Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1901-07-20
TIE CABIN BOY.
BY EDEN PHILLPorrs.

No-can't say much in the way Of
adventures comes to craft tradfn' in
old bones and such like sundries
tween Southampton an Cardif, but
rum things happen now an again, even
on coaster. For instance, the cabin
boy us got from Penzance.
The Copperhead was a topsaD
schooner. and Bassett was master and
Price Evans mate. bein' a chap VII
face like an old fgurehed-a deep
man, silent an much give to his own
thoughts, which weren't none too pleas
ant most times by the countenance OF
un. Chips, our carpenter, feckoned as
Evans was a petticoat troubled man,
an certainly his lady, as coined down
to the docks now an again to see I'm
of from Cardiff. was bit too capa-
cious in her lines an 'full-blown every
way to be wife for a peace-loVing
man. Red in the gills likewise, VII
voice similar to the crack O. doom
which doubtless it were to Evans.
Twas arter we'd put into Penzance
three voyages running as Tommy Bates
coined aboard for cabin boy. Evans
had got rid of Bill Davies, as was no
sort of use on a ship for certain, an
Tommy seemed all right an willing,
though a greenhorn. Mate, he'd catch
ed sight o. the lad loafin' on Penzance
quay, an shipped US right away. We
was gwaine up along to Southampton
that time, an the lad-a guide, spry
youngster-got his fust dose O weather
of Portland Bill, Wheer it blaWed fur
ious. He wasn't too happy, an US
never seed I'm in the fo'c'sle, for Evans
giyed us shake-down aft. But as all
liked I'm very well, an reckoned he'd
make tidy seaman some day; an
Evans took amazing kind to I'm also.
Bein' a jealous cuss, he hated to see the
boy friends wi'anybo dy else, an allus
KEEP him away when he could; but
Tommy weern't by no means so fond
Of the mate, as the mate 'peared to be
Of him, an fancy he took delight in
getting the wool fairly of of Evans.
bred chap from Lard he knaws wheer,
but so guide Dago as ever sailed
with; an Evans hated I'm, an Tommy
liked un, which got matey sore an
crooked in his speech as a bested TOM
cat. An Tommy took awful kind to
Chips, too; which didn't make Evans
no happier, SEEM him an Chips were
old enemies. In fact, the damn boy
worked spell on Evans, an he'd pre-
tend to be gruff as an old owl WI un,
an really he was so fond of the lad as
though he'd ueen his own cheeld. On
cold days he'd call Tommy in his cabin
out the wet, an give I'm baccy, no
doubt, an many swig out Of his pri-
vate bootleg so as coined to nave
theories pom it, an Dago judged as
Tommy was the mates son in SOBER
earnest, though seein' his greet grey
eyes an purity yellow hair twas easy
to see he took artea his mother. Well
US mostly reckoned that Dago was
right in his surmises an one day L
axed Tom plump out if twas so, an
he laughed, an the bright eyes shined
in the purity face of un, an he sa1d'
Maybe am; maybe ban't.'
So. Of course, us judged it must De
so, an reckoned the cat fair out the
bag. But we was strong all the same
an the truth coined out later-a purity
darned coorious thing, too.
NM off
of Wight at last, after long, tedious
voyage. Me an Chips, it being our
watch below, was just smoking an vFait-
ing for dinner, when somebody sings
out 'Man Awverboardi" Us tumbles
on deck to find 'tWeern't no man at all,
but the blessed boy; an, fore the Cop
perhead coined up, an US dropped
boat on the lee side, Evans was in the
waiter. He could swim like a porpoise,
an got to the lad fore he'd been in the
sea half minute; an we was purity
slippy too, l assure e, Me an Dago
and Chips took the boat, an soon got
alongside the pair of 'em, though
nasty sea was runnin' for such job.
Tommy WAS SldEIlA uP OuC " IHO USS
ter cruel, an Evans had grabbed un an
clitched hold his neck like a vice. Then
me an Chips got 'em both ia the boat,
while Dago KEEP her head up against
the seas. an arter kicklish time OF it
we fetched the lee OF the ship again,
an glad to get theer,too.
They rugged line an took Tom an
Evans up one arter t'other; an Evans
marched the boy straight in his cabin
to change his toys; an the lad went
like a lamb, cryin' an gasping an spH-
ting the ocean out of his lungs.
Touch an CO." I sex to Dago; then,
as they got US an the boat inboard,
furrin' chap told me thing as sur
prised me considerable
Tommy went in the sea purpose.
he said. mo mistake see him give
big jump when he think nobody book
I'M"
Well, could awnly tell Dago he was
t, J3a- not I1Douziy,,- mona n, &h1 frsnfS