The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-11-17
Winning THE Captain.
It Was Effected by a Girl, but at
the Expense Of the Ship.

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"Women aboard ship" said the bo'-
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
selves in a muddle with the ropes and
spars and a-trying to turn business
like ship into sort of 'tarnal bOudOir,
or whatsoever they calls 'em, as Is
decked out with ribbons and fancy
touches.
1--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 red para
sorl and q 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 our
/ lives just as if we'd bin born agen and
couldn't help it.
"Why, afore we was off the More
blest if she 'adn't begun a-talking to the
cook about the greasy knives and tea
spoons, till the poor feller was In such
a flutter that he took a 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 buParks, as she
couldn't lean agenst without messing
'er blouse. And the men never said
nothing, but just went below and fish
ed out their best togs and took to scrap
ing away the coal dust and tar when
they ought to ha' been below and in
their hunks.
"The fact is, we was all knocked
'ead over 'eels and silly with fear and
admiration. For, no mistake, she was
as trim gal as ever set parasorl.
That is to say, we was all stuck 'cept
the skipper, and e wasn't that sort.
'They did say as e was a woman
'ater and didn't see no use in 'em, and
dare say as that was so, for when
she was on deck a-airing her best
things and a-making us poor chaps
wish we was good looking enough to
lay our 'earts at 'er feet e was a-slink-
ing out of the way and only came on
deck when e knowed she'd be below
curling 'er 'air or getting 'erself up for
= another attack.
"Well, this state of things continued
for a couple of days, and then one
morning she come right up to me as ]
was a-splicing lashings and poked me
in the chest with 'er parasorl.
e "'Sailor,' she ses, what's your
! name?
"'Bill Sniggs, miss, If you please
ses, with my knees a-shaking as II
they was sprung.
g "'Well, Bill she ses, you look to me
to be the kindest 'earted and the hon
= estest man aboard, and l want you tt
do me favor as l can never repay
: Will your
n "T willv 1 answers, serious, just al
J; when they take 'em for better or wuss
And when she smiled and showed 'el
: pretty teeth and 'er eyes shone like
melted stars thought 1 should ha' ha(
q to back on the deck'ouse for support.
"'Now, sailor she ses, I'm a-goini
- to take you into my confidence. Firs
of all, must tell you I'm in love-
was almost a-falling on my knees t.
II tell 'er l knowed it. Now, can't yol
= guess with whom? Why, Of course
with your dear. good skipper! But, oh
DEAR e is so 'orridly backward! j
D. won't even look at me. 'E knows
y came ere on purpose to be near in
and to talk to i'm and see 'ow e neg
- lects me and keeps out of my way
S. Oh, sailor, am | so 'Orrid and uglyp
Il told 'er as we'll as | could as
didn't think the old man need take o
so, eos she wasn't arf bad to look al
On the contrary, she was about a
pretty a picter as you'd see in
months cruise.
IS. "'Well, sailor she went on, 'wha
do you think I've determined to do
- | believe he won't have anything to d
with me simply because I'm woman
and some silly people think woma
can do nothing but receive admiration
Now, if | could show him that | al
brave and strong and can think an
act for myself perhaps he would lear
to love me. So want you to help IN
want you to fall overheard and Il
= me jump after you
at come on me a bit Suddenlike, an
sorter reeled with astOnishment. b
she took 'old of my and and squeeze
it till | thought | should faint ava
in 'er arms.
"'Now. don't look surprised 81
ses; I'm an awful good swimmer! T.
won lots of prizes at our baths, and
see that we throw buoy or two owe
board, so that we shan't be in DANCE
And when it's over, sailor, I'll give "
f5. Now you can't say no to me, CT
you-you dear. kind man?
"No, | couldn't. and that was fa'
It's bad enough when you've got
.. Jovesick maiden gasping and a-leanil
nd on you, but when it comes to five gu
IA in ard cash dangling before your no
)p- -,
ct It's 100 much
led $50 we arranged it that next day,
}. the sea was smooth and the weath