Year: 1879

My story? Well, I don't see why I
shoul i not scratch it down. There's
nothin' to be ashamed of in it, SO far as
I know, and though your regular story
writers mayn't call it romantic" [
think the wind sets that way myself,
and there is a bit of love in it, too,
though you would never think I was a
subject for q love story to look at me-
| Pm old 'nough dye see, to feel safe
about the draft, and brown enough to be
a Hottentot and as for hesh-well no
matter; some of you slim young dandies
will be as stout as 1, if you live as lons.
Besides, that fracas at Gibraltar didn't
improve my looks. I'll tell you about
that before the story is over, reckon :;
at present I'd better heave ahead.


Fat as l am and old as I am, there
was 8 time when I was as slender 3
young fellow IS ever shipped afore the
mast sgin his parents leave. They,
Lord bless 'em ! wanted to make a c0un-
ter Jumper of me, and I tried measuring
rags about year. Then l could not
stand it any longer, and 1 jumped the
old counter for good, and cut and went
to sea. I'd had hankerin' for it q good
while, and the only thing I ever regretted
was the way my poor mother took it to





was one thing.


There was Jenny Blush, old BIush's
only daughter, and the prettiest girl
ever set eyes on. Her skin was lust as
soft and fair as any baby's. As tor her
hair, I've got bit up stairs in my old
desk and though it crossed the ocean
about dozen times; it's so bright now
you'd take IL for q gold chaiu coiled
down under the bit of blue ribbon it's
tied with.


Old Blush was my captain ashore. l
mean to say, he was the head of the big
dry goods store where they first set me to
measuring rags, and Jenny used to come
every day after ribbons and calico and
the like; and, Lord love ye ! don't find
fault with women folks looking after
such things, tho it didn't seem a mans
place to sell 'em she looked mighty fine
when she put 'em on, did Jenny. Father
and old Blush were fast friends, and
when theysfound out that was sweet on
Jenny they put their heads together and
resolved to sanction the match. l was
to be taken into partnership, dye see,
and was to step into the rag business
when the old man stepped out. "Dry
goods, wholesale and retail, " was on the
sign. but I always called 'em rags.


Well, Jenny and I were fond OF each
other, and knew it already; so, the old
folks being agreeable, we saw a good
deal of each other, Sundays and even
iUgs. to say nothing of the errands she
made to the store. And / used to wish
1 could make up my mind to do it and
stay ashO~e; but I could not if I died
for it. I heard the waves beating about
my bed in dreams. I hated the cloth
yard and the scissors so, they made me
i'll, and one night | told Jenny so. She
cried a bit, but by-and-by she owned
she didn't hate me for it, and we talked
of the time when l should be q captain.
and she could make every voyage with
me, and have q cabin like a parlor to
herself.


Then she let me kiss her. P'raps she
kissed me back; and I cut of the yellow
curl told you OF, with pair of scissors
the only pleasant job | ever had with
the confounded things in ali my life.


That night ran away, and though I
blubbered like a bsby when I passed
mothers door, you couldn't have coaxed
me back again. What Il man wsnt'. 70
be he will be and there are men meant
from their cradles for the wster as sartiu
SIS the fish are.


I got s letter from old NANNY that
cut me up, and L don't deny but I
knew she'd come round, and I didn't
guess the worst-hOW should I? When
it came to me that a man who sold rags
was better than sailor it took nv breath
away. This was when I FIST went home,
dye see Mamma she scolded and cried
and kissed me but Margaret, Melinda
and brother Charles Augustus pitched
into me feTocious. Says they: d" You've
disgrsced your famiiy-we have been
respectable genteel folks all our lives
and now we are TO have q common sailor
for & brother !" I Csught it-a regular
gale and father put in his oar regarding
disobedience. When that came I cleared
out and marched over to old BIush's.
Nobody was at home but Jenny, and she
ran into my arms. Well, We were billin'
and cOOin,' as sweethesrts mostly do, 1
reckon, when old Blush came home to
tea. never heard a gale Of wind roar
louder than he did when he saw me.


" What do you want here. sir2 says
he.