Year: 1865

hO W OO1 n IL IN d h1Sh
WIFE.


One little act of politeness viii sometimes
pave the way to fortune and preferment, as
the following sketch will illustrate:
A sailor, roughly garbed, was saunteripg
through the streets of New Orleans, then
in rather damp condition from the recent
rain and the rise Of tide. Turning the cor
ner of much frequented alley, he observ-
ed young lady standing in a perplexity,
apparently measuring the depth of the mud
dy water between her and the opposite side
walk with no very satisfied countenance.


The sailor paused for he was a great adj
mirer of beauty; and certainly the talr face
that peeped from under the chip hat, au
burn curls hanging closely and unconfined
over her muslin dress, might tempt curl
Gus and admiring glance. Perplexed, the
lady put forth one little foot, when the gal
liant sailor, with characteristic impulsiveness,
quickly exclaimed:


That pretty foot lady, should not be
soied with the filth of this lane; wait for
moment only, and / viii make you path -


So, springing past her into carpenter
shop opposite, he barganed for a plank
board that stood in the doorway, and com
ing back to the smiling fgirl, who was just
coquetish enough to accept the services of
the handsome young sailor, he bridged the
narrow black stream, and she trlpped across
with merry thank you'll and roguish
smile making her eyes as dazzling as they
could be.


Alas! our young sailor was perfectly
charmed. What else could make him catch
up and shoulder the plank, and follow the
little witch through the streets to her home.
She twice performed the ceremony of walk
ing the plank" each time thanking him
with one Of her eloquent smiles Presently
our young hero saw the young lady trip up
the marble steps of palatial mansion, and
disappear within It's rosewood entrance.
For full moment he stood looking at the
door, and then, with wonderful big sigh,
turned away, disposed of his draw bridge,
and returned to his ship.


The next day he was astonished with an
order of promotion from the captain. Poor
Jack was speechess with amazement. He
had not dreamed of being exalted to the
dignity of second mate on board one of the
most splendid ships that sailed out of the
port of New Orleans. He knew he was
competent for instead of spending his mon
ey for amusements, visiting theatres and
bowling alleys on his return from sea, he
purchased books and became quite stu
dent; but he expected years to intervene
before his ambitious hopes would be real
lied .-..


His superior officers seemed to look upon
him with considerable leniency, and gave
him many fair opportunity OF gathering
marine knowledge, and IN year the hand
some, gentlemanly ly young mate had acquired
unusual favor in the eyes of the portly COM
mander, Captain Hume, who had first taken
the smart little back-eyed fellow as cabin
boy.


One night the young man, with all the
officers, was invited to an entertainment at
the Captains house. He went, and to his
astonishment, mounted the identical steps
up which two years ago had tripped the
bright vision he had never forgotten. Thump
went his brave heart, as he was ushered IN
to the great parlor; and like sledge-ham-
mer it beat again, when Captain Hume in
troduced his blue-eyed daughter, with
pleasant smile as .'the yowng lady indebt-
ed to your politeness for safe and dry walk
home" His eyes were all a-blaze, and his
brown cheek flushed hotly, as the noble cap
tain sauntered away, leaving fair Grace
Hume at his side. And in all that assembly
there was not so handsome a couple as the
gallant sailor and the pretty ladie. y


1t was only year from that time the sec
ond mate trod the quarterback, second only
in command and part ownerwith the captain,
not only in his vessel but In the affections
of his daughter, gentle Grace Hume, who
had always cherished respect, to say moth
ing of love for the bright eyed sailor


The homely but earnest act of pohteness
towards his child had pleased the captain,
and though the youth knew it not, was the
cause of his first promotion. So that now
the old man has retired from business Har-
ry Wells is Captain Wells, and Grace Hume,
according to polite parlance, Mrs. Captain
Wells. In fact, our honest sailor is one of
the richest men in the crescent city, and he
owes, perhaps, the greatest part of bis pros
perity to his tact and politeness in aiding
lady to cross dry rshod over muddy street.