Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-03-13
Winning THE Captain.
II Was Effected by . Girl, but at
the Expense Of the Ship.
~

still for n minute. II they amt up and
asking the skipper 'ow far II is to the
next port. they has 10 be getting them
selves In n mudGle with the ropes and
spars and a-trying to turn business
like ship into sort OF 'tarDai boudoir,
or whatsoever they calls 'em. as Is
decked out with ribbons and fancy
touches.
"We 'ad a woman once aboard the
Liza Jane as was crossing from Car
diff 10 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 come
aboard ut Gravesend with red para.
sorl and brown 'andbag and asked
the way to her room we knowed on the
instant that there was something go
ing 10 happen. and we changed our
lives Just as II we'd bin born agen and
couldn't help II.
why, afore we was of the More
blest IL she 'adn't begun a-talking 10 the
cook about the greasy knives and tea
spoons. till the poor feller was in such
a fiutter that he took two hours turn
a-polishing every bit Of 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 burarks. as she
couldn't lean agenst without messing
'er blouse. And the men never said
nothing. but Just went below and fish.
ed out their best togs and took TO scrap
ing away the coal dust and tar when
they ought to ha' been below and In
their hunks.
The fact Is. we was all knocked
'ead over 'eels and silly with fear and
admiration. For. no mistake. she was
as trim a gal as ever set parasorl.
That is to say. we was all stuck 'cept
the skipper. and e wasn't that sort.
"They did say as e was woman
'ater and didn't see no use In 'em. and
I dare say as that was so. for when
she was on deck a-alring her best
things and a-making us poor chaps
wish we was good looking enough to
lay our 'earts at 'er feet q was a-slirk-
Ing out OF the way and only came on
deck when e knowed she'd be below
curling 'er air or getting 'erself up for
another attack.
"Well. this state Of things continued
for couple Of days, and then one
morning she come right up to me as
was a-splicing lashings and poked me
In the chest with 'er parasorl.
".Sailor.' she ses, what's your
nameT
"'Bill Sniggs, miss. II you please. !
ses, with my knees a-shaking as II
they was sprung.
"'Well. BILL she ses. you look 10 me
to be the kindest 'earted and the hon
estest man aboard. and ] want you TO
do me a favor as ! can never repay.
VIII your
"T willv / answers, serious, just rs
when they take 'em for better or wuss.
And when she smiled and showed 'er
pretty teeth ard 'er eyes shone like
melted stars thought should ha' had
to back on the deck ouse for support.
"'Now, sailor she ses, I'm a-going
TO take you into my confidence. First
Of all. I must tell you I'm In love |
was almost a-falling on my knees to
tell 'er knowed II. Now, can't you
guess with whom? Why. Of course,
with your dear. good skipper! But. oh,
dear. e Is 80 'orridly backward. h
won't even look AT me. f knows
came ere on purpose to be near I'm
and to talk to. i'm and see 'ow e neg
lects me and keeps out Of my way!
Oh. sailor. am so 'orrid and uglyT
II told 'er as well as could as
didn't think the old man need take on
so, COS she wasn't arf bad to look at.
On the contrary, she was about as
pretty a picter as you'd see In
months cruise.
"'Well. sailor she went on, what
do you ,hink I've determined to do!
| believe he won't have anything to do
with me simply because I'm n woman,
and some silly people think a woman
can do nothing but receive admiration.
Now. II l could show him that ! am
brave and strong and can think and
act for myself perhaps he would learn
to love me. So l want you to help me.
want you to fall overheard and let
me jump after you
"It come on me bit suddenlike. and
sorter reeleG with astonishment But
she took old of my and and squeezed
II till thought l 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 I'll
see that we throw buoy or two over
board, SO that we shan't be In danger.
And when it's over. sailor. I'll give you
f5. Now you can't say no to me. can
you-you dear, kind mani
"No. couldn't. and that was fact
It's bad enough when you've got Ii
lovesick maiden gasping and a-leaning
on you. but when II comes to five quid
In ard cash dangling before your nose
It's too much.
$50 we arranged 1t that next day, II
the sea was smooth and the weather
fine, I'd sprinkle few life buoys over.
board and accidentally tumble among
'em. Then, with cry as 'ud bring
the skipper on deck, the gal would dive
after me, and we'd go through sOrter
life saving performance. and II that
didn't make the old man fall on 'er
neck and ask to be forgiven-well,
then we'd ave to throw i'm In next,
and let 'er ave try at saving 'im."
"well. next day was fine, with just q
bit Of breeze as kept the bark steady
under all sail. and as we were only
making about four knots an hour
reckoned this was the time for the
final scene. So whistled to the gal to
get ready. and then got old of all the
buoys ! could fnd and pitched 'ern
astern when nobody wasn't looking.
Next I slipped OF my boots and drop
ped quietly over the si6e.
"When looked up I seed the gal
a-looking as II she was a-wonderfng
'ow cold It was. And then all Of sud-
den she gave . yell, and dived in and
come swimming toward me like q fish.
"I.or'. the commotion there was On
board when they heard that yelll First,
up come the skipper from below. He