The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-19
A MODERN ULYSSES.
How Homecoming Jack Passed tine s'rems
nH New York and Bought Q Farm.

OF the temptations that beset the home
coming Jack; Of his weakness in the race OF
them, and OF the Ulyssean measures wmch
| one old salt, made wise by many SAD eh.
| perienoes, employed to secure himself
against the song OF TIE Sirens, naval
officer of high rank has this story to tell:
There was an old boa tswain named Sam
on board the last ship which this ofncer
commanded before going on shore uuty'
Sam had served his country some thuty
years when his last cruise took hun 70 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 wouiS
be paid over TO MIN as soon as tine snip
reached New York
One evening just before the home shore
was sighted the Captain was on the quarter
deck when Sam approached him. tuggnS
his old-fashioned forelock and scraping
with his foot as he bowed. He was an
old favorite and could get an audience
at any time.
Wen soon be home, Cap'n. ne began.
Right you are, Sammy, and l suppose
you II be happy to get rest at iast'
Maybe ! ann and maybe aint-there .
my sister Sally" at,
wen, won you De gao 10 see nei
Maybe will and maybe l wont-there
the $500 coming to me- :,
"The more welcome you should be,
| Sammy"
"Ya-as; and Sally wants me to buy
F., farm and stay home -,
Splendid idea, Sammy. I'm sure you IL
| end as a bloat. d landholder."
"Ya-as; but there's New York tween
Sally and the money
"And what OF it?"
SWELL, you know, New York liz a pretty
fine city and--and I've been gone burned
long time and-if I get through New York
with any money left, thatn be the first
| time In my experience
The Captain understood
-How far away does Sally liver he
| asked.
4Thirty-five miles, Cep'n,"
Cant you get there without passing
| New York;"
Cant be done, Cap'n, and that's just the
rub" g,
aIt's the worst blankety-blank thing 1
ever heard Of" remarked the Captain re-
| proachfully that an old seasoned, sensible
| chap like you must he so weak"
ats ships length beyond all excuse,
the old man admitted in mournful tone.
But I can't help it, Capn. suppose III
| in the land air."
The Captain was thinking hard.
How would it be for me to send an offi-
Ger with you through the city,
That's terribly kind o you. Cap'n but
there amt no man strong enough IN the
navy to hold me when l feel the smell OF
the grogshops"
II shall 70 with you myself" the Cap
tain declared.
sam shifted from one foot TO the other
and looked indescribably unhappy
I'm afeerd.-" he began.
| aIll take you in carriage-a closed one.
! God bless you, Cap,n, but In be blamed
Then I'll be DANCED II know what &c
do for you the Captain concluded In
-fhere 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
aS'pOsing YOU went with me In a car.
riage--and the carriage was closed
the old man was twisting about az 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 guess I might get through
with the money
The old mans plan was carried out &c
the letter. He begged and prayed and
swore while the carriage was passing
through the streets Of New York, but, like
Ulysses tied to the mast he was helpless.
and the Captain remained as deaf to the old
fellows entreaties and outbursts of pro-
family as If his ears had been filed with
wax, like those of the Ulyssean crew.
Once beyond the city, Sam Gained 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 mo.
ments OF supreme temptation. he would
still be cruising on the high seas, as poor
| "a aver.