Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

THE MASTER AND THE REAPERS. The master called to his reapers: “Mate scythe and sickle keen, And bring me the grain from the uplands, And the grass from the meadows green; And from off the mist-clad marshes. , Where the salt waves fret and foam, Ye shall gather the rustling sedges To furnish the harvest-home.” Then the laborers cried: “O master, We will bring thee the yellow grain That waves on theVindy hillside, And the tender grass from the plain; But that which springs on the marshes Is dry and harsh and thin, Unlike the sweet field grasses, So we will not gather it in.” But the master said: “O foolish! For many a weary day, Through storm and drought, ye have labored For the grain and the fragrant hay. The generous earth is fruitful, And breezes of summer blow 1 Where these, in tho sun and the dews of heaven, Have ripened soft and slow. ‘But out on the wide bleak marshland Hath never a plow been set, And with rapine and rage of hungry waves The shivering soil is wet. There flower the pale green sedges, And the tides that ebb and flow, And the biting breath of the sea-wind, Are the only care they know. , “They have drunken of bitter waters, Their food hath been sharp sea-sand, And yet they have yielded a harvest Unto the master’s baud. So shall ye all, O reapers, Honor them now the more, • And garner in gladness, with songs of praise, The grass from the desolate shore.” —Zoe Dana Underhill, in Harper . THE CAPTAIN'S PLOT. A STORY OF THE SEA. “God’s ways are full of mystery,” and no one realizes the truth of the quota¬ tion more than the men who go down to sea in ships. My fifteenth birthday found me an orphan and a waif jn the streets of New Orleans. I had runaway from a farmer in Illinois to whom I was bound, and by hook and crook had reached the great town on the Father of Waters. I had been living a precarious life for a month when the proprietor of an oyster house gave me a job. It was part of my work to open the oysters con¬ sumed in the place, and this portion was done in a little room just in rear of some private stalls or compartments. The stalls fronted the public room, of course, and were intended for parties who de¬ sired privacy while eating a stew or drinking all a glass of wine. 1 could hear that was said in two of them, as the partitions were only cloth; but I had been in the place two weeks before any¬ either. thing of interest was while* dropped from One evening I was at -work two men entered one of the stalls, devoured a stew, and drank some grog, and, after lighting cigars, entered upon a conversation which at once attracted my attention. “Well, have you got it all fixed?” asked one. stood,” “Everything ship-shape and under¬ replied the other. “She is insured?” i “Way up.” “And no suspicions?” “Not a one.” " “We take machinery to Rio Janeiro?” “Yes. That and other stuff.” 1 “And bring back sugar and coffee?” “Yes, if we return.” j “What do we get?” “Three thousand apiece.” “Well, I don’t like it, but I'm in with you. She’s to go down off the Guinea coast, eh?” “Yes, down that way.” hands “Spring a leak the and founder, and all take to boats, 1 suppose?” “That’s the plan.” “Well, here’s success to it. The Al¬ batross is a good old craft, and I hate to see her go, but one must look out for himself.” “Aye! mate, that’s Gospel truth. That’s what you and me are going to do now. It’ll come from the rich insurance companies, and no one will be the poorer.” “And trust Williams hand we can to over our divvy?” “He’s square. He’s got to be square.” I was a green couptry boy, but I caught and on they to their talk. planning They the were loss sail¬ ors, were of a ship to get the insurance. I rose up and found a hole in the cloth through which I could get a look at them. They talked a bit more and then went out, and within twelve hours one of the mysteries oc¬ curred. A boy who had formerly worked for the restaurant, and who had fallen sick, recovered sufficiently to displace me, and I was cast adrift again with only four bits in my purse. The next day nut one, as I entered a tavern on the levee in hopes to find something to do, the proprietor gave me a cordial welcome, with a dinner, and at last got around to say: “Now, my boy, I feel like a father to you. I do indeed. You have had a hard time, and you have been full o’ . pluck. I’m interested in seeing you do well, and have got a nice place for you. My brother, who is the best man in the world, is a sea captain, and he wants a good boy to sail with him.” . “But I was never on a ship,” I pro¬ tested. “Of course not, but that makes no difference. You will have a nice little room to yourself, live like a,prince, and as f° r work, all you will have to do will be to hand the Captain his spyglass when a sll, 'P comes in sight.” I had no desire to go to sea. Indeed, I had a dread of it; but in half an hour he had won me over, and that afternoon I was sent off to the ship in company with several sailors. In two hours after coming her aboard she and started down the river on trip, ft was only then that I got my eyes opened. There was such a hubbub aboard that I had not paid particular attention to officers or men, but all of a sudden I discovered that the captain and mate were the very two men I had seen and overheard in the oyster booth. Then I a9ked the name of the ship, and learned that it was the Albatross. I was greatly troubled, or would have been if left to myself. We were hardly in tow of the tug before the first mate, whose name was McCoy, came upon me with a rope’s end and a terrible curse, and exclaimed: “Now, then, stir your stumps or I’ll break every bone in your body. Did you come aboard to play young gentle¬ man?” That was the beginning. I had been shipped, not as a cabin boy, for