Year: 1860

Romance Portland (Malne.) AdUertise


of last week relates the following story,


"When the Royal British squadron Ia,
at anchor in our harbor, not only our owl
citizens but hundreds from the interio
towns of our country went on board to ex
anime the rare sight to them of first
class sbip-ofwar, with her armament, anc
crew of nearly niue hundred persons iuclu
ding officers.


"One day, as resident of one of the
interior towns in this country, about twelve
miles from Portland, was looking about be-
low decks, and seeing here sailor stretch.
ed on the hard plank sleeping as soundly
as if his bed were of sof;est down, there
another coiled upon gun with a harder
iron fora pillow, while others were reading
by the dim light of lamp, or busy in the
unsex-like act of plying the needle, as our
rural friend, looking around, saw all these
strange sights, he was surprised to see one
of Her Majestys sailors step out from his
mess, hold out his hand "for shake" and
call him by name. He. of course, return
ed the recognition, but utterly al loss to
know how sailor down between the decks
of British man of-war should know him
and the town where he resided. Walking
little aside, the sailor soon told his story
which, in brief, was this: Some Ii years
since or more, he became possessed with
desire to "see the world" and left the old
homestead, which was not a great distance
from that of the visitor and in the same
town. He shipped on board vessel, and
after several voyages arrived in England.
Here, as usual, Jack had to live ashore,
and one night joined his companion sin a
SPREE" The oblivion of liquor threw its
spell over his brain, and when he awoke
to sobriety and Consciousness, he found
himself on board a British man war
He claimed 20 be an American, but his
plea only led them to set closer watch
upon him.


For twelve long and varied years be had
served on board of various ships of war,
and now, when within twelve or fifteen
miles of his boyhood's home, the love of
its old hearthstons, its familiar trees and
well known hill sides, all conspired to give
him courage to revisit them, which he had
often resolved TO carry out, but never had
found fitting opportunity.


A few hours after this interview, there
might have been seen down below the Or
lop deck of that ship, two persons, one of
whom appeared 10 be in the act of dives
ting himself of his clothes, but seemed to
have an extra suit under his external cover
ing. Near him was sailor, who, in less
time than We can tell it, was stripped of
his man-of-war rig, and stood forth from
his dark hole in down east suit of frock-
coat and land lubber boots. Pulling a
pair of Yankee shoes from one pocket, and
Kossuth hat somewhat jammed from the
other, Her Majesty's sailor walked up the
gangway a genuine Yankee in dress as
well as in blood.


To pass the marine guard at the ships
gang way, with the crowd similarly attir-
ed, was an easy task for the two townsmen;
and once on shore they made direct for
their homes-tEe wanderer of many years
content to remain among his own native
hills, in one Of the most quiet but beautiful
towns in Cumberland county, thoroughly
cured of his love of wandering to see the
world.