Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-10-08
cHAPTER II.-con.lnued.

CHAPTER iI.-Continued.
disremember which port-some-
where's up the ST. Lawrence where VIC
loaded lumber for the Gulf O. Mexico.
but the captain and me was away fish
ing Mother had come from the Lab
rador to find me, old gray mother. She
put on her round horn spectaclos to
smile at the mate aft, and the second
mate forward, the Urinary seaman
painting In the name board, and Bill
In his bos'n's chair a-tarrlng down the
rigging. and the bumboat laundress
who'd been tearing the old mans
shirtfronts. She just sat happy at the
sight OF the Pawnticket. and she cure
iy admired everything, from Old Glory
TO Blue Peter--until our nigger cook
came and spilled Stops oversize.
Seems he'd had news OF the lady. and
came to grin but was back in his gal
isy. like rabbit to his borrow, while
she marched up the gangway. Can't
abide dirt" says mother. and even the
new BOY heard not word else cept
the splash For mother just escarted
that Niger right through the galley,
out at the other end. over the port
rail. and boosted him into the blue
harbor, for the drst and only bath
he'd ever had Then she took OFF her
horn spectacles. her old buckskin
gloves, and her bonnet. and sot TO
cleaning a galley which hadn't keen
washed since the days OF President
Lincoln. She hadn't time to listen to
the wet niger or the mate, and rarry
a man on board could get more lhan
yea or nay out OF mother. She
cooked them supper too good TO be
eaten and spoilt. then set the dishes
10 rights. got the lamp a-shlning. and
axed 10 be shown round the ship.
The cap'n and me comes back alchg
with the dinghy, makes fast. and
climbs aboard. There's old gray moth
er, with the horn specs. calm In her
own kitchen. just telliL us to set right
down to supper Cap'n ives aft. and I
belongs up forrard. oaing Ordinary
seaman. and less important aboard
than the old mans pig. Get somehow
mother knew, feeding us both in the
galley, and standing by while we fed.
Never a word, but mother had light
for Captain Smiths cigas, and her
eyes looking hungry at nv for fear
she'd be sent ashore.
We'll. ma'am.' says the captain,
sent your baggage aft? al. wen
soon get your baggage aboa.ai."
Then heard him on decG seeing
mothers dunnage into the spa serth
aft, aud the nigger's turkey brown
cut on the wharf.
Sort OF strange to me remembering
mother, gaunt. hitter-hard alwSys In
the right, with lots to say AND here
WAS little mother soothing her lAart
out on the breast 7f my Jersey lust
the same mother changed Said .le
was fed up with the Labrador, com ug
away to see the world. meet folks, nd
have good time: but would ~
ashamed of having her with NE y.
sea?
Shamed? All the ways down u
Joe Beef's clear to Rimouski you L
hear that yarn today, Of how tho oIa
sea custom of winning berth IN fasr
fight was practiced by q lady aboard
pf the Pawntieket
You've heard of ships husbands
nut we'd the FIRST ships mother And
che way she crep In was surely insidl
Gus. Good word that. She's got Il
DO queen. and the schooner's seo
palace. when we suddenly discovered
she only signed as cook.
Now we're asleep at eleven knots
on beam wind, and Key West wide
an the starhoard bow. the same being
I'm the second doE-watch when I'm IN
Tited aft There's the old man settinr
IN the captains palace, there's moIher
At the head of the table sewing. anC
she asks me TO SIT in the mates seal
rs IL was chief officer instead o.
masters dog
Son" says she-queer. little, s.d
cAauckle. son. Youn never guess
was sort OF suiky at having s4de,
put.
Then the old man gets I'D y IN,
gills. glggling He slaps hNseif OF
his fat knee and wriggLs. then h,
mp and kisses moth,c nth biz
smack right on the Ups.
Can't guess" g.ys nother.
I'm the old M he giggles. she
the old woman Tlen he rec lned g.,
his paw, "Px. Sgt there. soni" say
he: what's yea name. boy?"
He'd bad like bear traI
s'SmNhlL | suaealed Smith"