Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-01

pie. but we all gathered round and the
matter was effectually settled at once
We never regretted our consideration.
For while 1t was true that he couldn't
get aIoft, and those mighty sails would
nave been handful for double our num-
Der IN breeze OF wind. there never was
more willing, tireiess worker on deck, and
below he was perfect godsend. His sun
ny temper, bubbling fun and inexhaustible
stock of yarns. made our gray lives hap
pier than they had ever been at sea before
II We would have allowed il, he would have
been slave TO all of US. for We carried no
boys, and all the odd domestic jobs of the
foes Sic had to be done by ourselves. AS it
was, he was always doing something for
somebody, and as he was thorough sailor
in his general hardness and ability his
services were highly appreciated. He made
the Gareth a comfortable ship in spite of
her manifold drawbacks.
In due time reached the roaring
fOrties' and began to run the casting
down The long, tempestuous stretch of
the southern ocean lay before us. and the
prospect was by no means cheering The
Gareth in spite OF her huge bulk had
given us a taste of her quality when run
ming before heavy breeze of wind shortly
after getting clear of the channel. and we
knew that she one of the wettest of
her class, vessel that welcomed every
bowling sea as an old friend. and freely
invited it to range the whole expanse of
her decks from poop to forecaste. And. in
accordance with precedent, we knew that
she would be driven to the last extremity
of canvas endurance. not only in the hope
of making quick passage. but because
shortening sail after really hard running
such an awful strain upon the handful
of men composing the crew. So that when
once the light sails We're secure. an at
tempt would always be made to hang on
TO the still enormous spread of sail re-
naming, until the gale blew itself out, or
we had run out of its vast area But for
some days the brave west wind fingered in
its lair. and We slowly crept to the s'uth-
ard and BASTARD with trumpery little
spurts Of northerly and nor westerly
breeze. We had reached Il degrees S.
and about 10 degrees r. when. one after
noon, it fell calm.
One of the most magnificent sunsets i'm
aginable spread its glories over the western
sky. Great splashes of gorgeous cooring
stained the pale blue of the heavens, and
Illuminated the fantastic crags and ranges
of clouds that lay motionless around the
horizon like fragments Of "A disintegrated
world A long, Hstless swell came solemn
" from the west at regular intervals, CIV
ing the waiting ship stately, rhythmcal
motion in the CLASSY waters, and making
the immense squares of canvas that hung
straight boards from the yards slam
against the steefsnasts with sullen boom.
Except for that occasionally recurring
sound. a solemn stiffness reigned supreme,
while the wide mirror Of the ocean reflected
faithfully all the flaming tints Of the sky.
Quietly ali of US gathered the fo' sic
head for the second dog watch smoke. but
cl3nad for the desultory chat that usually
takes place at that pleasant hour. Pipes
were puffed in silence for half hour I'M
til suddenly McGinty broke the spell this
voice sounding strangely clear and vibraut)
by saying:
Il had 0uare dhranfe iasht night
No one stirred OF spoke, and after few
medtative pulls at his pipe he went on:
Il dhrea.nt that | was tiny syossoon
again All home in ovid Baltimore. I'd been
wandherin and sthrayin'. God alone knows
where. fur a dhreadful long while 1t seem
ed until at lasht. whin | wuZ ready Z die
from sheer WEAKNESS an fright, l heard
me dear mothers sweet voice cryfn
! while% On, twas if an angel from
| hiven spoke TO me. an | cried wild all me
hearrt an tongue: Here mother; here
/ ann An she gathered me up in her ar
| runs thaS wuZ so soft am cozy, till I felt
| as il was a little tired chick nesht lin into
| its mothers feathers in the snuggest of
| nests didn't go to sleep; i just let meself
| sink down, down into rest happy as any
\ saint in glory An thin 1 woke up wild a
big, tearin' ache all over me poor ovid
| broken-up body. But bad as that wuz
| 'twuz just nothin' at all to the gnawin'
| ache at me heart
Silence wrapped US round again, for who
among Us could find any words to apply to
! all the more because of its complete con-
\ trast to McGintys usual bright CHEEKY and
accomplishing humor. Not another word
/ was spoken by any one until the sharp
/ strokes on the little bell aft cleft the still
! air. and, in immediate response, one rose
/ and smote the big bell hanging at the break
, of Ire forecastls four double blows, usher