Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-10-14
***&
ON B0ARD The "NANGy JANE." !

BY CHARLES B. LEWIS.

ahcy jane" making most of his trips
ue."een Boston and the West Indies.
TOT seven years Abner jackson haI
sailed with him as mate, and it could
not be remembered that they had ever
i'ad an unpleasant word. For seven
years also, Nancy Jane Sprlggs, the
captains better half, had remained on
Inc farm at home as the captain sailed.
and she had never once expressed
wish 10 make trip and see strange
sights of the seven men composing
the briggs crew before the mast, all
were neighbors of the captain at home,
ana all had been with him since the
craft took on her first cargo.
The Nancy Jane" was dull sailor,
us even her owner admitted without
eompulsion, but she made up for ii by
being happy family ahoat. Orders
were given and obeyed, as a 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
saying:
Look here, Jonathan, but I'm kinder
tired O washin' and bakin' and feedin'
the hens and the hogs and goin' TO
meetin' every Sunday. Mebbe my
liver's out of order, too, and I'm almost
mind TO say I'll so with you on your
next trip"
wall, hain't no objeckshuns," 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 IT. faint nuthin to kill"
"Jerusha Hope will mind things while
I'm gone" continued the wife, "and l
guess I'll feel the better fur the trip.
I'll take along lot O. stuff to make a
new rag carpet fur the parlor, and
kin patch up your breeches and make
you some new hickory shirts"
1t was settled that she should go, and
when the brig was ready 10 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 arOnn1 md col III 10 AlNVap To
II do wish you had better wife, Alb
ner. I've lived alongside of her fur
eight years now, and she hain't i'm
proved the least bit. She's scoldin'
them younguns from mornin' till night, >,
and she's forever borrowin' eggs and
tea and saleratus and never payin'
back"
"Mariar is good at heart" answered
the mate, as he heaved a sigh.
81 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
n Tin peddler, and I've heard folks say
she don't comb her hair once week.
] amt fndin' no fault Abner, but jest
tcllin' We 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. lie wasn't fond husband or
a 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. Spriggs:
Jonathan, 1t wasn't right fur Nan
CIV to speak agin my wife MS she did,
and I'm feelin' mean over It,"
"Pooh! All women's talk" replied
the captain.
'But she orter take it back"
"Go'n ask her"
."Say. Abner Jackson" replied Nancy
Spriggs, when he had stated his case,
"i'ye alus stood up fur Marian agir
the talk of the nayburs, but | cant
take nuthin' back. She owes me more'n
30 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 nv Aat-iorns she had borrowed, and
she's bad my quilt-frame fur over a
year back" ,
Abner went on deck with his mind
made up. The skipper might SANDER
him, but the shippers wife must not
SANDER his wife. He walked up to the
captain and said;
"Jonotban, guess III mutiny"
"What fur?"
"To stand up fur Marian"
"Jts agin the law to mutiny."
az know it, but I'm perfectly reck-
less. I shall take charge of the brig
and probably turn pirate"
"Wall," said Capt. Spriggs, after
scratching his head for awhile, 'if you
ore bound and determined to mutiny !
can't prevent it, but there amt any
>nesls of any hard feelin's about it. You
NsiAs # take charge and do as you wiz,
and # the law hangs We don't try to
,,lome me. I've allus said you'd make
fule Of yourself If we had the chance
and now you've dun It,"
The captain went below to take
things easy, and the crew continued
.bo;r work and expressed neither sur
,rise nor interest. When Nancy Jane
eenriccs was casually informed by the
aantain that the mate had mutinied
snd wos in possession OF the brig she
though over it for awhile and said;
aHow foolish in him to be hurt bout
~ said about his wife! We've all
VIZ orr faults, and our nayburs know
e., and It's no use to git mad when they
IT, TO- o." Ia this what they call regular
nntiny, Jonathan"
n' 81 guess it is. never had ,, one be-
,,rs hut guess it's regular" :, 4,
'o aput I thought they allus killed
$50 did I. but Abner don't Sc, seem very
,.h;rstv. Mebbe the KILN WOE I