there was dog, no place for one, but as a ship’s a boy who must come and go at every¬ body’s call, and wiio could be kicked and cuffed by everybody. According to the novelist, I should have found a stanch friend in the fo’castle, a Jack Bolt or Ben Brace, who would take me under his wing and offer to fight the whole ship iD my behalf, but nothing of the kind happened. Most of the crew were Dagoes, and no one showed me the slightest pity. When we had been out four days I began to feel very anxious about the safety of the ship. The plan was, as I overheard it, to take to the boats, and it suddenly occurred to me that they would refuse to take me with them. I suppose I got this idea from the men telling me that I was no good, and that I ought to be flung overboard, and other expressions intended to upset me. You can judge how green I was by what followed. I was in McCoy’s watch, and on tho night of the fourth day, as he seemed to soften up a bit when giving me an order, I made bold to say: Mr. McCoy, when you get ready to have the ship go down, you won’t leave me to drown, will you?” “W—what?” he gasped, as he stag¬ gered back like one shot. In ten minutes he had it all out of me, and he stood before me pale-faced and trembling. When he had made sure that I had not said anything to any of the crew, he took me aft and locked me up in a stateroom designed for the super¬ cargo. Next morning I was taken to the cabin and questioned by the Cap¬ tain and mate and returned to my prison. They were not harsh with me* but on the contrary, promised that I should go in the Captain’s own boat, and that I need not work any more. I was made cabin boy, and was warned, that if I dropped 1 should be one flung single word to any person to the sharks at once. They could trust me. Simple Simon that I was, I cared only to save myself when the hour came. I could not real¬ ize that the scuttling of a ship was any¬ thing more than a sharp trick. For all I knew, it was practised every day in the year. One day when we had been out about two weeks, as near as I can remember, I was for something sent to help wanted the second mate look from the lazarette. His name was Elderson, and he was the only one aboard who had a friendly look. He had spoken to me kindly two or three time3, and I felt that he was a friend. We were scarcely alone when he took from his pocket a box of sulphur matches, a fishline and several hooks, and a large pocket knife. He handed them to me and said: “Ben, take these and stow them away in your pocket, and on your life say nothing to any one 1 Be sure to keep them about you.” He turned from me as if he did not want to be questioned, and I pocketed the articles without a word. I was in a state of wonder, hewever, and nothing was made plain until the next day. At 10 o’clock in the forenoon the ship was hove to about a mile from a small island, a boat ordered lowered, and then all hands were called aft. When they had assembled the Chaptain said: “Men, I discovered two days ago that this boy was a leper. He has got it bad, and is to be pitied. My duty in the case is plain. He must be marooned.” “Aye, aye, sir!” chorused the crew. “I shall fit him out and set him ashore here,” he continued, “and you are my witnesses that it is a step necessary for the safety of all.” There was a ready assent, and before I fully in understood what was going on I was the boat with McCoy and being pulled when toward the island by two sailors. Even I knew that I was to be left I did not raise an objection. I supposed the island to be inhabited, perhaps there the was a city there, and I was not sorry for could change. wade ashore, We ran in so close that I and the mate handed me several bundles which the men sup¬ posed viences. contained food, clothing and con As soon as I had everything out of the boat the three gave me a curt good-by, watched and I sat down on the sand and them return. The boat was hoisted up, the Albatross made sail, and I was marooned upon an uninhabited island. This fact was not fully realized until toward night, and I was so simple that it was several hours before I had figured I in it out why I had been set ashore. the was ship, possession and of the plot to scuttle I must be got rid of. The captain his had called me a leper to justify action with the crew, and it was planned that I should not live long ashore. When I came to undo the bun¬ dles I fouud them, to be composed of empty bottles, oakum and bit3 of can¬ vass. There was not a particle of food —not an article of clothing—nothing but rubbish. It was then I realized the kindness of the second mate. He must have overheard them plotting to maroon me, and he went as far as it was safe for him to go. When, at about noon, I rose up and understood my position, I felt that the first thing to do was to explore my island. I am writing of the year 1852. At that time many of the islands in the Carib¬ bean Sea had not been charted or named. I was, as I afterward ascer¬ tained, on a key or isle to the north of Trinidad, and up to twelve years ago it was down on the charts as “Little Coco. ” It was about three miles long by one and a half wide, and fairly wooded. There were various birds, troops of monkeys, and numerous snakes, but no wild animals to put one in fear. I had been landed in the little bay on the wes¬ tern side of the island. I found a spring of water a quarter of a mile inland, with plenty of wild fruit all around me, and on the first night of my stay I slept on the open beach. It was three days be¬ fore I fully realized my position and saw that I must depend entirely upon myself. When I walked clear around the island and across it, and I decided that my best location • was near where I had come ashore. Had I gone to the east end of the island and