.

65

.

.

ST. PATRICK, THE TRUE STORY OF

George P. Fisher,

26

STORIES TOLD BY THE STONES,

E. A. Washburn, 493

SUNDAY AT MR. KINNEY's,

J. B. T. Marsh,

35

THEOLOGY AND BEER,

Lester B. Plati,

247
THREE OLD BIBLES,

Frank P. Woodbury,
Tor Voble's CHRISTMAS,.

Washington Gladden, 71

Tom's Heathen. Chapters I–XVIII,

Josephine R. Baker, 41

127, 220, 334, 441, 531

TRAGEDY AT DALE FARM, THE

Ellen W. Olney,

511

Two CHURCH Cou'XCILS,

Leonard Woolsey Bacon, 49

TYPOGRAPHICAL CRIME, A

Rossiter Johnson,

397
WAYS AND MEANS,

Anna C. Garlin,

413

WAYS OF SAVING THE CHILDREN,

Charles L. Brace, 104

WHAT CAREER FOR THE NEGRO,

E. H. Fairchild, 500

WRIGHT, CHAUNCEY.

Edward Abbott,

257

POETRY.

All Rou'xD THE YEAR,

Elaine Goolale,

109

Bitter SWEET,

Elizabeth '. Denison, 177

BY AND BY, .

Lucrèce,

500

Cuckoo, The

Harriet 'McE. Kimball, 451
DORCAS,

Marian Douglas,

155

Easter Lilies,

Susan Coolidge,

300

FIR TREE, THE

Rose Terry Cooke, 325

FROST BOUND,

Susan Coolidge,

205

HE AND SHE,

Nora Perry,

510

MAY FLOWER, A

Elizabeth W. Denison, 412

Morning,

Susan Coolidge,

14

MORNING Moon, The

Adeline D. T. Whitney, 399
NAT AND JIM,

Annie A. Preston, 143
Our To-MORROWS,

Fannie R. Robinson, 317
PEONY, THE .

Marian Douglas,

515
Robin 'NONG THE CHERRY Blooms, Tue,

Earl Marble,

531
SUMMER,

Dora Reail Goodale, 531
TERRIBLE Test, The

Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, 49

To A GRIEVED SOUL,

Howard Glynilon,

229

Too WIDE,

Julia C. R. Dorr, 276

VERSES,

Sarah (. Jewett,

561

EDITOR'S TABLE:

1

SUNDAY AFTERNOON:

A MONTHLY MAGAZINE FOR THE HOUSEHOLD.

Vol. I. - JANUARY, 1878. —No. I.

THE CREW OF THE SAM WELLER.*

BY JOHN HABBERTON,
AUTHOR OF " HELEN'S BABIES," "THE JERICHO ROAD,” “THE SCRIPTURE CLUB OP

VALLEY REST," ETC.
I.

tion of religious books in that section of the In days which are called old times, al- country. Of late, however, men had seen though half of the people who lived then him laughing a great deal as he read at his still live, there were no railways west of the store door-step when no customers were by, Alleghanies nor any telegraphs anywhere, and they feared-or hoped—that the old yet there were everywhere mysterious chan

man was losing his mind. Finally, on a nels through which passed from the East to bright November morning, old Wesley the West nearly every thing by which the walked, with a gait adapted about equally heart of one man might gladden that of an

from the penitent and the sneak, down the other. And so it came to pass that many

main street and to the creek, carrying a years ago there was wafted from the farther paint-pot and brush; two hours later the shore of the Atlantic, across the mountains, town was shaken, almost as by a severe along the lonesome rivers, through dense ague, by the information that old Wesley's forests in which even wild beasts might lose

new flatboat had a name painted on it, and themselves and over broad stretches of prai- it wasn't done in tar, either, as was the rie in whose trackless wastes men were often

usual way, but with good black paint and

on a surface smoothed for the purpose. lost, the English story which has caused more hearty merriment than all other hu

