San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-02-14

ing messenger nevertheless
On board the little ship, as has been
said, the watches were headed by the
mate and the boatswain, but Mr.. Mat.
thews during the day had begged the
commanders permission to stand watch
and watch with Mr.. Hardy that he
might feel he was making some return z
for the hospitality and kindness shown
him and his men. The humane com.
mander had consented, glad to secure
the services Of so valuable person on
his quarter deck, but he insisted that
Mr.. Matthews should rest through this
night. Therefore when Mr.. Hardy bad
supped he came ON deck, and Mr.. Mat.
thews, at Boldook's request, went be.
low to turn in as soon as ever he chose.
Boldock had just filed and lighted
second immense bowlful. When Hardy
rose through the hatch, he found his
commander standing at the skylight
gazing down at Miss Mansel. He pulled
out great clouds, which blackened the
fog in his neighborhood. His posture
was meditative. The light Of the cabin
lamp was upon his figure and revealed
him. He stood confused shape amid
an intolerable blackness. Mr.. Hardy
viewed him awhile in silence, then
stepped to the wheel and took look al
the pinnacle. His cough caused the
commander to start and back away to
the rail against which he leaned, suck.
ing his great curled meerschaum.
Mr.. Hardy approached and stood close.
Now that they were at the rail. the
fires alongside rendered them visible to
each other.
81 never remember a blacker night
than this" said the commander.
"Nor I, SIR"
~ believe it signifies nothing but fog.
nevertheless.
~ think" said Mr.. Hardy, "if wind
was at hand we should be able to smell
it coming along over this grease calm. "
"And the silence is as remarkable,a as
the blackness," said the commander.
"You should be able to hear baby
hurrahing a mile of. F"
In the pause that followed no sound
was to be heard save the noise the COM
mander made in smoking his pipe. The
suction of his lips was like the drawing
Of corks and the gurgling of liquor.
Hardy, " said he presently, did you
ever allow your thoughts to run in the
direction of matrimonyf"
The mate of the brig answered with
laugh.
"That question, " said Boldock, in his
deep, lamenting voice, usually excites
merriment, particularly among middle
aged bachelors. But / don't know why
it should. Marriage is the most awful
of all events. 1t means population, and
what does that signify but the passions.
the struggles, the griefs, hopes, reli-
gions, deaths and aspirations after death
of poor humanity"
lone does sometimes laugh in the
wrong place, sir, ;" said Mr.. Hardy, in
a voice of respectful apology. ~ have
laughed in church, sir, but then, to be
sure, was needless young man"
at must be nice thing to have q
nice wife," said Boldock.
"a nice wife," said Mr.. Hardy.
"a nice wife, certainly" exclaimed
the commander, "a lady that would
make comfortable home for man. A
man wants a comfortable home. / feel
the need of it all the while / am ashore
and yearn for it all the time am at
sea. / do not like lodgings. There is
GOODNESS, an indifference, an insensibil-
ity to your feelings and wants-to wants.
mean, which are not to be supplied by
anything in the philosophy Of latohkeys
and shaving water.
81 have no great opinion OF mar
riage," said the mate. 1.-The billing
and cooling season is commonly reckon
ed the best part, but then comes the
family, and in little while, sir, you
may calculate how long the couple have
been married by measuring the distance
one walks behind t'other when ocs Tor
stroll "
EVERY man wants home" said the
commander after succession OF cork
drawing sucks at the heavy amber
mouthpiece of his pipe.
"Seems to me, sir, man wants
good deal that he can't get. There's
nothing that I'd like better than q home
myself. But it's too expensive"
Boldock hove out sigh that had the
strength and volume of a groan. A sail
tapped aloft; sheave on some rusty pin
squealed like a rat to some sudden drag.
"At all events" said the commander.
81 am sick of the sea, Hardy, and shall
it before long.
81 wish i could see my way to take
that view, sir, said the mate, looking
at the lights in the water.
at is pleasant, said the commander,
"to think of settling down ashore when
one is at sea. picture white faced
cottage with red roof. That red roof
shines amid the trees I've fancy of
being able to see my house when I'm a
long way off from it. In imagination.
Hardy, stand upon lawn like velvet
and snuff up the most delicious smell Of
flowers and listen to the silver tinkling
Of little fountain Of water. When I
cfar, into tho hoY,co I ankar rOOroa fs.r-