The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-28
MASTERLY STORIES OF AMERICAN RANCH LIFE :

ShiP. "dS Shiih Ou q NOSh PIT
cisely like that one out there, dream
in and philosser6zin' regardin' life
andsthinks. How is it, was thinkin',
every time l get ashore with my pay
burnin' hole in my leg, l say I'll
never go to sea agin? I'm tired Of
bein' cooped up on a heavin', tossin'
craft, and I'm so blamed glad to get
ashore, / has to celebrate. So that
payday proceeds to keep company
with lots more pay-days, and I'm
broke and longin' for the heave OF a
good ship underfoot agin.
These is in the day of wooden
ships and iron men. You wouldn't
believe what a man ] was them days
-I-well, shipmate, l amt the kind
to boast, or / could tell you sumpin'
Anyways, there warn't no upstairs
nor down-cellar board ship them
times. You was either on deck or
below. And if you told the bucko at
the wheel to please take the first
turn to the left, he'd fly belayin'-
pin at you. There warn't no con-
versation bout right and left That
kinder talk takes all the gumption
out of seafarin'. Fust you. know
this crew of young fellers that's
dom things now will be calm St.
Peter Pete and askin' for the loan
of bit of ehewin'. They amt got
proper respect for nothin'.
"Well, 1 warn't no ses-lawyer for
to be worritin' bout things; but l
amt ct for three days. an though 1
kept a haulin' up on my belt, my
stummick continnered to slack away
like a moorin' cable on the turn Of
the tide; an 1 didn't like that. Phil
osserfzin' don't fill an empty gizzard.
Allover student i looks up, and here
come a square-built female bearin'
down on me on a fair wind.
"Good mornin'P she says.
"''Mornin' ma'am,' says I, eau
tious. Ny pay-day's three days
gone; AM
az hates to disturb you in your
meddertashuns,' says she, but are
you lookin' for BERTH
ayes, ma'am, l is l says, won
derin' if this was some new kinder
game for the benefit of the seafarin'
person.
"'Would you mind tellin' me your
ratin'F says she, very polite.
"'Cook,' says !.
"'Ah, good says she, a clappin' her
hands; Just what l been huntin' for.
An you look like nice man, too.
Thanks, ma'am, says !, blush
n an bowin,, 4 thankee very kind
v; but / amt no land cook. I'm q
'ea cook, and son of sea cook
"'Of course says she, airy, I
Inowed that. Ny 'usban' is the mars
ter of that there bark. an Pm a
pickin' up a crew for him. / want
on'y nice, God-fearin' men sailin'
with my 'usban'. l don't allow no
liquor drinkers board ship. Ny
usban' don't drink nothin' but cocoa
himself. He's that fond of it be
named the ship Cocoa. Foller me,
md sign up, says she.
AN away goes that lady skipper,
ne TOWN. behind like a dingey, to
where a three-masted bark is lynn at
Ter berth.
1.-The skipper stood at the gangway
IS we went aboard, and when he sees
IS he tips his hat an bows. l never
zee that done afore, so I tips my hat,
n l bows. When it come to bein'
,olite, don't allow no Briddisher to
,lanket me.
"'Whom ave we ere? says the
kipper.
1.-The new cook says the lady,
that l just got for you'll
"'And very much obliged says the
kipper, bowin' again, SO l bows and
he lady bows, and we was bobbin'
round there like buoys in channel
i'll the skipper run out his fin and
avs: How do, cook?
81 wipes my hand on my breeches
nd shook hearty. Fine. sir; fine!
avs, thinking to myself this is the
'olitest old man / ever did see.
Cook says the skipper, you look
o me to be as good cook has never
lay me lamps on
THAT amt for me to admit, sir,
eggin' your pardon says /, thinkin
f that poor, foundered stummick of !
nine that was fairly clewed around
~ backbone. But there's one thing
may say: when Pm pa % work.
get at it-where's the galley, sir?
"HOhp he answers, Il wouldn't
mink of maxim 20 turn to now.
axe the rest of :he ay ashore while
on got the chanSt.
"Cap'n,' l says, for me work
ONES fust, pleasure arterward. an
starts for the galley smoke. !
"'A1l right, cookee,' says he, you're
willin' hand-go forrud and get
usy.'
an about five minutes l halter let
vo holes ou'n NV belt. | swallered