The Press., 1900-02-22
Winning THE CAPTAIN.
It Was Effected by q Girl, but at
the Expense Of the Ship.

V"S"VVVVVVSVS|
"women aboard ship" said the boz
sun Of the British Queen, lis like cats
In a conservatory. They won't keep
still for minute. If they amt up and
asking the skipper 'ow far it is to the
next port, they has to be getting them
selves in a muddle with the ropes and
spars and a-trying to turn business
like ship into sort of 'tarnal boudoir,
or whatsoever they calls 'em, as is
decked out with ribbons and fancy
touches.
1--WE 'ad q woman once aboard the
Liza Jane, as was crossing from Car
diff to the Thames with steam coal,
could get hold of. She was on the books
as a passenger, and when she come
aboard at Gravesend with a red para
sorl and a brown 'andbag and asked
the way to her room we knowed on the
instant that there was something 60
ing to happen, and we changed our
lives just as IL we'd bin born agen and
couldn't help it.
"Why, afore we was off the More
blest if she 'adn't begun atalking to the
cook about the greasy knives and tea
spoons, till the poor Teller was in such
a futter that he took a 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
11vosk
FER 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 gal as ever set a 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
later and didn't see no use in 'em. anG
dare say as that was so, for wheI
she was on deck a-airing her bes
things and a-making us poor chap:
W
lay our 'earts at 'er feet e was a-slink
ing out of the way and only came OF
deck when e knowed she'd be below
curling FER air or getting 'erself up fo
another attack.
"Well this state of things continued
for couple of days, and then on
morning she come right up to me as
To- ND
in the chest with 'er parasorl.
"'Sailor.' she SEES, what's you
nameY
"'Bill Sniggs, miss, If you please
ses, with my knees a-shaking as
they was sprung.
| "'Well, Bill she SEES. you look to m
to be the kindest 'earted and the hon
estest man aboard, and want you t
do me a favor as l can never repay
Will you?
"I willv | answers, serious, just a
when they take 'em for better or wuss
And when she smiled and showed e
pretty teeth and 'er eyes shone Xix
melted stars I thought l should ha' ha
to back on the deck ouse for support.
| CHOW, sailor she ses, I'm a-goin
to take you into my confidence. Firs
of all, l must tell you I'm in love-
was almost a-falling on my knees
tell FER l knowed it. Now, can't 20
guess with whom? Why, Of course
with your dear, good skipper! But, oil
dear, e Is SO 'orridly backward! ,.
won't even look at me. e knows
came ERE on purpose to be near ii
and to talk to i'm and see 'ow e nes
lects me and keeps out of my wa!
Oh, sailor, am so 'orrid and ugly?
Il told 'er as we'll as | could as
didn't think the old man need take Q
so, eos she wasn't arr bad to look a
On the contrary. she was about
pretty picter as you'd see in
months cruise.
"'Well, sailor she went on. 'wh:
do you think I've determined to dc