Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-01-09

-yit. But he will be If he amt fetch.
ed up pretty sudden. Course know
what he needs is to be made to mind
fust and then preached to afterwards
And know that naturally I'm the one
that ought to do it, but l jest can't
there. II should start out to give
him the dressin' down he needs I'd
be thinkin' Of his mother every min.
nte and how I promised to treat him
gentle and not be cross to him. But
somethin's got to be done, and II You
can help me out any way I'll never
forgit 1t, Fri"
Captain Fri scratched his chin.
"Humphw he grunted refectively
He couldn't git into the navy; he's
too young. More likely to be stow
away ON a merchantman and then
roustabout on a cattle boat or some
such thing. Even If he lied bout his
age and did git to be sort Of ships
boy Oh sailin' vessel, you and ME
know what that means nowadays. l
presume likely 'twOuld end in his bein'
killed in some rumshop scrimmage lat
er OH. Let-me-see. Bound to be a
sailor, Is he?"
"He's dead sot on II"
"More fool he. Comes from readin'
them ridiculous story books, s'pose.
He amt been on the water much sence
he's been down here, has hep
"NOt mOre'n once or twice, except In
dory goin' to the beach or somethin'
like that"
"That's so; that's what l thought.
Well, Perez, I'll tell you. The boy does
need breakin' in, that's a fact. and l
think maybe l could do it. could use
a young feller OH my boat; to go cod.
din with me, l mean. Let me have
| the boy under me-nO meddlin' from
| anybody-for couple Of months. Let
him sign reg'lar articles and ship long
Of me for that time. Maybe l could
make il white man Of him."
81 don't b'lieve he'd do it."
81 caPlate could talk him into It.
| There's some butter on my tongue
when it's necessary"
You'd have to promise not to lay a
hand OH him in anger. That's what l
promised his mother"
"All right, l promise 1t now. That's
all right. Perez. You and me are old
sh:pmates and bound to help each 9TH
er out. Just trust him to me, and
don't ask too many questions. Is 1t a
tr.Ie? Good. Shake"
They shoai hands on 1t. and then
Capta:a Erl went in to talk to the un-
rccJaci.pi runaway. That young gem
t,eraau. fresh from his triumph over
his ,rt.e. 1T first refused to have any
th.u- II 90 with the scheme. He
wasn't gong to be Il "cheap guy fish
erlaan:" he was going into the navy.
Tie captain did not attempt to urge
HIN. neither did he preach or patron
ize. He simply leaned back in the
rocker and began spinning sailor yarns.
| He told OF all sorts of adventures IN
| all climates and with all sorts Of peO-
pie. He had seen everything under
| the sun apparently, and. according to
him, there was no life so free and void
| of all restraint as that of an able sea-
man on a merchant ship, or, prefera-
bly,, on fisherman, but one point he
made clear, and that was that unless
the applicant had had previous train
| ing his lot was likely to be an unhap-
py one.
"Of course" he said as he rose to 60,
1T was my idea to sort of train you
I'D SOS you could be ready when twas
time to ship, but longs you don't want
to, why, it's all or"
"I'n 60 with you, cap" said Josiah,
whose eyes were shining.
Good! That's the talk! You might
as well sign articles right away. Wait
till git 'em ready"
He brought pen, ink and paper and
proceeded to indite a formidable dOcu'
ment to the effect that Josiah Bart.
lett, able seaman" was to ship aboard
the catboat Mary Ellen for a term OF
two months. Wages, S. month.
"You see." he said, 1--WE put you
down as able seaman cause that's
what you'll be when git through with
you. Now sign"
So Josiah signed, and then Captain
Eri affixed his own signature with q
flourish.
"Therew exclaimed the captain,
bringing his big palm down on the
back Of the liable seaman" with q
thump that brought water into the eyes
Of that proud youth. you're my man,
shipmate. We sail tomorrer mornin'
at 4, rain or shine. I'll call you a
quarter Of. Be ready"