The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-12-15
Winning THE Captain.
20
It Was Effected by q Girl, but a
the Expense Of the Ship.

x twas Effected by Girl, but at q
B the Expense Of the Ship. 8
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"Women aboard Ship" said the boz
sun of the British Queen, sis like cats
In a conservatory. They won't keep
still for minute. If they amt up and
asking the skipper 'ow far it is to the
next port, they has to be getting them
spars and a-trying to turn a business
like ship into a sort of 'tarnal boudoir
or whatsoever they calls 'em, as is
decked out with ribbons and fancy
touches.
"We 'ad a woman once aboard the
Liza Jane, as was crossing from Car
diff to the Thames with steam COAL
and back agen with anything as we
could get hold Of She was on the books
as a passenger, and when she come
aboard at Gravesend with a red para
sorl and brown 'andbag and asked
the way to her room we knowed on the
instant that there was something 60.
ing to happen. and we changed sur
lives just as If we'd bin born agen and
couldn't help it.
"Why. afore we was off the More
5lest If she admit begun a-talking to the
cook about the greasy knives and tea
spoons, till the poor Teller was in such
flutter that he took n two hours turn
a-polishing every bit of brass as might
appen to come under 'er eye.
"And then she started on the men.
The ropes was all sticky and nasty, she
ses, and so was the bmlarks, AZ size
couldn't lean a%enst without messing
'er blouse. And the men never said
nothing. bit Just went below and fish
ed out their best tnrS ana took to scrap
Ing away the coal dust and tar Wien
they ought to ha' been below and in
their hunks.
"The fact is. we w2S all knocked,
cad over 'eci= a-ld SLY with fear and
admiration. For, no mis- AXE, she was
as trim 6 gGI as cvcr set Il parasorl
That is to say. we VIZ al stuck 'ccpt
the skipper. AMI @ wasn't that scrt.
"The. did say as e was n woman
'ater and G.dn't sc 10 use in en-, ard
| dare say as Tat was so, for when
she was on dec; a-siring her best
things and a-:naking us poor chaps
wish we was good looking enough to
lay our 'earts alter feet e was a-slink-
Ing out of the way and only came on
deck when e knowed she'd be below
curling Ter 'air or getting 'erself up for
another attack.
"Weli, this state of things continued
Cor q couple Of days, and then one
morning she come right up to me as
was a-splicing lashings and pol;ed me
in the chest with FER parlsorl.
Sailor she ses, WHAT'S your
nameP
"'Rill Sniggs. miss, if you please l
ses, with my knees ashaking as If
they was sprung.
"'Well, Bill she ses, you look to me
to be the kindest 'earted and the hon
estest man aboard, and I want you to
do me a favor as l can never repay.
Will your
"1 willr / answers, serious, just as
when they take 'em for better or wuss.
And when she smiled and showed 'er
pretty teeth and FER eyes shone like
melted stars thought should ha' had
to back on the deck ouse for support.
"'Now, sailor she ses, I'm a-going
to take you into my confidence. First
Of all, I must tell you I'm in love- l
was almost a-falling on my knees to
r M
guess with whom? Why, of course,
with your dear, good skipper! But, oh,
dear, e Is so 'orridly backward! e
won't even look at me. e knows l
came ERE on purpose to be near i'm
and to talk to i'm and see 'ow e neg
lects me and keeps out Of my way!
Oh, sailor, am 1 so 'orrid and ugly?
II told 'er as we'll as l could as l
didn't think the old man need take on
so, COS she wasn't arr bad to look at.
On the contrary. she was about as
pretty picter as you'd see in a
months cruise.
"'Well, sailor she went on, what
do you think I'VE determined to do:
believe he won't have anything to do
with me simply because I'm a woman
and some silly people think a woman
can do nothing but receive admiration,
Now, IL | could show him that | am
brave and strong and can think and
act for myself perhaps he would learn
to love me. So want you to help me-
want you to fall overheard and let
me jump after you
"It come on me bit suddenlike, and
sorter reeled with establishment. But
she took 'old of my and and squeezed
it till l thought l should faint away
| in 'er arms.
"'Now, Ion't look surprised she
| SEES; I'm az awful good swimmer. I've
won lots of prizes at cur baths, and Il
see that we throw bw"y or two over
board, so that we shan't be in danger
And when it's over. sailCr. III give yea
f5. Now you C n't S,iy no TO me, cal
you-you dear, kind man?
"No. | couldn't, and that was fact
It's bad enough when yCI'ye got !:
| lovesick maiden gasping and a-leanine
on you, but when it comes TO five Guit
in ard cash dangling before your nose
II
| it's too much.
$50 we arranged it that next day. Il
the sea was smooth and the weather
fine, I'd sprinkle few life buoys over
board and acciC. n+''ly tumble anon:
'em. Then, with cry as 'ud brin:
the skipper on deck, the gal would dive
| after me, and we'd go through Sortel
life saving performance, and if tina
didn't make the old man fall on 'el
neck and ask to be forgivcn-well
then we'd ave to throw i'm in next
and let 'er ave try at saving i'm"
"Well, next day was fine, with just
bit of breeze as kept the bark steady
under all sail, and rs we were only
making about four knrts an hour
reckoned this was the time for thu
final scene. So l whistlcd to the gal tt
| get ready, and then got 'old of all thu
buoys l could find and pitched ZEN
| astern when nobody wasn't looking