Year: 1866

The weather was cold and blustering we
had rounded Cape Horn, and now were rolling
along, under lOSe-reefed topsails and lib, pas:
the dreary Isle of DesolatiOn Mufled in their
great pea-jacketS, the men would walk the
decks briskly, occasionally dancing, sparring,
etc., to keep themselves warm. | used to amu>e
myself for hours watching their movements
from my post of observation on the quarter rail,
where, rolled up in my Exquimaux coat, | low
ed to sit and smoke my ivory pipe, made of a
whale tooth.


Not unfrequently some anxious tar would
come up from the snug forecastle TO take look
at his best Clothes recently washed, and now
whipping about on the line extending across
the deck.


Alas the poor clothes, incapable of keeping
themselves warm by exercise, were all frozen as
stiff as pastebOard; so that their owners must
carry them to the gallery in his half benumbed
fingers, and thaw them by the stove if he wish
ed to have them ready for Sunday.


The captain wife was aboard; she was a
neat little body, with hair combed very smooth,
kind blue eyes, brisk manners, and a sweet
voice. The rough tellows-every man of them
| liked her, and | believe would have gone
through fire and water to serve her; for she was
| always sending forward something nice for them
TO eat, and there was no end to the unexpect-
ed watches below which were accorded them
through her influence. On pleasant days-there
were few Of them lately-she would bring up
| her sewing, and sit near the binnacle chatting
to the man at the wheel, and taking his part
| by coaxing the skipper, in her own peculiar
way, whenever he was disposed to find fault
| with the steering. | remember one delicate
lad of sixteen, with brown hair and a white,
gentle face, who was saved many times from
| the blows of rope end' by the " little la
dy." She seemed to take quite a fancy to this
boy, who hadn't single chum aboard the ship.
In fact he was so reserved, so devoted to
few old books which he had brought with him,
1hat there was no chance for the men to culti-
vate his acquaintance. He seemed well dis
posed, however, never interfered with his ship
mates business, and was always ready to give
away part of his allowance to the man who
was not satisfied with his own.


| Well, as [ said, the little lady'-so ICE
called her-seemed to like the lad. Not one of
the officers dared to say a cross word to him
when she was near. She felt for him sort o.
motherly interest, think, because he had no
body but her to watch over and protect b IN
but he-alas, poor boy he had some of the
feelings of man, young as he was, and so low
ed and cherished her with his whole soul.


One cold, moonlight night, while he wa'
steering, she brought him pair of mitten
which she had made with her own pretty hands
One of these soft hands he kissed by some un
controllable impulse as he took the mittens
but he soon had reason to repent Of his temerl
ty. The captain saw that kiss; furious witt
jealousy, he raved like madman.


What" cried she, Jealous of poor littl
Derrick ?-of a mere boy?"
" lily, ay," he replied, grinding his teeth


but don't believe this is the first of you
| billing and cooling with him"


"How ridiculous u answered the lady; an


by every art in her power she endeavored t
: soothe her angry lord.


For the first time since her marriage she wa


unsuccessful. The captain ordered her int
? the cabin, and shut her up in her own room.
!, And now it Jared hard with poor Derrick
i Day after day, night after night, but with lttl


intermission, he was kept hard at work by th


cruel skipper. Thinner and paler grew the la


every hour l believe the absence of the w


man he loved affected him fully as much as b


hard tasks for be would often glance towar
the auarter-deck, robbed OF that gentle torn


and breathe heavy sghs.


Manv of us demonstrated with the captain
e but he needed us not, and went on overworl
e ING the bow. Soon the sufferer was reduced


a mere Skeletons walking shadow-and the
y the skipper relented little. His victim W
e permitted to go below once in while to re
p himself. lie kept plnlng, however, $r, anu y"
re finally unable to leave his bunk. The I'M
~ ~ were not surprised one morning when the mat
IL entering the forecastle, looked at the sha


white face, the damp brown hair and said tn


the boy was dying


ri Then the captain, struck with remorse, Sc
eh for his wife.


40 What strange power is there in woman
de nandF The moment the little lady's touch


the invalid brow he seemed to revive.
+! A week later he was able to go about


One evening, about month from that tin


during heavy gale, the captains foot slipp
NE while he was on the lee rail-, and he fell Il


the sea, but contrived to cling to the m,


chains. There was his wife, half distract,


begging somebody to save her husband-end


voring to save him herself, periling her o
!. j life for his, but without success.