The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-11
MAHAN's BIBLE CLASS.
ME-. BarnacIe Relates Strange Tale About
the Retired Captain.


the Retired Captain.
s6ink me, but hope he'll float higher
in literatoor than he did in the deep sea
Sunday school trade Mr.. Barnacle OBJ
served, with much feeling, as the lubber
Joined the mariner in the sailor boarding
house.
ALREADY this here skipper-<the one
with the best slowed brain locker in any
navy-has launched one book labeled,
'The Influence of Sea Power on History
but 1 don't overhaul no remarks in it
about his Bible class, which I was one of
'em.''
"Where did you ever attend Sunday
school?i' the lubber asked.
''Under this Captain Alfred T. 1Iahan,
q. 6. n. Didn't you see in the papers
recent where he had quit the navy to ship
as an ablebodied thought writer in Har-
lem?''
Ito be s=lre," said Bill. Ellis figger-
head was also posted at the same time, and
a proper good likeness it was too How
sumever, Bible lessons amt in his line
leastwise, not with the kind of pupils he
had, wot was mostly pirates in spirit
hope the captain strikes smooth sailing as
a author.
''When Mahan gives this here pink Sun
day school, he was lieutenant commander
of the United States sloop of war Wachu-
sett, since broke up in the Mare Island
navy yard. While peace was raging fright
full in Peru in 1888, Mahan comes to Cal
lao and relieves one Pierson, wot had bully
ragged the crew for e year, and cussed
plenty besides. For five months Pierson
had allowed no able seamen closer in shore
than the ship herself, wot always anchored
we'll out. With gin only go cents per bot
tie half league away, and all hands kept
on board, suffering in the Wachusett hung
thick with mutiny till Mahan takes COM
mand.
''Being skilled to sail a true gospel
course, and without posting no why's or
no wherefores, the new commander pipes
all hands to psalms and prayers the first
Sunday in Callao. Down in the berth deck
forward we rigs proper Sunday school
with capstan bars resting on deck buckets
for seats and alter made of mess tables
and flags. Companion Mahan pitches tho
tune, and, with two Swede gunners chok-
ing solemn groans out of accordions, we
MARBLES Pull For the Shore, Sailor, Pull
with great-wot is it you calls it?''
'FervoF-enthusiasm suggest
ed the lubber.
Bust me if it wasn't more like gale-o.
Sailors wot was sunk in crime to the eye
brows perches on tho foremost bars and
bowls similar to regular chorus girls, and
when the order comes to stand by for
prayers their knees hits the deck like sol
diers grounding arms on stone pavements.
Mahan is much pleased and prays fervent
for his pious crew. Amens is frequent and
likewise sobs by mariners wot is deep and
crafty.
Next morning this here Bible class
bears down on the skipper, proper humble
and meek, and says:
Please, sir, may we have a spell
ashores'
Didn't see you at Sunday SCHOOL,
the skipper says.
Aye, aye, sir; our thoughts flows in
spiritual channels, they do, replies the
able sealnen.
Then you may all go ashore for ten
hours, we sails tomorrow
'We all departs for ten hour liberty"
Bill said, with q reminiscent chuckle,
"but it's ten days before some of 'e1n gets
back. Bloodhounds and police in Callao
is in pursuit day and night and conflicts
with clubs and knives mars the able sea-
men terribly. Nine sailors arrive short
handed in features and some of the class
is stripped to the hide, having sold their
toys for moro gin. Wy, the mariner wot
served out psalmbooks and wanted to pass
the hat in Sunday school reports like a
bundle of goods with newspapers rolled
around him.
Did the Bible class meet again9''
'tWell, they has the mess tables, likewise
the capstan bars and buckets, but the
pupils is derelict. Them wot was to stove
up to crawl out on deck stood by for the
gospel drill, but they didn't have no gusto.
So the skipper, being took fiat aback with
disgust, allows this here Bible class to be
null and void. ''-Charles Dryden in New
York Journal.