St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1898-10-08


sights. OF the seven men composing
the briggs crew before the mast, all
were neighbors of the captain at home,
and all had been with him since the
craft took on her first cargo.
The Nancy Jane" was dull sailor,
as even her owner admitted without
compulsion, but she made up for it by
being happy family afoat. Orders
were given and obeyed, as matter OF
course, but there was no bossing or
swearing or knocking down. All ate at
the same table in the cabin, all had the
same rights on the quarter deck, and
even the cook had the right to cock
his eye to windward and advise Capt.
Spriggs as to coming change OF
weather.
One day, after the return of the brig
from voyage which had filled her hold
with rum, molasses and sugar, Nancy
Jane spriggs surprised her husband by
sayings
"Look here, Jonathan, but I'm kinder
tired O. washin' and badn' and feedin'
the hens end the hogs and goin' to
meetin' every Sunday. Mebbe my
liyer's out Of order, too, and I'm almost
a mind to say I'll go with you on your
next trip"
''WaH, hain't no objeckshunH," re-
piled the captain, "bein' as thar Is
plenty Of room in the cabin. You'll get
sea sick. Of course, but you'll also git
over 1t. "Tain't nuthin to KILL"
"Jerusha Hope will mind things while
I'm gone" continued the wife, sand
guess I'll feel the better fur the trip.
I'll take aloHg lot O. stuff to make a,
new rag carpet fur the parlor, and I
kin patch up your breeches and make
you some new hickory shirts"
It was settled that she should go, and
when the brig was ready to sail again,
she came up to Boston and went
aboard. She knew the mate and every
man Of the crew, and she shook hands
all around and said to Abner Jacksonl
u do wish you had better wife, Abb
ner. I've lived alongside Of her fun
eight years now, and she hain't i'm
proved the least bit. She's scoldin'
them younguns from morndn' till nights
and she's forever borrowin' eggs and
tea and saleratus and never payin'
back" so.
, 'Mariar is good at heart" answered,
the mate. as he heayed a sigh.
5 II don't doubt it, but she orter do diff
ferent. She don't think nuthin' Of goin,
out In the road barefoot to trade with
"a tin peddler, and I've heard folks say
she don't comb her hair once week.
I amt Andin' no fault. Abner, but jest
tellin' ye what folks say"
!. Abner Jackson forgot her words In
an hour, but as soon as the brig had
cleared Boston harbor they came back
to him. He wasn't fond husband or
loving father, but somehow. and to
his own surprise, he felt hurt that
'Mariar" should have been criticised.
When the brig was two days at sea he
said to Capt. 6priggs: ,
!, Jonathan, It wasn't right fur Nam
.cy to speak agin my wife as she did.
and I'm feelin' mean over It."
"Poohl All women's talk replied
the captain.
"Go'n ask her"
! '.Say, Abner Jackson" replied Nancy
Spriggs, when he had stated his case,
"I've allus stood up fur Mariar agin
the talk Of the nayburs, but / can't
take nuthin' back. She owes me more'n
80 drawins Of tea and coffee. to say
nuthin' about pins and needles and
thread. Why, only last week had to
send over six different times fur one
of my fat~iorns she had borrowed, and
she's had my quilt-frame fur over q
year backi''
Abner went on deck with his mind
made up. The skipper might slander
him, but the shippers wife must not
SANDER his wife. He walked up to the
captain and said:
"Jonothan, I guess Pllmutiny."
"What fur7''
"To stand up fur Marian
tits agin the law to mntiny."
II know it, but I'm perfectly reck-
less. shall take charge OF the brig
and probably turn pirate.a
"Wall." said Capt. spriggs, after
scratching his head for awhile, ~ you
are bound and determined to mutiny
can't prevent it, but there. amt any
need OF any hard feelin's about It, You
kin just take charge and doasyau will,
and IL the law hangs ye don't try to
blame me. I've allus said you'd make
fule CT yourself If ye had the chance.
and now you've dun Il"
The captain went below to take
things easy, and the crew continued
their work and expressed neither sur.
prise nor interest. When Nancy Jane
spriggs was casually informed by the
captain that the mate had mutinied
and was In possession of the brig she
though over it for awhile and said:
How foolish in him to be hurt about
what I said about his wife! We've all
got our faults, and our nayburs know
1t, and It's no use to git mad when they
talk. Is this what they call regular
mutiny. Jonathan2"
IT guess IL is. ! never had ONE be-
fore, but guess it's regular"
"But 7 thought they allus killed
sumbody O.
So did 7, but Abner don't seem very
bIoodthirsty. Mebbe the KILN won't
begin til he is ready to turp pirate" :,