Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-12-11

water. there were frequent cases OF
boys who had been reading stories of
life on the ocean running away from
home and going to sea. These lads
were sometimes the sons OF refined
parents. Usually such boys came back
in few months or year or two. but
occasionally one, too proud to do so
spend his life in the career in which
he had started.
Ben Laraway at sixteen was as hard
to keep down in a proper gait as the
cover of boiling pot. He was effer-
veScing with number OF sensations
Two of these seemed to be incompat
ible. He was in love. and he wished
to go to sea. Winifred Carlisle aged
fifteen, was the object of Ben's affec-
ton. and. to make matters worse. she
considered herself very much in love
with Ben. To tell the truth. Ben was
especially attractive to the girl. His
face was one that artists would love
to paint He had no sense of fear
and was the leader OF all the mischief
practiced in the town where he lived.
Anything serious between a boy of
sixteen and a girl of fifteen. except
among barbarous nations. being out of
the question. Ben's love for Winifred
was overtopped by his love for the sea
that is, for the time being. He had
the sense to know that marriage was
a part of love in all civilized communi-
ties and If he wished to possess Win
fired he must make a career for him
self. He was acquainted with the cap
tain of vessel, who had a family,
and argued that if he went to sea he
might also in due time become cap
tain.
Ben was known TO have SUCH strong
predictions for a sailors life that
his parents had some fear he might
follow the example Of cert;sn boys of
the time by running away to become
sailor His father therefore laid his
plans for taking him into his business
with him.
The idea of a commercial life was
especially repulsive to Ben. The even
ing before he was to enter his fathers
counting room he had a meeting with
Winifred. in which the two went
through all those emotions, pledges of
undying affection and hopes and fears
of lovers old enough seriously to think
about such things. However. theirs
was a case of real love and one des-
tined to last with both of them, for
neither ever loved any other. Ben told
Winifred that he was going to run
away and go to sea; that he had heard
that in a few years a good sailor might
become a mate and after awhile cap
tain. Then be would come home and
take her as his wife on long trip.
The morning after this interview.
when Ben's mother went to his room
TO waken him that he might be prompt
on the first day of his going to bust
ness, she found it empty. "he blow
had faIlen-Ben had dacamped. There
was a stormy time in the house for
awhile: then the family settled down
to the belief that the boy had run
away to sea-" and his father was not
sure but that it would be of service to
him. When he had suffered the hard
knocks of a cabin boy for awhile he
would write home for money on which
to return, and, after having the non
sense beaten out of him, he would be
to live an ordinary life.
But Ben Laraway was not that kind
If boy at all. He was not fitted for
, humdrum life and had a natural pre-
disposition for rowing. He loved the |
immensely of the ocean, the rising and !
falling of the ship. the pure air I'M !
,onta minated with smoke and smells. !
he took the hard knocks cheerfully till |
)ne of the sailors went too far; then !
Ben fought a battle that excited the |
admiration of his shipmates. 1t was !
not either his strength or his skill |
hat was noticeable. but that through
,ut the encounter, from start to finish.
3e3 maintained wonderful GOODNESS. 1t
vas a drawn battle, but furnished
to others that Ben would not
rove a good person to tamper with.
More than this, sailors early recog-
lize the quality which in a commander
$ more valuable than any other and
Without which he cannot successfully
That was Ben's wonderful
elf control. All saw that when the
10Y became a man during those crises
{ sea when q crew looks instinctively
or a leader Ben would step to the
ront.
Laraway served two years before
he mast" then was made third mate
f vessel sailing between New York
nd China. AS an officer he was in his
lement. When he gave an order, ex-
ept when in great haste, he spoke as
uietly as at other tines He synlpa-
hized with the men under him and
you'd do their work when they were
nable 10 do It themselves. Conse-
uentIy he had great influence WITH
hem. i
Ben did not write home till he had
cen at sea long enough 10 feet sure
bat he had chosen permanently a sail |
RS life; then he wrote to his father a
stter explaining that he could not IN
or the circumstances have bettered .
L.. Ill