Year: 1879

appointment, they went the next day to


the port, and there, incog., the General


and future President sought among the


various offices and river captains of the


dock for the position of cabin-boy for


his son. The search was not a very


long one, but sufficient to show to both


father ard son all the disagreeable feat


lures of the low class of characters who


haunted the decks of the Mississippi


River ports in the old -bellum days.


The young man was bound out for two


years to the Captain of one of the small


crafts. The parting scene between


father and son did not display half the


feeling that either felt, but both bore up


we'll under the pressure. The ex.Presi-


dent departed for his hotel to remain


during the night, and the next day re-


turned to his home.'


"Well, how did Dick enjoy his new


life?" asked, much interested, as the


narrator paused.


"He dind't like it at all. He had


never been used to much restraint, and


had been used to giving orders rather


than obeying them. To have his supe-


riors order him about came very hard


and, once or twice, when he didn't obey


just as fast as he should have done, he


was assisted with kick. He had come


to the ship with fine clothes on, and he


was twitted of being an aristocrat, and


it was strongly limited that he had been


forced to come because his father had


lost his property. This, of course, net


tied Dick, and he came very near hav-


ing several fights on account of these


taunts. He gained some reputation


with the rough men of the boat, finally,


however, by thrashing fellow much


older and larger than himself. The first
trip was to St. Louis and back; and it
was not half over before he was COM


pletely tired of water, and made up his
mind to leave it at the first opportunity.


He very soon had the ague in its sever


est form, and, receiving no sympathy
from his companions, was compelled to


work in tae intervals between his


shaking fits. They told him he


wouldn't shake when he got a


little used to it. This was very


poor consolation, and did not by any


means have a tendency to make Dick


love the life of q. sailor. In this way


things went on from bad to worse dur


ing the whole trip. Dick would have


attempted to leave the ship, but then he


would invariably think of his being


bound out by his father, and expected


he would have to stay. At length,


ho weyer, the boat returned to the port


from which it started, and was bound


for New Orleans. When it touched the


dock it was after dark in the evening,


and Dick had already made up his


mind to leave. He carried his determi-


nation into execution, and was success


full in getting clear Of the ship. The
} walk across the country for some 10
miles to his home was the work of the
night, and the next morning he ap-
peared before his father. The latter, in
his Joy at having cured Dick of his in
tention of being sailor, was glad


enough to welcome him back. They
visited the port again in a few days,
when it was expected that the vessel
. would return, and, by the payment of a
, reasonable sum, the papers of indent.
ure were Cancelled" &
"Was Dick entirely weaned of the
{ sea by this adventure?" asked.


, "Well, can hardly say he was. But
r he never talked any thing more of going
? to sea as sailor. He always has loved
: to sail on the ocean, aud told me once
! that he would much rather command s
naval battle than battle on the soliG
, land"


The old gentleman continued his con
versation on various matters connected
r with the ex-President's family, and in
( sisted that Gen. Dick was the most chiv
: alrous commander in the late War.


y "On one occasion, when a number 0
! Union prisoners were brought to hin
0 separately to be questioned in regard t
s the strength of the Union hosts, he wa
q astonished to learn that the severes
:. cross questioning would not elicit an
: thing. Finally he gave orders to hi
l. Adjutant for the whole batch to b
y paroled, saying that men who would nc
IS reveal the strength of their own fore
d when placed under such pressure woul
not violate their word of honor in regar
/. to parole. There was one man wh
o was brought in soon after, having bee
l. taken as straggler, and he pretende
D. to tell all he knew about the strength
It the Union lines. take this man as
n rectly as possible to Andersonville, WI
le the order; 'a man who is so ready
IS divulge the secrets of his own camp d