Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-06-20

STRANGE ADVENTURES OF 4 POET.
s, How He had the Romance Taken Out Of Him.


going to the &C .. les with lot of wax
figures, to exhibit them."
"Wa1 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.nataredly.
Then, turning to Narcissus, he said:
We'll, sir, am. pleased to meet you.
I 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 Armand
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
o 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
| CouoouoSo ho Dftoo iuIoN Gil W LIS
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; this is the first time I
am going to the colonies to exhibit my
wax figures"
''What do they represent?" asked
Narcissus, mechanically.
''Ihat," said he, pointing to one
they were long. narrow boxes, about
six by three-"that contains a mag
nifcent figure of the Emperor Napo-
leon; that, figure of his holiness the
Pope; that, an Albino," and he went
through the list. -. -
'sWelLwhatdo youibother me with
it for?" demanded Narcissus, glud to
find someone to vent his ill-humor
upon. .
81 only told you because you asked
me, sir, replied the man, 5submis-
sirely. hE s. e54,Ea's. :.
"Well. shutIup, will youl'' replied
the gentle Narcissus; you talk too
much!'' . - ss771T3N7-f spss' - = 7
The stout, nan's eyes snapped an.
sgrily, but he said nothing. e''''s'' 1.e''.'7
They reached the vessels side, and
with unheard of precautions the show
maa had his boxe; put, aboard. He
made the sailors almost expire with
laughter'at the gingerly way in which
he climt ed the ladder, and his calling
the masts 'tho poles" furnished them
fresh food for merriment.
At o'clock in the evening the
Sarah Ann weighed anchor and set
out on her voyage. Narcissus re-
NAMED on deck watching the sun. set,
and thus, as he expressed it, ''re-
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..
go muses. nine!" quoth he, "pity
me, and send us something romantic
"a tempest, shipwreck anything.
I have quilted the realms of pins,
needles and tape, and abandoned my
self tosthe caprice of the waves, only
that my life may become exciting.
Ply me then, ye godsl Blow, old
Boreas, bloW!, Lash thy waves, o
Neptune!" - a.
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 al old sail draped
around the place tween decks where
his hammock was swung. This can
vas he could see over, and this is
what tool place. The feeble glimmer
of ships lantern served to illumine
the place without, and its 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.
"The base hind!" thought he, ''al.
ways anxious for his business. Here
he is examining his figures when he
might be watching the stars in yon
azure vault
Narcissus paused in his poetical
flight. His eyes opened widely; he
almost ceased to breathe. For the
Snowman, after carefully gancing
around him, had opened one of the
boxes, and man stepped out. The
newcomer exchanged a whispered
word with the Snowman, and began to
shake his numb and rigid limbs.
''rhis isindeed romantic, muttered
Narcissus. But he felt cold sensa-
tion creeping up his back.
The Snowman continued his task of
opening the boxes. One by one the
wax figures stepped forth, shook them
selves ard felt their joints. When the
last box vas opened, there were six
of them, besides the Snowman. Each
man drew out pistols and knives,
looked to the locks, and replaced the
weapons in convenient positions.
"Well," thought Narcissus, "that
is tho most wicked-looking gang Of
cut-throats 1 ever set eyes on. This
is altogether too romantic. I wish I
was home"
But, his thoughts were interrupted
by the sound of the showman's voice:
&"An ready" said hey in hoarse'
whisper. " a's| 8 sk
,s''All ready,y was the whispered re-
ply. s''s5ss' ee fS 2a
$ Then, here we sol',.5
With cat-like tread they stole away
in the darkness. - 2. @
Narcissus would have called out;
his tongue Glove to the roof of his
mouth. He would have, risen; his
head seemed glued to his pillow. A