Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-08-21
BOUND AS WAS ULYSSES.

BOUND AS WAS ULYSSES.
Homecoming Sailor Passed tho City
Sirens and Bought Farm.
OF the temptations which beset the
homecoming jack; 1of his weakness In
the face of them, and Of the Ulyssean
measures which one old salt, made
wise by many sad experiences, en-
ployed to secure himself against the
song Of the Sirens, a naval officer OF
high rank has this story to tell:
There was an old boatswain named
Sam on board the last ship which this
officer commanded before going on
shoreduty. Sam had served his coun-
try some thirty years when his last
cruise took him to the Asiatic station
and kept him there for more than
three years. At the end Of that time
he had some $500 to his credit, which
would be paid over to him as soon as
the ship reached New York.
One evening just before the home
shore was sighted, the captain was on
the quarterback when Sam approach
ed him, tugging his old-fashioned fore
lock and scraping with his foot as he
bowed. He was an old favorite, ana
could get an audience at any time.
We'll soon be home. Cap'n.' ne be-
gan.
Fright YOU are, Sammy. and l sup
pose you'll be happy to get a rest at
last"
Maybe I am and maybe amt
there's my sister Sally"
"Well, won't you be glad to see herr
Maybe 1 will and maybe 1 won't
there's the $500 coming to me-"
1.-THE more welcome you should be-
Sammy"
"Ya-as: and Sally wants me to buy
a farm and stay home"
"Splendid idea, Sammy. I'm sure
You'll end as a bloated landholder.'
"Ya-as, but there's New York tween
Sally and the money"
And what Of it?"
well you know, New York Is
pretty fine city and-and I've been gone
a burned long time, and-if l get
through New York with any money left
thatn be the first time in my expert
ence."
The captain understood.
How far away does Sally live" he
asked.
Thirty five miles. Cap'n."
Cant you get there without passing
New York;"
Cant be done. Cap'n. and that's
just the rub"
Its the worst blankety-blank thing
I ever heard Of" remarked the captain
reproachfully, that an old, seasoned,
sensible chap like you must be so
weak"
It's a ships length beyond all ex-
cuses." the old man admitted In a
mournful tone. But I can't help 1t,
Cap'n. l suppose it's in the land air.
The captain was thinking hard.
How would it be for me to send an
officer with you through the city?"
That's terribly kind of you. Cap'n.
but there amt no man strong enough
in the navy to hold me when l feel the
smell of the grogshops."
"I shall go with you myself" the
captain declared.
Sam shifted from one foot to the
other and looked indescribably unhap-
py.
I'm afeared-" he began.
"Trl take you in a carriage-a closed
one"
God bless you, Cap'n: but I'll be
blamed if 1 don't think might jump
out"
"Then I'll be DANCED If 1 know what
to do for you," the captain concluded
I'm despair.
There might be just one way what
I've been thinking of-but, Of course
that's really too much"
"Sing out and don't be afraid"
"S'posing you went with me In a
carriage-and that the carriage was
closed"-the old man was twisting
about as If in pain-"and-and my
hands and feet were tied up. and you
didn't let me loose till we got outside
the town. don't know, Cap'n, but l
guess I might get through with the
money"
The old mans play was carried out
to the letter. He begged and prayed
and swore while the carriage was pass
ing through the streets of New York,
but, like Ulysses tied to the mast, he
was helpless, and the captain remain
ed as deaf to the old fellows entreaties
and outbursts Of profanity as If his
ears had been filled with wax, like
those of the Ulyssean crew.
Once beyond the city, Sam calmed
down. At Sally's door, but not until
the money had passed into her hands.
the captain left his charge. That's
how the farm came to be bought.
But to this day Sam vows that but
for the ropes that held him during
those moments Of supreme temptation
he would still be cruising on the high
seas as poor as ever.-Chicago Inter-
Ocean,