The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1900-06-30
STRANGE ADVENTURES OF A POET,
How He had the Romance Taken Out CT Him,

the captain was, as we have said,
stoutly built; he was a jolly-looking
fellow, and was deeply interested in
trying to beat down the rate of pas
sage.
Come now, captain" said he,
'can't you put it little lower?'
II have only one price" replied the
captain.
Narcissus. thought of the paternal
shop and shuddered.
"Well," said the stout man, after
much debate, what must be must be.
Ono condition, however: my boxes
must have air, aud dampness will in
jure them. You know what they con-
tain. SO | want you to promise me
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"
"Hcll, here's your money!" said
the stout man, and he placed the sum
upon the table, saluted aud 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 Oh the orlop deck,
won't they?'
"Well, that's his business" replied
the worthy captain, good naturedly.
Then, turning to Narcissus, lie said:
"Well, sir, am pleased to meet you.
l shall make your voyage as agreeable
as possible. You will be very com
fortable-just 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
a boat to take him out to the brig, he
met the stout man whom he had seen
in 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 tumblcd into the boat. The
stout man followed him.
"Have you ever been to sea, sir?"
he asked.
"No." replied Narcissus; "and
you?"
"Never, sir; this is the first time l
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 mag
nificent figure Of the Emperor Napo-
leon; that, figure of his holiness the
Pope; that, an Albino," and he went
through the list.
"Well what do you bother me with
it for?" demanded Narcissus, glad to
upon.
81 ouly told you because you asked
me, sir, replied the man, submis.
sively.
"Well, shut up, will your replied
the gentle Narcissus; ''you talk too
muchi"
The stout mans eyes snapped an
grily, but lie said nothing.
They reached the vessels side, and
with unheard Of precautions the show
man had his boxes put aboard. He
made the sailors almost expire with
laughter at the gingerly way in which
lie climbed the ladder, and his calling
the masts ''tho poles" furnished them
fresh food for merriment.
At 5 o'clock in the evening the
Sarah Ann weighed anchor and set
out on her voyage. Narcissus re-
manned Oh deck watching the sun set,
and thus, as lie expressed it, ''re-
lighting the torch of poesy in his
soul" But lie hadn't been there long
before he became extremely seasich,
and two grinning tars took him below.
Narcissus did not sleep. As he
tossed resticssly upon his pillow he
invoked the muses..
80 muses. nine" Quoth lie, "pity
me, and send us something romantic
"a tempest, shipwreck anything.
l have quilted the realms Of pins,
needles and tape, and abandoned my
self to the caprice Of the waves, only
that my life may become exciting.
Pity me then, ye gods! Blow, Old
Borens, blow! Lash thy wave, o
Neptune!"
1t is doubtful whether either tho
muses. or the gods heard him, but it
is certain that something very singular