“Must be after somebody that's just died, morous tales ever written. It passed un

then," suggested old Mrs. Longhouse, who harmed by many a fever-haunt like unto its

was the first recipient of the news from the author's own “New Eden,” then along on

fisherman who had brought it from the

creek. the edge of a black swamp, up a doleful

“Somebody who's just died, and

that the old man has come it over in a trade looking little creek, across a bit of dry ground, up a little hill and into purer air

, some way, mark my words. What did ye and finally into the hands and heart of old say the name wuz, George ?” Wesley Berryman, owner of one of the stores

· Sam Weller,” replied the fisherman, in the village of Blackelsville. Old Wesley,

“ I wuz askin' the fellers 'round the saw-mill sometimes called “Uncle," but frequently

if they knowed any such person, but they designated by appellations not so respectfuì, didn't

. I don't remember the name about was a Methodist class leader as well as a

these parts.” storekeeper; he was reputed a “ close-fisted

“ Nuther do I,” said the old lady, “and I man and the owner of the dismalest collec

was born-well, 'twa'nt last year any how,"

9

tion of revealing her age. “Mebbe he was He's got that name on her, and he wouldn't some of the old man's wife's folks,” said have done that till the last minute, so's to Mrs. Longhouse, gazing fixedly into the fo- save the interest on the cost of the paint.” liage of a great oak as if it were the Berry- The speaker's supposition was correct, man genealogical tree; “they say she whether or no its basis were sound. The brought him his money, an' there wuz some Sam Weller had been raised from the trouble about gettin' it. Any how, the old ground by the swelling of the creek, her man ain't used up good paint that way on- moistened planking closed its seams, she less ther's somethin' on his mind-mark my was pumped dry, her cargo, consisting of words, George."

barrels of pork and sacks of corn, was put “Just what I say, Miss Longhouse,” re- on board, and quite a number of loafers had plied the fisherman, and the remaining vil- stood idly about for several days so as to be lagers agreed with the couple.

ready to enjoy to the full the excitement of As for the craft whose name had been the seeing the Sam Weller drift down the creek, cause of so much curiosity, she was typical when Deacon Ezra Packsitt, who had sevof the country in which she was built-- eral months before been engaged as captain, broad, rough, unsightly, but extremely use- pilot, mate and clerk, carried dismay and an ful. She was simply an enormous oblong anxious face into Uncle Berryman's store box, with no interior space but what was by stating that two of the crew had failed useful for stowage purposes.

Her bare him at the last instant. One of them had ground constituted the “ways" upon which gone no one knew where, upon a final spree she was built, and the ceremony of launch- in anticipation of several weeks of the coring was conducted solely by nature, for the rect habits which Deacon Packsitt always November rains expanded the little creek exacted from his crew, and the other had until its waters reached the boat and lifted , broken a leg while working in a “ clearing." it. Nature also supplied its motive power, “I had that drunken Sam Pyger on my for it was expected to move only by floating mind, too,” said the Deacon mournfully; with the currents of such streams as it “I'd meant to git him under conviction, drifted into. It had a long oar aft, and one anyhow, on this trip, while he was away on each side amidships, but these were from his old friends, and maybe, the good merely to be used when it was necessary to Lord willin', git him converted before he change the boat's course, never to increase got back home.” her speed. Her cabin was merely an unoc- “ An’I," said the owner of the boat, restcupied end of the boat, being separated ing his elbows on his counter and staring from the stowage space only by a wall of vacantly at a shelf of patent medicines, “I'd corn in bags. The furniture, though not got him to agree to take half his pay in elegant, was sufficient; upon each side were store goods, so he'd have cost me about five two bunks, and against the wall of corn dollars less than the rest of 'em. It's hard sacks was another, and these five beds ac- on both of us, Deacon, but the crick may commodated the entire crew and its single fall—taint rained much for a day or twoofficer. A plain wooden table stood in front so I reckon we'll hev to leave our sorrers to of the officer's bunk, this latter being by the Lord, and look up a new man—two new day a seat, and against the broader wall of Mebbe you can get some other feller the boat reposed a brick fire-place and chim- that needs convertin'as bad as Sam Pyger ney. The walls were ornamented with culi- did; you might tell him what the 'rangenary utensils, and about the floor, out of the ment was with Sam, an’git him to take half ordinary center, were ranged the principal his pay in goods." portion of the commissary stores.

