The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1914-07-30
He Ran Away
to Sea
4 Story of a Fire on the
Ocean
BY LILLIAN WATERMAN

water. there We're frequent cases o
boys who had been reading stories o
life on the ocean running away from
home and going TO sen. These lad
were sometimes the sons Of refined
parents. Usually such boys came baci
I'm few months or a year or two, hui
occasionally one. too proud 10 do Sc
or having nothing TO return to, would
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
10 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
10 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 girl of fifteen. except
among barbnrous nations. being out of
the question. Ben's love for Winifred
was oyertopped by his love for the sea
that is, for the time being. He had
the sense to know that marriage was
part of love In all civilized commune
ties and II he wished to possess Win
fired he must make career for him
self. He was acquainted with the cap
tain of vessel. who had "A family.
and argued that If he went 10 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 certain boys of
the time by running away to become a
sailor His father therefore laid his
plans for taking him into his business
with him.
The idea OF commercial life was
especially repusive TO Ben. The even
ing before he was to enter his fathers
counting room he had 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 n few years good sailor might
become a mate and after awhile cap
tain. Then he would come home and
take her as his wife on a long trip.
The morning after this interview.
when Ben's mother went to his room
10 waken him that he might be prompt
on the first day of his going to bust
ness. she found 1t empty. The blow
had fallen-Ben had decamped. There
was stormy time in the house for
awhile; then the family settled down
10 the belief that the boy had run
away to sea" and his father was not
sure but that 1t would be of service to
him. When he had suffered the hard
knocks of 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 Mt ALL He was not fitted for
A humdrum life and had a natural pre-
of the ocean. the rising and
falling of the ship. the pure air un-
with smoke and smells.
he took the hard knocks cheerfully till
me of the sailors went too far: then
Ben fought battle that excited the
ldmiration OF his shipmates. 1t was
rot either bis strength or his skill
hat was noticeable but that through.
'ut the encounter. from start to finish.
Sen maintained wonderful GOODNESS. II
vas n drawn battle. but furnished a
warming to others that Ben would not ,
rove good person to tamper with. :
More than this, sailors early recog-
lie the quality which in commander
; more valuable than any other and
Without which he cannot successfully ,
That was Ben's wonderful :
elf control. All saw that when the !
oy became a man during those crises >
{ sea when a crew looks instinctively a
or leader Ben would step to the Q
ront. !,
Larawag served two years before I
he mast" then was made third mate s
vessel sailing between New York
nd China. AS an officer be was In his h
cement When be gave an order. ex- v
rpt whom IN great haste he spoke as
nietiy as at other times. He sympa- u
lized with the men under him and s
'ould do their work when they were
nable TO do it themselves. Conse- e
uently he had great influence with e
lem. "
Ben did not write home till he had o
cen at sea long enough to feel sure a
rat he had chosen permanently sail RI
rs life: then he wrote to his father a b
tier explaining that he could not TN k
er the circumstances have bettered "
10 manner of his leaving home. Had