knew that it was all settled
ITEMS FOR GIRLS.
Young women, the glory of your