Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-09-10
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Z ON BOARD THE "NAN6Y JANE." :
8 BY CHARLES B. LEWIS. g
n Copyright I9 g.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
By CHARLES B. LEWIS.

Spriggs had owned and sailed the brig
Nancy Jane" making most of his trips
between Boston and the West Indies.
For seven years Abner Jackson had
sailed with him as mate, and it could
not be remembered that they had ever
had an unpleasant word. For seven
years also, Nancy Jane Spriggs, the
captains better half, had remained on
che farm at home as the captain sailed,
and she had never once expressed a
wish to 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,
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 a happy family afioat. 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 a 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
Iiver's out of order, too, and I'm almost
a mind to say III go 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. 'Tain't nuthin to kill"
'Jerusha Hope will mind things while
Tn gone" continued the wife, 'and
guess I'll feel the better fur the trip.
I'll take along lot o. stuff 10 make
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 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 Jackson:
81 Go 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 sigh.
81 don't doubt it, but she orter do diff
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.
4 amt findin' no fault, Abner, but jest
-tellin' 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. He wasn't a 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, it wasn't right fur Nan
cy to speak agiu my wife as she did,
and I'm feelin' mean over it,"
"Pooh! All women's talk" replied
the captain.
"But she orter take it back"
Soon 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 l 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
year back!"
Abner went on deck with his mind
made up, The skipper might sIander
him, but the shippers wife must not
slander his wife. He walked up to the
captain and said:
"Jonothan, guess I'll mutiny."
"What fur?"
"To stand up fur Marian"
-'It's agin the law to mutiny"
Il 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 bead for awhile, "if 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 do as you will,
and II the law hangs ye don't try to
blame me. I've allus said you'd make
a fule of yourself if ye had the chance,
and now you've dun it,"
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
"a tot hat ha IL