The adventures of Harry Marline, or, Notes from an American midshipman's lucky bag

Front matter

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Chapter I

IN WHICH THE HEKO IS INTBODUCED XO THE EEADBE AS A VEBY BAD BOY.

I WAS a very small boy when I first ma(Je acquaintance with the sea in the year 18 — as a midshipman, and could easily have been stowed away in the pocket of a pea-jacket without any one's knowing I was there. But I was acknowledged by every one to be knowing far beyond my years> and my friends always guaranteed my growth, as we had never known a runt on either side of the family. There were various surmises about my future end ; some old fogies about and in the old town of Babel, Pennsylvania, where I was born, shook their heads sorrowfully as they passed me in the street, and predicted that I would end my days on a gallows, while the more charitable said that I would sow my wild oats, and turn out in the long run a clever fellow.

I remember that I was the. terror of all the inhabitants of Babel, each of whom in turn had suffered from the effects of my mischievous pranksi No mischief was committed in or out of the town but I was sure to be named as the authdr of it, and I often had the credit of doing things of which I was entirely innocent. Be that as it may, the elders of the town came to the conclusion that I was a perfect nuisance, and must be got rid of by some means or other. The worst offense I committed was tying the queues of Deacon

Kirk and Farmer Brown together while they were asleep in the church, and sticking a pin in the calf of the deacon's leg, for which | I was hanished from the church. I had a kind old grandfather who took care of me in childhood, and spoilt me with his indulgence as I grew up. Now all the old fellows determined to wait upon him in turn with a list of their grievances and demand my immediate banishment. They insisted that I should be sent away to some strict school, or else placed before the mast under the charge of a tyrannical captain, who would never permit me to say my soul was my own. My old guardian looked sad when he heard in detail the accounts of my follies, and though he knew I was full of mischief, and sometimes indeed played off my practical jokes on him, his kind heart would not permit him to believe that I was guilty of half the pranks laid to my charge. He was a good and amiable old man, and remembered that he was once a boy himself, though I am sure that the boys of his day were not half so bad as the boys of the present time, for now Young America takes the wind out of Old America's sails altogether.

He was urged very hard, particularly by old Ephraim Shaker, to send me to sea. "For," said he, "Friend Job, if thee does not get the urchin out of these parts, he will verily go to the Evil One, and thy conscience will smite thee if he does not turn out well." A tear stood in the good man's eye as he promised to think over the matter, and he arranged to meet them all that night at the Quaker's house and give his final answer over an oyster supper.

My grandfather could never resist an oyster supper, and I felt that in accepting the invitation he had sealed my fate, for I knew that the enemy would carry the day. Consequently I determined in my own mind to have my revenge that night out of those who were plotting my downfall. I had overheard all that was said through a window looking out on to the back porch, where I was busily engaged shaving our Thomas cat's tail with one of grandfather's best razors. I formed my plans even while the conversation was going on, and I looked forward impatiently for the night to come that I might serve up the trimmings for that oyster supper.

It was a cold November evening with a light drizzly rain ; just such a night as a thief would select to rob a hen-roost, or a mischievous fellow prefer to play his pranks in. I looked into the back parlor window of old Shaker's house, and there sat the solemn conclave assembled around a warm fire, and urging my grandfather with all their eloquence to get rid of me. Said I to myself, "My

MY LOVE FOR MISCHIEF. 9

old fellows, I will make that room too hot to hold you before I have done with you." And I went to work to make my preparations for attack.

I heard my grandfather say in a quavering tone of voice, " Only convince me, friends, that he is guilty of any one act laid to his charge, and I shall hesitate no longer to send him to sea."

The idea of going to sea was not distasteful to me, and, although I knew the pain I was going to inflict on my grandfather, I determined to put an end at once to all his doubts, and at the same time have a fine lark before I was banished from the delights of Babel.

But I will not relate this adventure, not wishing to revive reminiscences that might call forth the criticisms of the Babel newspapers, which are still run by the descendants of the ancient' proprietors, with ideas as limited as those of their illustrious predecessors.

