The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-09-05
CHAPTER n,
The Happy Ship.

one oh th2 LeoLHtok SLSgs. 2uiiu9SS
ed be ashore talkin' predestihation
an grace out of book o KEEP in Is
berth, but never word about t1sh or
the state of the ice Mother'd been
raised to a belief In Christians, so
when Nose dropped in at her shack,
admirin" how she cooked, she'd be
pleased all up the back, and have him
right in to dinner. He'd kiss me,
talkin' soft about little children. Yes.
That's how e got me away to sea as
Coy on a sealin' voyage, without pay
ing me any wages.
Mother never knew what Cap'n
Nose was like on weekdays, and Sun
day didn't happen aboard of the Zede-
kiah. l remember hidin' away at the
back of Ole Olesou's bunk, axing God
please to turn me into an animal Any
sort would do, because seen men
kind to animals. You know an animal
mostly consists of pure heart, and
four legs. which is a great advantage.
Queer world though, if all our preyers
was granted.
Belay thar. A man sets out TO tell
adventures, and If his victims don't
find some excuse for getting absent,
he owes them all the happiness he's
got It's mean to hand out sorrow to
persons bearing their full share al
ready. So we proceeds to the night
when l ran from the Zedekiah, and
Joined the Happy Ship.
We lay in the big ice pack off Cape
Breton. The Zedekiah was old, just
paint an punk, and she did surely
groan to the thrust Of the pack. was
too scared to sleep, so went up on
deck.
I'd allus watched for a chance to
run away, and thar was Jim, the an
chor-watch. squatting ON the bits
dead asleep. He used to be that way
when nobody chased him.
seen the lights of the three-maeted
schooner a couple of miles to wind
ward. l grabbed a sealing gaff and
slid down on the ice
First, as the pans rocked under me,
l was scary, next I warmed, gettin'
venturesome, until l came near slid
ing into the wet and after that I'd
look before lep'.
You know how the grinding piles
splinters? That edge shone white
agin the black OF the water, all the
guide had. But times the squalls Of
wind was likes scythes edged with
sleet, 80 l was blinded. waiting, freez-
ing untn lul1 came, and I'd get on.
1t was broad day, and reckon each
step weighed a ton before ! made
that schooner.
A gray man, fat with chin vlfs-
ker, lifted me in oversize. Come
fart" says he, and turned round to
show him the Zedekiah. She wasn't
there. She was gone-foundered
So that's how I came aboard Of the
Happy Ship, just like Ill lost dog,
with no room in my skin for more'n
bones and famine. Captain Smith
used to say he'd signed me on as fam
lily ghost; but he paid me honest
wages, fed me honest grub, while as
to clothes and bed, was snug as a
little rabbit. He taught me reading
and writing. and punctuation with his
belt, sums, hand, reef, and steer, cate
chism, knots and spices, sewing. sque-
gee, rule OF the road, eoojie moojie,
psalms of David, constitution of the
United States, and playing the from,
bone, with three pills and good lich
ing regular Saturday nights. Mothers
little boy began to set up and take no.
tice.
The five years in the Pawtncket all
along, from Montreal to Colon, from
banjos plunking in them portales of
Vera Cruz, to bugles crying reva.Iy in
Quebec, and the oyster boats asleep
by Old Point Comfort, and the Glouces-
ter fleet a-storming home past Sable.
and dagos basking ON Havana quaye.
Suck oranges in the dinghy under the
moonlight, waiting TO help the old man
aboard when he's drunk If ever he
went ashore without me, I'd be like
a lost dog, and he drunk before tha
sun was over the yardarm. But away
together it wasn't master and boy, but
Just father and son. He'd even named
me after himself and that's why ux
Hame's Smith.
! disremember which port-some-
where's up the St Lawrence where va
loaded lumber for the Gulf o. Mexico,
but the captain and me was awsy nah-
ing. Mother had come from the Lab.
rador to find me, old gray motheR Sha
put ON her round horn spectacles to
smile at the mate al, and the second
mate forward, the oTnary seaman
painting in the name board. and Bin
in hts bos'n's chair ataTrtng down the
rigging. and the bumboat lanndrsss
who'd been tearing the old mans
shirtfronts- She tust sat happy at tina
sight of the Pawnticket, and she sure.
1y admired everything. from Old Glory
10 Blue Peter-unti1 our Niger cook
came and spilled siups o~erside.
Sesms he'd had news ot the lady, and
came to grin but was bach tn his gai-
lex Hike q rabbit to his borrow, while