Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-04-17
A YOUTHS ADVENTURES.
Which. Whether Truth or Fiction, Are De
cidediy Interesting.

cidediy Interesting.
When riding in the tram car through !
the widest parts of Peckham Rye,
writes a contributor TO the London
News, with n friend-we were bound
ON a journalistic errand-a bronzed
young man Of marine appearance jump
ed into the car and at once recognized
my companion. Before we had gone
very far was deep in one of the oldest
family histories This new arrival, il
seems, when boy of ID. had been pos
sessed by the fear of consumption, that
fell disease having carried off his brother
and threatening his father and mother.
Accordingly he read every book that he
could lay his hands ON dealing with the
subject, and, as the result of his read
ing, ran away to Bournemouth to be
near the pines. Having no funds, he
engaged himself to a local fshmonger,
carrying his masters fish to the various
customers. When the days work was
done, he shouldered a hammock which
he had brought with him and camped
among some Of those pines for which
that southern health resort is famous.
One night gentleman, sauntering
| aAOASy c4lOhAA4H q NASOAt AOOAOOA AAAAA1
and, being amazed at this al fresco"
bed, entered into conversation with
him. "Why, know who you are, " ex
claimed the consumptive youth at last.
You're Mr.. Louis Stevenson, the man
| who wrote Treasure Island. ," "How
do you know?' said the gentleman.
Because ] deliver you fish. You live
at Skerryvore +" $50 1 do" replied
Stevenson, for he it was sure enough.
"But you don't talk like a fishmonger's
boy. 3" No more 1 do, - replied the boy,
and he then poured his strange secret
into the novelist's ear, which was sym
pathetic enough, You may be sure.
The result Of this odd meeting was an
invitation to breakfast. "Oh, and 1 did
eat, " said the young man. He told the
story so loudly that the whole train
laughed "And the servants couldn t
make it out at all to see the distin-
guished author entertaining poor me.
Then he went to Paris, and 1 never
saw him again for q long while. The
pines not proving strong enough, tbs
strange youth was seized with a yearn
ing for the scent of the eucalyptus and
persuaded his friends to send him tC
sea. When he reached Sydney, he SOLD
his outfit and ran away into the bush
and lived in the open with eucalyptus
galore. Thence, after many adventures
he sailed for the south seas and abode
by reef and palm for many long year
One day when cruising as supercargt
among the Gilbert islands, / think,
: European swell in beautiful whit
duck, a great red sash and a spreading
p panama hat, with peacock's feather il
3 it. came aboard the SCHOONER. "Goo'
morning, Mr.. Stevenson" said the SD
percargo. Mr.. Stevenson looked AM
: wondered who knew him in these farof
= seas. II don't know you. he said
= shaking his head. but I know you
y Don't You remember the tishmonger'
boy who ate such a big breakfast a
e Skerryvore9'' $50 do. Well, the worl
q is small indeed" And no doubt tn
u two had pegs and tiffin-or whateve
q they call such things in the islands-tC
Is gether. What strange. small world
Is is indeedl Well, one succumbed to tn
/ dread disease; the other is as hearty
l. fellow as ever saw. 1t was O quain
grim fancy to go lodging phthisis a
10 aver the world l-Iondon News