Sufifice it to say I committed a very reprehensible action toward my presumed enemies, serving them out to my satisfaction, if not to their own, and I am willing to say that I would not do it again under like circumstances.

My mischief led to a denouement of which I little dreamed, and never intended. I went in for a lark, and was the cause of a great fire, which created immense confusion in that quiet town.

I little anticipated such an adventure when I set out so gleefully from home. The town was badly supplied with water, and the fire department not having been called out for some years, everything went wrong. The hose got a dozen " cable-tier pinches " in it, and, in the anxiety of the firemen to, put on the water, it burst in several places. There were no fire-buckets to be had at the moment, and the result was the entire destruction of a carpenter-shop with all its contents.

I was on the point of making my escape, to go- 1 cared not , whither, for the matter was looking much more serious than I had intended it should, and I had already turned up the main street leading out to the country, determiaed to rid the town of my presence, ' and escape the punishment I felt I most justly, deserved, when I was suddenly seized from behind by a nervous grasp, while the tremulous tones of my grandfather addressed me for the first time in his life with ill-concealed anger.

"You young villain ! " he exclaimed, "see what mischief you have done with your foolish mad prank ! Home, home with you, sir, at once, before you are detected by others ; and I promise you you Trill never see the town of Babel again while I live. Go get yoiiT clothes ready to start for Washington in half an hour ! " And grasping me roughly by the collar, he strode along at a rate I could with difficulty follow, and which I had not the least idea his age was capable of. He never spoke a word until we reached the house, and, flinging me inside the door as if I was an old meal-bag, said, " Get up-stairs at ouce, sir, and pack your trunk ; and mind, I give you but twenty minutes to do it in."

I ascended the stairs rapidly, and in less than the required time was ready. On going down, I found my grandfather sitting on the sofa, pale as death, with his hands clasped tightly over his eyes, and tears of anguish streaming through his fingers. My heart severely reproached me for the unhappiness I knew he was suffering. I burst into tears myself, and, throwing my arms about his neck, besought his forgiveness, and promised that I would never during my whole life do an act of mischief again.

Taking his hands from his face and looking at me sorrowfully, "Ah, Harry, Harry ! " he said, "you will bring my gray hairs in sorrow to the grave by your misconduct ; but it is my own fault, my child, for not doing my duty more strictiy toward you, and I have no one to blame but myself. Who can tell what the consequences of this night may bring forth ? Be your future career ever so bright, you will always feel that you left yoar native town with your name scorned by all who knew you, and there will always remain this blot on your escutcheon, which you will find it difficult to wipe out."

" At all events, grandpapa, you shall never have cause to blush for me again," I said ; "and, believe me, I feel deep, deep sorrow for the pain I have inflicted on you to-night. Do forgive me, dear grandpapa, for dear mother's sake, who is dead and gone, for I shall never be happy untU you call me your own Harry once more."

It was not in the old man's nature to remain angry for any length of time with me, no matter what I might do, and his heart, I truly believe, was more pained at parting with me, peirhaps forever, than by the cruel trick I had practiced on his friends. He took me by the hand, kindly saying, " I shall forget to-night,, my boy ; only promise me that the predictions made by your enenjies shall not be fulfilled. Disappoint them all, and I shall be satisfied."

The clock was just striking nine when the sound of the stagehorn was faintly heard in the distance, and, bidding me to hu^-rv

I AM SENT AWAY. 11

down -mth. my trunk, he called to old Abram to come and take it to the stage-office.

"Why, whar you gwoin, Massa Harry, wid you eyes a-lookin' as if you jus' done a-crying ? I trus' de Lord you ain't been arwexin' old massa ; 'cause if you have, honey, you won't come to no good nohow. I hope, child, you ain't been a-spilin' massa's bes' raser, 'cause I seed you wid it mysef shaving dat foolish tomcat's tail."