The Deacon wrinkled his brows and pursed "I reckon old Uncle Berryman 'll be send- his lips rather impatiently, but Uncle Berin' his boat off pretty soon,” suggested one ryman was his employer, there were no villager to another after they had exchanged other flatboats building on the creek that greetings and disposed of the weather. season, and there were other pilots to be

men.

had, so the Deacon speedily recovered his “ nobody ever could keep that boy from gitbusiness temper, and remarked :

tin' drunk just when he's a mind to, an’ if “Oh, yes; there's plenty that need it as he happened to git too much aboard when bad, but there ain't as likely soil in 'em to 'twas his turn on deck, an' he let her run work on. They ain't got the head-piece to her head on an island, there'd be the whole understand the doctrines. How much shall cargo spiled if the river should fall. You I offer to pay?”

know I always was down on takin' drinkin' “Oh, Deacon," said the storekeeper, men onto crews--taint ever safe.” " there you go again on the wrong track. “ That's so, Deacon,” said the storekeepYou're always expectin' people to git relig- er, who had slowly resumed his listless poion through their heads. I got mine sition, “you always was safe—as you ort to through my heart, in the twinklin' of an be. But I kind o’think you dodged the eye, glory to God! an' so can anybody subject of who'd be to blame if the boy else ef they believe. I don't think I'd offer went to the bad. I'll have that out with more'n twenty-five dollars. I know thirty's you, sometime; I've got the apostle Paul on the regular price, but flatboats are skeerce my side, so I'm sure to beat you. But who this winter, an' there must be lots of fellows can we get? Why—I declare !-how could I waitin' to go to Orleans."

have forgot! There's old Lugwine, down “There's plenty that want to go,” replied in the Bottoms; he was beggin' me to let the Deacon, “ but they ain't them that I'd bim go, but 'twas after the hands war all take. Now there's Emory Rickins's boy- engaged; he said he wanted to go so's to he's old enough an’ strong enough, but let cut an' bring back a hundred or two fishhim once get to New Orleans, an' he'd go poles,* that he thought he could get a quarto the devil faster'n he ever rode a hoss in a ter apiece for. He ought to be willin' to scrub race.

I heerd him talkin' about take twenty-five, yes, twenty dollars, an' wantin' to go-it must have been the begin- even fifteen, for the chance of makin' monnin' of the season-an' he said he'd be glad ey on a lot of fish poles. An' he's never to go for nothin', just to see Orleans.” been gathered into the ark of safety, not he.

“Why, git him, then!” exclaimed the There's your chance, Deacon.” storekeeper, straightening himself at once. • Well, yes,” said the Deacon. “He isn't “I never had such a chance but once in my much of a man, but he'll do on a pinch. I life before—I'd be just that much ahead." don't know about convertin' them Bottom

The Deacon straightened too. “I can't chaps, though; their dogs has got more do it, Mr. Berryman. I don't mean to have sense, an' just about as much religion.” the loss of that boy's soul laid on me."

“ You wouldn't talk so dismal about 'em The storekeeper turned toward a shelf of if you was a Methodist instead of a PresbyBibles, and then turned rapidly back again. terian, Deacon,” said the storekeeper with "Deacon Packsitt,” said he, “taint your

animation. “ The grace of God can find its resk, at all. Whether a man standeth or way into the meanest heart, bless the Lord ! falleth, he does it unto himself. That's Once I didn't think any more about religion good Scripture doctrine, I b'leeve? If a than a Bottom feller, an' now look at me.” man falls, its his own sin; it ain't goin' to

It was perhaps unconsciously that the be laid onto any flatboat pilot-no, nor any storekeeper dropped his eyes as he concluded flatboat owner, neither.”

this speech, so that when the Deacon com“Yes, that's good doctrine,” admitted the plied with his employer's request, the face of Deacon after a moment of hesitation, “ but the latter was so nearly invisible that the if a man falls because somebody else puts Deacon could see little but a dull scalp ina stumblin' block in his way, I reckon sufficiently covered with dingy gray hair. it isn't the fault of the man that falls, par. It was better that it should be so, however, tickkilarly if the stumblin' block that's for the Deacon's peculiar gaze might not stuck out is as big as the hull city of New

* American bamboo, which grows very large in the Orleans. Besides,” continued the Deacon, swamps of the Lower Mississippi.

