Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-05-24

| iuuSt nave ar, ana QampneSS Will III
jure them. You know what they con.
tain. So want You to promise Inc
that they shall not be put in the
hold"
"All right" said the captain; ''they
shall be placed on the orlop deck. :"
''And l can examine them whenever
1 like?"
Whenever you like"
"Well, here's your money!" said
upon the table, saluted aad left.
"Who's that fellow?" asked the
cousin.
"Oh, it's poor Snowman. He's
going to the colonies with lot of wax
figures, to exhibit them."
"Wax figures! Why, they'll all melt
if you leave them on the orlop deck,
won't they?"
''Well, that's his business" replied
the worthy captain, good naturedly.
Then, turning to Narcissus, he said
"Well, sir, am pleased to meet you.
l shall make your voyage as agreeable
as possible. You will be very COM
fortable-iust exactly the same as if
you were on land"
Narcissus loft the Sarah Ann and
did not reappear until the hour of
sailing, such was his disgust at the
unromantic character of vessel, master
and crew.
When he went to the pier to engage
boat to take him out to the brig, he
met the stout man whom he had seen
III the captains cabin. This individual
proposed that they should hire boat
jointly to transport themselves and
baggage to the brig, and Narcissus
consented. He bade farewell to his
cousin and tumbled into the boat. The
stout man followed him.
''Have you ever been to sea, sir?"
he asked.
NO" replied Narcissus; "and
you?"
Never, sir; thi, is the first time. I
am going to the colonies to exhibit my
wax figures"
''What do they representa-" asked
Narcissus, mechanically.
THAT, said he, pointing to one
they were long, narrow boxes, about
six by three-''that contains q mag
nificent figure of the Emperor Napo-
leon; that figure of his holiness the
Pope; that, an Albino," aud he went
through the list.
"Well what do you bother me with
1t for?" demanded Narcissus, glad to
find someone to vent his ill-humor
upon.
II only told you because you asked
me, sir, replied the man, submis.
sively.
well, shut up, will you!" replied
the gentle Narcissus; you talk too
much!"
The stout mans eyes snapped an
grily, but he said nothing.
They reached the vessels side, and
with unheard of precautions the show
man had his boxes put aboard. He
made the sa lors almost expire with
laughter at the gingerly way in which
he climbed the ladder, and his calling
the masts "tho poles" furnished them
fresh food for merriment.
At o'clock in the evening the
Sarah Ana weighed anchor and set
out on her voyage. Narcissus re-
mained on deck watching the sun set,
and thus, as he expressed it, IRE.
lighting the torch of poesy in his
SOUL" But he hadn't been there long
before he became extremely seasick.
and two grinning tars took him below.
Narcissus did not sleep. AS ne
tossed restlessly upon his pillow he
invoked the muses..
80 muses. nine" quoth he, ''pity
me, and send us something romantic
"a tempest, a shipwreck ything.
I have quilted the realms of pins,
needles aud tape, and abandoned nv
self to the caprice of the waves, only
that my life may become exciting
Pity me then. ye gods! Blow, old
Boreas, blow Lash thy wave, o
Neptune!'
1t is doubtful whether either the
muses. or the gods heard him.. but it
is certain that something very singular
took place almost upon the heels of
his prayer.
The brig was not provided with
staterooms for passengers, SO the
apartment occupied by Narcissus con-
sisted only of an old sail draped
around the place tween decks where
his hammock was swung. This can
vas he could see over, and this is
what took place. The feeble glimmer
of ships lantern served to illumine
the place without, and it's rays fell
upon the showman's boxes, which
were lashed up against the vessels
side. Emerging from the darkness
Narcissus saw the figure of the burly
Snowman.
"rhe base hind!" thought he, sal
ways anxious for his business. Here
h. is examining his figures when he
might be watching the stars in Won
azure vault"
Narcissus paused in his poetical
fight. His ewes opened widely; he
almost ceased to breathe. For the
Snowman, after carefully glancing