"No, Abram," I replied, '•'! have not spoilt grandpa's razor, but I have done worse than that. I have made him ashamed of me, and he is going to send me away because I tied fire-crackers to the tomcat's tail and shoved him into Mr. Shaker's window. He jumped on to his shoulders, scorched his hair and eyebrows off, and burnt his best shad-belly coat off his back."

"Pshaw! "said Abram, "he ain't gwoin to sen' you 'way for dat, sure. Bress de Lord ! I thought you been spilin' old massa's raser, and dat I know wexes him for sartin. Why, old Shaker's nuffin. He ain't nobody, for sure ; an' no matter if dat dare cat done eat him up, dare's better men lef in de town. What's I gwoin to do for backer when you'se gone 'way ? I wonder if old massa tink of dat circumstance ? Whar you gwoin to, Massa Harry, and what massa done gwoin to do wid you ? "

"I am going to sea, Abram," I said, "and may never return; but I shan't forget you, you may be sure. I will send you your tobacco every chance I get."

"Well, dat's some constollation anyhow; but who gwoin to gin my quarter dollar ebery Saturday aternoon ? I wonder if old Shaker's gwoin to suply de necesties ob natur in dem ar premises ? May de Lord drat him for a good-for-nuffin feller ! I never like him much no how, no fashen. He once tell me he done sell me long iime ago if I was his nigger, which I tank de Lord I ain't. I only wish him one ting, and dat is I had him on a strait line wid a skunk, and I could shute at de skunk wid massa's duck-gun, dat's enuff for me."

" Don't make yourself unhappy, Abe, about the quarter every Saturday afternoon. I will make grandpa promise to give it to you regular as long as he lives."

" Well, den,, dat's what I calls talkin' to de pint, Massa Harry, and 1 doesn't know hut's bes' for you to go to sea, and, bress de Lor"! T shall be proud when you comes back a kurnel. Won't dis here nigger crow den ? He will for sarten ; 'cause I know you're > gwoin to be a great man, prowiden you awoids splittin' on de rocks of temtaslixm, and don't run de weasel on de quicksan's ob 'niquity."

The stage had arriTed, and my trunk was getting lashed on while old Abe was holding forth so learnedly ; and bidding the old negro good-by, I followed my grandfather inside and took my seat. No one had seen us get in, or knew that I was going to giye the town the benefit pf my absence. Crack went the whip, away went the horses at the rate of ten knots an hour, and the town and lights soon disappeared from view.

My heart rejoiced when I felt that I was well clear of the town of Babel, and my grandfather looked more at his ease also. A crowd of people were gathered about the porch of the old inn, and were animadverting in most unmeasured terms on the conduct of the perpetrator of the fire, for as yet no one knew who the culprit was. One said that the old Quaker would surely die, and that his wife had gone crazy ; another said whoever did the deed would be tried for murder and arson ; while a third recommended lynching as the course most likely to meet the public approbation.

I almost felt that the oflScers of justice were on my track like a pack of bloodhounds. My fears on that score were soon dissipated, however, when I reflected that the town of Babel could only boast of one police officer, or constable, a decrepit old fellow, seventy years of age, who held his sinecure office owing to his good luck in being wounded at the battle of Brandywine. I knew that the old fellow was confined to his bed with rheumatism, and there was no danger of his being stowed away anywhere in the stage. Besides, there were no witnesses against me except my grandfather, who was hurrying me away from the place as fast as four post-horses could travel. Those were not the days of railroads, and our journey was slow in comparison to what it would be now, and it was not until forty-eight hours after we started from home that we brought up at a good hotel in Washington City.

Next day my grandfather called with me on the Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Mr. Pinebranch, of North Carolina, a remarkable old gentleman who held the destiny of the service in his hands. I knew very little about the navy then, although I have learned a good deal since, and the number of funny stories that I have heard of this old fellow have hardly indicated the wisdom of taking a gentleman farmer from the old Tar State to put at the head of the Department.

