The Opelousas courier., 1898-09-03
"a how could he leading them. Z


the boy could be leading them. They
were still more surprised when he
brought them to the oddest-looking
craft they had ever seen. 1t vas too
old-fashioned a tub for even Captain
Matt to have ever seen its like. It
was a big, bulky frigate, whose sides
bulged out like a gourd and then mar
rowel in. The top was entirely COW
cred in with q glass roof. 1t looked
like some old dollhouse tied up at the
dock. Her tigure-head Of grimy white
was a man ina frock coat. The name,
President, was lettered on the side.
Captain Matt end his son exchanged
g]lances over this dismant!ed, clumsy
apology for a ship as the boy hurried
up the gang-plank. The deck had an
immense sweep and "a tidy and ship
shape, with some old cannon and gun
carriages on it, all under the glass roof.
The boy dived downstairs and then
to the left, and the Captain and his
son were surprised at finding them
selves suddenly in what seemed the
| c~osiest of little homes. There were
regular square windows as large as
those in room, and a gas chandelier,
With tw5 or three jets lit, threw a
pleasd,~light on the carpeted floor
and q table Uttered with a woman's
sewing. There were f1ower-pots in
the window. Through the door Of an
adjoining oom they saw a stove and
shelves. A small, wiry man was sit
ting comfortably, reading a paper,
and a bright faced, motherly woman
was sewing. The advent Of the drip
ping boy and the two strangers in
stantly threw the place into excite
ment.
81 fell into the water and he pulled
me ont, father; and [ brought him
here to gethis clothes dry" explained
the rescued urchin, wet and shaking
with the cold.
"Mother, you make some tea for
'em, quick. Jennie, take the lad
in there and get him into some of your
clothes and we'll dry his before the
s%tove," said the little man in one
breath.
II will. But you are a nice boy to
save my James," Here the good
woman gave Billy q hearty hug and
two resounding kisses, much to his
discontinue. He hated to be kissed
and there was nothing to make a fuss
about. Why do women act that way?
While the boys were getting into
dry clothes and the woman was maxi
ing toast and tea, Captain Hanford
and the other got acquainted. He
learned hat the old frigate was the
exact copy Of an American boat which
was regarded as a model Of naval
architecture in her time. The first
President had been copied from the
American model of the same name in
1898, nearly one hundred years ago.
This one was built exactly like the
first, and was launched at Portsmouth
in 1929. After thirty-two years of
service, she had been brought to this
dock, where she had lain for thirty
five years without being once taken
out Of the water.
"There was talk of taking her over to
your Worlds Fair, but, bless yer!
the old thing would go to pieces be-
fore she got to the More lightship,"
said Gunner Seabury, for that was
the name of the little man. "But
a big boat, one hundred and
feet long and forty feet extreme
beam, has a crew Of twenty-eight able
,eamen, and carries one gun on the
upper deck and four on the main
"Do they do anything with her?"
Captain Hanford.
"No, except that the Naval Reserves
here every day from nine in the
morning until four in the afternoon.
The long sweep of deck with so little
N it makes a fine place to drill 'em.
And we live here and keep a little shop
or 'em," added Seabury.
"And a beautiful home you've made
t, ma'am," said Captain Hanford,
linking of his own neat, white cot
age at Bath Beach, with a pang of
lomesickness.
ALC OUJo JILL ooV ~" 90 COL In
Try as ever, and one the worse for
heir adventure. It looked as if they
we're more likely to come to grief by
ating toast and strawberryjam which
Mrs. Seabury gave to them
any restriction. The Han
ords. left with the blessings of the
amily on them.
''To think, William, of my bringing
away over to London to save a boy
drowning who lived on a craft
lodeled on an American frigate," ex-
laimed Captain Matt, cycling Billy
18th twinkling eyes as they walked up
he dock.
1t was the first time in his life he
ad ever called his son William. Moth
lg could have emphasized his appre-
iation of the boy as a hero and life
more than this.
Billy, who honestly didn't feel as if
Q had done anything great, was
leased at his fathers pleasure. All
e said, however, was: eff they think
nat old hulk is an American ship, they
ught to see the White Squadron!"-
'ew York Ledger.