Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1899-12-01
WINNING THE CAPTAIN.
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"women aboard ship" said tie
bo'suu of the British Queen, is like
cats in 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 get
ting themselves in muddle with the
ropes and spars, aud a-trying to turn
businesslike ship into sort of tar
nal boudoir, or whatsoever they calls
'em, as is decked out with ribbons and
fancy touches.
'We 'ad 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 passenger, and when she
came aboard at Gravesend with red
parasol and brown 'andbag and
asked the way TO her room we knowed
on the instant that there was some
thing going to happen, and We changed
our lives Just as if we'd bin born agen
an couldn'thelp it. Why, afore we,was
off the More blest if she 'adn't begun
a-talking to the cook about the greasy
knives aud teaspoons, till the poor
feller was i'll such flutter that he
took a two hours turn a-polishing
every bit o brass as might 'appen to
come under 'er eve. And then she
started on the men. The ropes was
all sticky and nasty, she ses, and so
was the bul'arks, as she couldn't lean
agenst without messin' 'er blouse. And
the men never said nothing, but just
went below and tished out their best
togs aud took to scraping 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 r'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 struck 'cept
the skipper, and he wasn't that sort.
They did say as ewas a''woman 'ater, and
didn't see no use in 'em; and L 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 hearts
at her feet, e was a-slinking out of the
way and only came on deck whea he
knowed she'd be below curling 'er air
or getting 'erself up for another at
tack.
"Well, this state of things con-
tinuel for a couple of days, and then
one morning she came right up to me
as was a-splicing lashings and poked
me in the chest with 'er parasorl.
"'sailor, she ses. What's your
name?'
"'Bill Sniggs, miss, if yer please,
ses, with my knees a-shaking as if
they was sprung.
well, Bill, she ses, you look to
me to be the kindest- 'earted aud the
honestest man aboard, and I want you
to do me a favor as 1 can never
repay. Will you?'
"I will! l answers, serious, Just as
when they take 'em for better or
wuss. And when she smiled and
showed 'er pretty teeth and 'er eyes
shone like melted stars, thought |
should ha' had to back on the deck
'ouse for support
Now, sailor, she ses, I'm 60
ing 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 tell 'er 1 knowed it. Now,
can't you guess with whom? Why, of
course, with your dear good skipper.
But, oh, dear; he is so horribly back
ward He won't even look at me.
He knows l came here on purpose to
be near him and to talk to him, and
see how he neglects me and keeps out
of my way! Oh, sailor, am so
horrid and ugly?'
"I L told 'er.as well as I could as l
didn't think the old man need take on
so cos she wasn't 'arf bad to look at.
On the contrary, he was about as
pretty pieter as you'd see in
months cruise.
"'Well, sailor, she went on, what
do you, think I've determined to do? l
balieve he won't have anything to d.
with me simply because I'm a woman,
and some silly people think woman
can do nothing butreceive admiration.
Now, il | could show him that 1 am
brave aud strong and can think aud
act for myself perhaps he would learn
to love me. So want you to help
me. want you to fall overt oard, and
let me jump after you.
''It come on me BIT sudden like,
aid | sorter reeled with astonishment.