The Saint Paul globe., 1900-05-07

Scribable look at the girl, but every
man should respect the secret of his
birth. Until we come to sixty we like
to be thought much younger, and when
we come to eighty we tell lies that our
friends may think US ninety. I lave
good reason to congratulate myself upon
my birthday. / cannot believe that the
red ensign ever foated over a better
seaman than I, a man who is both
gentleman and "a sailor, and it has been
my privilege" he continued, talking as
though he was making an after-dinner
speech, ito have dignifed by my be-
havior and breeding a service that in
public opinion is in want of dignity"
Hardy burst into laugh; he could not
help it, but he instantly apologized by
saying that the captains words made
him think of the first skipper he sailed
with, betwixt whose legs, as he stood,
you could have fitted an oval picture,
and whose face for beauty might have
been picked out of the harness cask
The captain, with a slight frown, cast
his eyes upon the mate, and said, John
have desired him to serve the queen at
sea, but he shall perpetuate me under
the flag I serve"
This was followed by short silence;
the others found nothing to say. 1t was
perhaps one of the saddest Illustrations
of madness on record, and 1t set the
listeners hearts paining to do something
that was denied to their sympathy and
distress.
''The men shall have holiday" said
the captain, who was scarcely eating.
1T is my birthday, and they shall drink
my health at eight bells. You will drink
my health, Mr.. Hardy, and you Miss
Armstrong;"
They answered that they would drink
vryit =,
You and Mr.. Candy in rum, Mr.. Har-
dy; you'll drink with the men, for 1 like
the officers of my ship to be associated
with the crew on festive occasions"
i will gladly drink with the men, SIR
responded Hardy.
Rum is not fit drink for young la
dies continued the captain with a faint
smile, 'and you, Miss Armstrong, will
drink my health in claret-a wine which
shall not hurt you, because It's light and
| old and nouriShing"
Julia bowed. Hardy was wondering
what the men would think, but if they
thought this unusual deviation from sea
routine odd they would certainly like it
and hope for more 1t was an exhibition
of insane generosity, of lunatic Kindness
and the mate could see nothing else in it,
In obedience to the captains instruc-
tions he went on deck, sending Candy
below to his breakfast and called the
boatswain aft.
IT'S the captains orders,'' said he
that the men shall knock off work all
day.
The boatswain stared. IAN day, sir?"
he said.
It's his birthday, o. answered Hardy.
'And all hands will drink his health in
good Jamaica rum at eight bells, served
out on the captains head.' = t=1
Innumerable wrinkles ovefiran the boat
swain's face as grin after grin rippIed
about his gale-hardened skin. He looked
as If he would like to say that here was
traverse that beat all his going a-fish-
ing. But the immense pleasure that
beamed in his expression was full as
surance of the reception the crew would
give the news
He walked slowly forward, and the men
wondered at his deep and constant grin
"One of the mates stories, I reckon.
thought Bill, and Jim also thought that
some joke of the mate had started the
boatswain on that smile. When he reach
-, ed the forecastle the boatswain put his
silver whistle to his lips and blew the
shrill music of ''All hands!' and a hun
dred little birds of the groves and woods
seemed to be perched in song upon the
yards and rigging
The fellows who were below came
tumbllng up, startled by that call in fine
weather. In very little time the whole
OF the crew had gathered round their
torecastle- leader, who, after clearing his
throat and gazing about him with his
! profound smile, said:
Lads, it's the capt birthday, and
1t S to be a holiday for YOU all right away
through, with liquor at noon to drink his
| health in 4eg50 yj - ~,
Sailors are. usually so badly treated by
all variety of shipowners' fsullen deafness
TO their grievances that when on rare oc-
caslons, sometimes originating in mad
! ness, they are well treated, their aston
lsIIheht Is phenomenon of emotion. 1t
seems unnatural, they think A beautiful
mermaid with gilded tail and flowing
! halr OF bronze, with her white revealed
charms made entrancing by the soft blue
! OF the water, could not amaze them more
than shippers kindness taking the form
! of Layard's
brief spell of silence fell upon them
/ boatswain
Amt yer coddin' us?'' said a man.
FIJI your pipes and go accounting" an
sWered the boatswain. I'm for taking
advantage of it when it comes, which
amt ever. too soon or often'
A This convinced the crew. who delivered
a loud cheer and then began to talk and
scatter an OF them feeling bit aim
less Tor 1t wasn't like going ashore
Hardy, who was keeping the, deck whilst
! candy breakfasted, watched the proceed
! lngs on the forecastle, and wondered if
thls stroke of the captain was going to
give them any idea of the truth. But
/ why should it? If they suspected. through
! thls act of Kindness that the bows loss
had shl1ted the old MANS ballast. they
would only hope that a long time would
! pass before his mental cargo was trim
] med afresh. But in truth they did NOT
, Know that their captain was insane. and
| even Candy, who was below sitting at
the table and listening to the skipper
| cohVersIng with Miss Armstrong, would
not nave kissed the book upon it.
presently Mr.. Candy came on deck.
but Hardy, whose watch below if was
thought he would stay a little and taIl5
to Miss Armstrong, and observe the can
! tam II he should appear. Very soon after
/ MI Candy arrived Julia rose lightly
! through the companion hatch. She was
now looking quite we'll better, indeed.
than she looked when Hardy first met
| her. AGAIN he found himself admiring
iieI iauitiess hSure and the pose of her
ness. 20
Where is the captain?" he asked her
i left him at the table" she renlied
lie was not in the cabin when I came
! out of my BERTH
nope it won't end in his DESTROYING
himself, exclaimed Hardy. There is
| a great deal of goodness and hlna nitv
| ~ @ the poor fellow's heart, and it's dread
1uI TO see man struggling to cononer
his brain's disease Who can ten wbat
passes in the minds of such people? Rut
what can l do? He is prime minister
aboard this ship, and those are the neo-
] pie, said he, nodding towards the crew
who must turn him out
have you told them they are to have