Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-01-04
WINNING THE CAPTAIN.

bo'sun OF the British Queen, " is like
cats in conservatory. They won't
seep 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
:opes and spars, and a-trying to turn
businesslike ship into sort of tar
aal boudoir, or whatsoever they calls
EN-, as is decked out with ribbons and
fancy touches.
1--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 a passenger, and when she
came aboard at Gravesend with a red
parasol and brown 'andbag and
asked the way to her room we knowed
On the instant that there was some
hing going to hapr en-, 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 and teaspoons, till the poor
teller was in such a tlutter that he
took two hours turn a-polishing
every bit O brass as might 'appen to
come under er eye. And then she
started on the men. The ropes was
all sticky and nasty, she ses, and so
was the ul'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
:ogs and took to scraping away the
,oal dust and tar when they ought to
ha' been below and in their hunks.
"The fact is, we was all knocked
cad over 'eels and silly with fear and
admiration. For, no mistake, she was
as trim gal as ever set paras orl.
That is to say, we was all struck 'cept
the skipper, and he wasn't that sort.
They did say as g was a, woman 'ater, and
didn't see no use in EN-; and [ 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 Q was a-slinking CT of the
way and only came on deck when he
knowed she'd be below curling ell air
or getting 'erself up for another at
tack.
"Well, this state of things con-
tinued for 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
uame?'
"Bill Sniggs, miss, if yer please,
[ ses, with my knees ashaking as if
they was sprung.
"'Well, Bill, she ses, you look to
NE to be the kindest-' earted and the
nonestest man aboard, and / want you
to do me favor as l can never
;epay. Will your
L will! l answers, serious, just as
when they take 'em for better or
wuss. And when she smiled aud
showed 'er pretty teeth and 'er eyes
shone like melted stars, l thought L
should ha' had to back on the deck
'ouse for support.
CHOW, sailor, she ses, I'm ago
ing to take you into my confidence.
First of all, must tell you Tn in
love. l was almost a-falling on my
knees to tell 'er 1 knowed it. Now,
,an'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 / 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 1 so
horrid and ugly?'
81 told 'er as we'll as I could as I
didn't think the old man need take on
On the contrary, he was about as
pretty picter as you'd see in a
months cruise.
"Well, sailor, she went on, what
do you.think I've determined to do?
believe he won't have anything to do
with me simply because I'm woman,
aud some silly people think a woman
can do nothing butreceive admiration.
Now, if / could show him that 1 am
brave and strong and can think and
act for myself perhaps he would learn
to love me. SO want You to help
me. want you to fall overho hoard, and
let me Jump after you.
cit come on me bit sudden like,
and sorter reeled with astonishment
But she took 'old of my and and
squeezed it till thought 1 should
faint away in er arms.
Now, don't look surprised, she
ses; I'm an awful good swimmer!
I've won lots of prizes at our baths,
and Til see that we throw lucy OF
two overheard, so that we shan't be
in danger. And when it's over, sailor
I'll give you G5. Now you can't say
no to me, can you-you dear, kind
man?'
"No. couldn't, and that was a
fact. It's had enough when YOU We
| got Flovesick MAIDEN grasping and
a-leaning on yer; but when it comes
to five quid in ard cash dangling be-
fore your nose it's too much.
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