66

ooze.

have fully pleased his employer. Suddenly pleted, they quietly burned it to the ground. the storekeeper raised his head and re- They were not annoyed to learn that the marked:

school house had been paid for by taxation “Well, old Lugwine's one, any how; it in the county, for no Bottomite was ever would be burying my Lord's talent instead known to pay taxes. of putting it to usury, if I lost him when In religion, every man in the Bottom was there's a chance of gettin' him so cheap. a priest unto himself. The women occaYou'd better go see him right off, while I sionally exhibited sentimental weakness on look up somebody else; if I can find some- the subject of preaching, and the men albody with a soul to be saved, I'll do it, even lowed them to do so--that was all. Old though you an' me don't agree on how it Elder Hobbedowker rode over to the Botort to be done."

tom one Sunday to smite the inhabitants The Bottom, in which Deacon Packsitt with the sword of the Spirit, and walked was to find old Lugwine, had the reputation home after service, his horse having disapof being a hard place. Everything about it peared, never to return. Then young Engwas hard, except the soil; this, as if to lish, a meek-eyed Episcopalian, read the counterbalance the general hardness of the beautiful service of his Church in the BotBottom, was soft and yielding. Grass never tom, with no responses except from a somgrew under the trees in the Bottom, and nolent male or two. Brother Rungtite, the prostrate trunks turned black and exuded circuit rider, went to them as an ambassa

The houses in the Bottom were dor bearing a message from his great King, small, and of logs ; each of them consisted but when he took from his pocket some of a single room, the door of which was fre- neatly folded pieces of paper on which he quently the only window and was occasion- had made notes from which to speak, the ally the chimney also. Furniture, except inhabitants took him for a deputy sheriff in frying-pan, axe and gun, was almost un- disguise, and those who did not precipitately known in the Bottom.

retire arose and cast him from their midst. The inhabitants of the Bottom were in Consistent as the inhabitants of the Botone sense aristocrats—they despised labor, tom strove to be, they were human, and and they persistently abstained from doing they departed so far from their principles as any. They would sit upon door-steps or the to plant corn. For this offense against bank of the creek, but never as laborers in their unwritten creed they were not to be the market place. A Bottomite would occa- condemned severely, for the influence upon sionally fish, or chase a deer, or shoot a wild their lives of the beautiful cereal was almost turkey, or cut down a hollow tree with the as great as that of fate itself. Unlike other hope of finding honey therein, but all such sorts of labor, the planting of corn was alefforts were classified as sports. In dress, most pleasurable. The ground was first also, the inhabitants of the Bottom were prepared by a plow, and the horse (boraristocrats, in that they were guilty of no rowed) who drew this implement always servile imitation of each other. Each wore drew also the greater portion of the weight garments peculiar to himself, and which of the lord of the manor, as he followed in seldom or never gave place to those pre- the furrow. The planting of the corn was scribed by tyrannical fashion. In matters done by the assistance of the neighbors, and of education, too, they were aristocratic; offered nearly as many portunities for contheir pride in the ignorance of their children versation and conviviality as did perfect lei. was, if not so poetically expressed as that of sure. As the corn grew and waxed tall, the the aged Douglas, at least asserted by field formed for the inebriate Bottomite a deeds the import of which could not be mis- perfect refuge from the reproachful eyes of taken. While the county authorities were his wife, or from the minions of the law who building a school house among them, the had frequent occasion to visit the Bottom; for Bottomites declined even to sit upon its a walk of a few steps into its leafy coverts timbers, and when the building was com- would secrete a man as securely as a weari