按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
was in。 He writ a notice which I put into the newspapers every day for
three months； but nothin' come of it。 I cruised over the city week in and
week out I went to every sort of place where they hired women hands； I
didn't leave a think undone that a uneddicated man could do。 But nothin'
come of it。 I don't believe there was a wretcheder soul in that big city of
wretchedness than me。 Sometimes I wanted to lay down in the sheets and
die。
〃Drif tin' disconsolate one day among the shippin'； who should I
overhaul but the identical smooth…spoken chap with a white hat an' a weed
on it！ I didn't know if there was any spent left in me； till I clapped eye on
his very onpleasant countenance。 'You villain！' sez I； 'where's my little
Irish lass as you dragged me away from？' an' I lighted on him； hat and all；
like that！〃
Here Sailor Ben brought his fist down on the deal table with the force
of a sledge…hammer。 Miss Abigail gave a start； and the ale leaped up in the
pitcher like a miniature fountain。
〃I begs your parden； ladies and gentlemen all； but the thought of that
feller with his ring an' his watch…chain an' his walrus face； is alus too many
for me。 I was for pitchin' him into the North River； when a perliceman
110
… Page 111…
The Story of a Bad Boy
prevented me from benefitin' the human family。 I had to pay five dollars
for hittin' the chap （they said it was salt and buttery）； an' that's what I call a
neat； genteel luxury。 It was worth double the money jest to see that white
hat； with a weed on it； layin' on the wharf like a busted accordiun。
〃Arter months of useless sarch； I went to sea agin。 I never got into a
foren port but I kept a watch out for Kitty。 Once I thought I seed her in
Liverpool； but it was only a gal as looked like her。 The numbers of women
in different parts of the world as looked like her was amazin'。 So a good
many years crawled by； an' I wandered from place to place； never givin' up
the sarch。 I might have been chief mate scores of times； maybe master； but
I hadn't no ambition。 I seed many strange things in them years…outlandish
people an' cities； storms； shipwracks； an' battles。 I seed many a true mate
go down； an' sometimes I envied them what went to their rest。 But these
things is neither here nor there。
〃About a year ago I shipped on board the Belphcebe yonder； an' of all
the strange winds as ever blowed； the strangest an' the best was the wind
as blowed me to this here blessed spot。 I can't be too thankful。 That I'm as
thankful as it is possible for an uneddicated man to be； He knows as reads
the heart of all。〃
Here ended Sailor Ben's yarn； which I have written down in his own
homely words as nearly as I can recall them。 After he had finished； the
Captain shook hands with him and served out the ale。
As Kitty was about to drink； she paused； rested the cup on her knee；
and asked what day of the month it was。
〃The twenty…seventh；〃 said the Captain； wondering what she was
driving at。
〃Then；〃 cried Kitty； 〃it's ten years this night sence…〃
〃Since what？〃 asked my grandfather。
〃Sence the little lass and I got spliced！〃 roared Sailor Ben。 〃There's
another coincydunce for you！〃
On hearing this we all clapped hands； and the Captain； with a degree
of ceremony that was almost painful； drank a bumper to the health and
happiness of the bride and bridegroom。
It was a pleasant sight to see the two old lovers sitting side by side； in
111
… Page 112…
The Story of a Bad Boy
spite of all； drinking from the same little cup…a battered zinc dipper which
Sailor Ben had unslung from a strap round his waist。 I think I never saw
him without this dipper and a sheath…knife suspended just back of his hip；
ready for any convivial occasion。
We had a merry time of it。 The Captain was in great force this evening；
and not only related his famous exploit in the War of 1812； but regaled the
company with a dashing sea…song from Mr。 Shakespeare's play of The
Tempest。 He had a mellow tenor voice （not Shakespeare； but the Captain）；
and rolled out the verse with a will：
〃The master； the swabber； the boatswain； and I；
The gunner； and his mate；
Lov'd Mall； Meg； and Marian； and Margery；
But none of us car'd for Kate。〃
〃A very good song； and very well sung；〃 says Sailor Ben； 〃but some of
us does care for Kate。 Is this Mr。 Shawkspear a seafarm' man； sir？〃 〃Not at
present；〃 replied the Captain； with a monstrous twinkle in his eye。
The clock was striking ten when the party broke up。 The Captain
walked to the 〃Mariner's Home〃 with his guest； in order to question him
regarding his future movements。
〃Well； sir；〃 said he； 〃I ain't as young as I was； an' I don't cal'ulate to go
to sea no more。 I proposes to drop anchor here； an' hug the land until the
old hulk goes to pieces。 I've got two or three thousand dollars in the locker；
an' expects to get on uncommon comfortable without askin' no odds from
the Assylum for Decayed Mariners。〃
My grandfather indorsed the plan warmly； and Sailor Ben did drop
anchor in Rivermouth； where he speedily became one of the institutions of
the town。
His first step was to buy a small one…story cottage located at the head
of the wharf； within gun…shot of the Nutter House。 To the great amusement
of my grandfather； Sailor Ben painted the cottage a light sky…blue； and ran
a broad black stripe around it just under the eaves。 In this stripe he painted
white port…holes； at regular distances； making his residence look as much
112
… Page 113…
The Story of a Bad Boy
like a man…of…war as possible。 With a short flag…staff projecting over the
door like a bowsprit； the effect was quite magical。 My description of the
exterior of this palatial residence is complete when I add that the
proprietor nailed a horseshoe against the front door to keep off the
witches…a very necessary precaution in these latitudes。
The inside of Sailor Ben's abode was not less striking than the outside。
The cottage contained two rooms； the one opening on the wharf he called
his cabin； here he ate and slept。 His few tumblers and a frugal collection of
crockery were set in a rack suspended over the table； which had a cleat of
wood nailed round the edge to prevent the dishes from sl