raised asignal I should have been taken off in a week, as there was a channel between that and the next island north much used, but this I had no means of knowing. When I found myself the sole inhabitant, I made up my mind that escape was impossible, and that I was to live out my years right there. The Captain had called me a leper. I had never heard the name before. He had sent me ashore because I en¬ I dangered suspected the that safety of the crow. While this was a subterfuge, I was not quite satisfied about it. If I was something to be shunned and afraid of, why off should I desire to escape? If taken I had no home to go to, no friends to welcome me. I was lonesome and somewhat afraid here, but was, nevertheless, situation. enjoying the novelty of the I built me a rude shelter, wandered over the island, fished, set snares and captured parrots and monkeys, and after the first week was quite content. I had been on the island three weeks be¬ fore the second mystery oecurred. A peninsula island or neck on the western end of the was composed of sand, and bare of tree or bush. It was about 300 feet long. There had been a heavy blow from the south, with a big sea rolling in, and after this had lasted two days there was an unusually low tide. I thespit, caught sight of a timber heaved up on and went out to inspect it, and while surveying the banks which the tide had uncovered I caught sight of some queer little boxes half buried in the sand. I dug one out, to find it so heavy that I could hardly drag it away. They were of wood, hooped with iron, and ten or twelve inches long by eight or ten inches high. I had little curiosity as to the contents, aud the idea that they contained treasure never crossed my mind. I got out four before the tide turned, and there were several more in sight. After I had them all together above high water, I began to wonder whether they contained nails or bullets, and set about breaking one open. When rows upon rows of silver coins greeted my eyes I came near losing what little sense I had. Two others contained silver, the fourth one gold. It was English money, every piece of it, and as I had never seen any before I was at a loss to estimate the value. Before the discovery of that money 1 wanted nothing but a pair of shoes, and the sight of a sail would not have affected me. Now I was wild to get at the other boxes, and my eyes were constantly .-earching the sea for sight of relief. I dragged the boxes to my house, and most of each day for the next week was spent on the neck in hopes of getting at more treasure. The water continued high, however, and I got nothing more. On the eighth day after I got the treasure, and about thirty days after my landing, the third mystery was revealed. At about 9 o’clock in the moaning, while the tide was setting in strong, I observed a ship’s boat drifting in from the south¬ east. It was not ten minutes afterlsaw her before she was cast on the beach, and as she rolled over two bodies were flung out. To my amazement and horror I recognized them as the bodies of the Captain it and mate of the Albatross, though by features. was more by the clothing than their It was plain at a glanc e that they had died of exposure and want. There was neither food nor drink in the boat, and the bodies were little better than skeletons. It was the Cap¬ tain’s gig, and it seemed that these two got away atone. They must have drifted here and there for days, for there wa neither sail nor oar. I was scooping out a grave for the bodies when a turtle sloop rounded the island and was in the cove before I saw her. She had a crew of three men and a boy, and they had come for a stay of a week or two, it being the season when the turtles came ashore to lay their eggs. They were not from the mainland, but from a larger island to the north, and were native West Indians. The Captain spoke him full English explanation, fairly well, and I gave a even to the find¬ knocked ing of the treasure. They could have me on the head and safely taken all, but they did not do it. The Captain looked over my money, and said I had about $23,000, and it was agreed that, in repayment for a passage to Porto Kieo 1 was to surrender all rights to the turtle ship’s catchers, boat. In four days those poor none of whom had * ever had $50 at once, took $50,000 out of the sands. 'There were more boxes left, or it was so believed, but they required other outfit to secure them. I was n*6 only landed in Porto Rico, as agreed,but told how to take care of my money, most of which was exchanged for paper, and my passage on a sailing vessel bound for New Orleans was secured. I did not go near the owners of the Albatross. She had been reported lost, with all on board, and to this day not one of the crew has been heard of. I could have gone to the authorities with my story, but who would have believed it? Those who had plotted against me had been overcome, and I had sprung from poverty to wealth at a bound. And so I repeat: “Cod’s ways are full of mystery.”— New York Sun. Owners of Perfect Feet. A firm of shoemakers in the Hay market, London, have hit upon a novel plan of advertising. They put up a con¬ spicuous and shoes sign, ready announcing: “Best boots selected at of money the following prices, made on lasts gen¬ tlemen, perfect feet only having been chosen for such models.” Following this is a list of names of the lucky possessors of ber “perfect such feet,” and among the num¬ notables as the Duke of Rox burghe, the Marquis of Hamilton, Earl Cadogan, Prince Dolgoroki, and others. The scheme, which has irresistable at¬ tractions for the snobs, offers the cus¬ tomer the chance of being chosen as a “stock model,” and thus having his name enrolled on the list of distinguished owners of perfect feet.-— Vhicaqo New.