Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-05-01
A Youths Adventures.
NO. AZ

When riding in the tram car
through the widest parts OF Peck.
ham Rye, writes a contributor to
the London News, with friend
we were bound on a journalistic err
rand-a bronzed young man, OF ma
rine appearance, jumped into the
car and at once recognized my COM
panion. Before we had gone very
far was deep in one OF the oldest
family histories. This new arrival,
it seems, when a boy of IA, had been
possessed by the fear Of consump-
ton. that fell disease having carried
off his brother and threatening his
father and mother. Accordingly he
read every book that he could lay
his bands on dealng with the sub
ject, 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 fish
monger, carrying his masters fish
to the various customers. When the
day s work was done, he shouldered
a hammock which he had brought
With him end camped among some
Of those pines for which that south
ern health resort is famous.
One night gentleman, sauntering
along, smoking a cigar, noticed him,
and, being amazed at this sal fresco'
bed, entered into conversation with
him. "Wby. / know who You are
exclaimea the consumptive youth al
last. "Yon're MIR. Louis Steven
son, the man WHO wrote Treasure
Island = "How do you know Z
said the gentleman. Because de-
liver you fish. You live at Sherry
vore.' $50 l do" replied Steven
son, for he it was sure enough. "But
you don't talk like a fishmonQer's
boy.' No more l do replied the
boy. and he then poured his strange
secret into the novelist's ear. which
was sympathetic enough, you may
be sure.
The result OF this odd meeting
was an invitation to breakfast,
"Oh, and / did eat said the young
man. He told the story SO loudly
that the whole train laughed. sand
the servants couldn't make it out al
all to see the distinguished author
entertaining poor me. Then he
went to Paris, and / never saw him
again for long while." The pines
not proving strong enough, the
strange youth was seized with
yearning for the scent OF the
eucalyptus and persuaded bis
friends TO send him to sea. When
he reached Sydney, be sold his out
fit and ran away into the bush and
lived in the open with eucalyptus
galore. Thence, after many adyen
lures, he sailed for the south seas
and abode by reef and palm fol
many long year.
One day when cruising as super.
cargo among the Gilbert Islands,
think, European swell in beautiful
white duck, a great red cash and g
spreading panama hat, with a pea.
cocks feather in it, came aboard The
schooner. "Good morning, Mr.
Stevenson SAID the supercargo,
Mr.. Stevenson looked and won.
dered who knew him in these far.of
seas. II don t know you,n he said
shaking his head. @But / know
you. Don't you remember the fish
monger's boy who ate such a bic
breakfast at Skerryvore 2" $50
do. Well, the world is small in.
deed" And no doubt the two had
pegs and tiffln-or whatever they
call such things in the islands--to
gether. What a strange, small
world it, is indeed Well, one sue
cumbed to the dread disease thl
other is as hearty a fellow as ever
saw. 1t was a quaint, grim fancy
to go lodging phthisis all over thu
world London News.