Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-09-18
December in the afternoon and close
upon sunset. The little maid was about

December in the afternoon and close
upon sunset. The little maid was about
s, and was 10. We We're together as
usual. We had been on the river, but
it was cold, and so we came ashore and
We're walking hand in hand along the
street they call Pudding lane, which
leads from the Common Stath yard to
the market place. In this lane there
stands a sailors tipping house, which
Is, dare say, in ell respects such a
house as sailors desire, provided and
furnished according to their wants and
wishes. AS we passed, the place being
already lit up with two or three can
dies in sconces, the door being wide
open and the mingled noise of fiddle,
voices and feet announcing the assem-
blage Of company, Molly pulled me by
the hand and stopped to look in. The
scene was what have already indi-
Gated. The revelry Of the evening had
set in. Everybody was drinking. One
was dancing. The fiddler was playing
Justify.
We should have looked on for min
ute and left them. But one of the
sailors recognized Molly. Springing to
his feet, he made n respectful leg and
saluted the child. Mates" he cried,
"'tis our owner! The little lady owns
the barky. What shall we do for her?"
Then they all sprang to their feet
with hlzza for the owner and anoth-
err for the ship, and, If you will believe
/ 1t, their rough foc's'le hands in half q
minute had the child on the table in a
chair like queen. She sat with great
dignity understanding in some way
that these men We're in her own service
and that they designed no harm or af-
fright to her, but only to do her honor.
/ Therefore she was not in any fear and
smiled graciously. For my own part,
| followed and stood Mt the table, think
ing that perhaps these fellows were
proposing some piratical abduction and
resolving miracles of yalor If neces-
sary.
| Then they made offerings. One man
pulled red silk handkerchief from his
neck and laid 1t In her lap, and anoth-
err lugged n box Of sweetmeats from
his pocket. 1t came from Lisbon, but
was made, believe, in Morocco by the
Moors. A third had.a gold ring on his
finger-everybody knows the eXtrava-
gancies of sailors-which he drew off
and placed in her hand. Another Of
fered glass of punch. The little maid
did what she had SO often seen the cap.
tain do. She looked round and said
"Your good health. all the company
and put her lips to the glass, which she
then returned And another offered to
dance, and the fiddler drew his bow
across the catgut. 1t is Sound which
inclines the heart to beat and the feet
to move whenever sailor hears it.
II have often seen you Dance" said
Molly. Let the fiddler play, and you
shall see me dance"
never thought she would have had
so much spirit, for, you see. had
taught her to dance the hornpipe. Ev.
cry boy in seaport town cnn dance
the hornpipe. We used to make music
out Of piece of thin paper laid over O
tortoise shell comb-it must be comt
of wide teeth, and none of them mus
be broken-and with this instead of q
fiddle we would dance in the garden OF
in the parlor. But to stand up before {
whole company of sailors! Who would
have thought 1t? However, she jump
ed UP and on the table performed hel
dance with great seriousness and 81
gracefully that they We're all enchant
ed. They stood around, their mouth.
open, broad grin on every face. The
women, neglected, huddled together ii
a corifer and were quite silent.
When she had finished, She gathered
up her gifts-the silk handkerchief
came from Calicut = the sweetmeat
from Morocco, the gold ring from
know not v lere. "Put me down, l.
you please she said. So one of then
gently lifted her to the ground. 9.
thank you ALL" she courtesied yer,
prettily. 81 wish you good night an,
when you set sail again good voy
age"
CHAPTER Y.
THE SPA.
: | ,Srx, u. -.