Fortunately, the navy was virtually governed by three old com-

THE NAVY AT THAT TIME. 13

modores, constituting the Board of Navy Commissioners, who had spent many years at sea and understood the wants of the service, and the Secretary was the financial and political head of the Department, paying all the bills, and recommending all appointments to the President.

This seemed on the whole to be a good organization, and at that time the United States navy had no superior in proportion to its size. Our vessels were few in number, but they were looked upon as models by foreign officers, and our guns were the heaviest and best in the world.

The funds then appropriated, about six million dollars annually, were expended with scrupulous care, and nothing was wasted to help elect members to Congress. Indeed, the people of those days were ignorant of our modern improvements in the way of buying votes, and candidates depended for election upon their own individual merits.

Still, there were defects in the system, for the professional heads of the Department frequently had their opinions overruled by the civilian Secretary. For instance, Mr. Pinebranch, at the solicitation of his friends, directed that the naval ships should call at old Topsail Inlet, near Cape Lookout, and lay in their sea-stores. The Honorable Secretary was from Morehead City, and wanted his native town to derive all possible advantage from his appointment. He was quite astonished when told that the ships could not enter old Topsail Inlet for want of water, and accordingly applied to Congress in his next report to have the place dredged out, expatiating on the many advantages to be derived from such an undertaking.

On another occasion Mr. Pinebranch directed the commissioners to send a load of North Carolina lumber, tar, pitch, and turpentine to the Mediterranean, as he noticed in the squadron account some bills for Norway pine which he thought should not be purchased. Most of the midshipmen and all the pursers and doctors were appointed from the " Old North State," and the Honorable Secretary made arrangements for constructing a dry-dock off Cape Hatteras, with a breakwater around it to make a harbor for ships to drop into, when informed that our vessels could not enter Pamlico Sound.

The old navy commissioners were sometimes astonished at the extent of the Honorable Secretary's geographical knowledge. On one occasion he directed a ship to sail for the Bight of Benin, and thence directly along the coast to the Cape of Good Hope, not having any idea of the existence of trade-winds.

Mr. Pinebranch had been two years at the head of the navy before he discovered that a ship was hollow, and once he kicked up "hob" because he found that petty officers were being appointed without their names going to the Senate for confirmation.

But, after aU, these were comparatively trifles, for the Secretary was a jolly old gentleman, who let everybody do pretty much as they pleased. If an officer disliked going to sea, he let him stay on shore as long as he wished, unless the commissioners interfered on the ground that the efficiency of the service was being impaired, when the Secretary would reluctantly yield to their opinion.

On one occasion Mr. Pinebranch took passage In a frigate from Norfolk to New York, and when, at sunset on a mild summer's evening, all hands were called to reef topsails, the Honorable Secretary was appalled with the perils to which the men were exposed in going aloft. He said that in future he should always think of the dangers of the sea when he signed an officer's orders.

This old gentleman was very kind to me. He regretted exceedingly that I was not from North Carolina, but took into consideration the fact that I was unfit for anything but a midshipman, and that he had appointed twenty-four boys from his native State that very week.

So after two or three days' sojourn in the capital city my grandfather obtained for me the desired appointment as midshipman, and the Secretary promised to give me orders to the frigate Thunderbum, then lying at Norfolk, ready to sail for the Mediterranean. The orders came ; my grandfather bade me adieu at the steamboat landing, having liberally supplied me with money to purchase my outfit, and I found myself afloat the first time in my life, my own master, to do (I thought) just as I pleased.

I shall never forget the feeling of pride with which I stepped up to the clerk's office to pay my passage. "Harry Marline, midshipman in the United States navy," I replied (as I hauled out my pocket-book) in answer to the clerk's question demanding my name, and I was quite surprised that the crowd did not fall back in awe at the announcement of my rank, of which I had formed a very exaggerated idea. Some one in the crowd cried out, " Does your mother know you're out ? " and another fellow asked me very politely if I had lost my " cheese-toaster," and I recollect, at the time.

I AM APPOINTED MIDSHIPMAN. 15

feeling very grateful for the interest they seemed to take in my affairs,

^ I was up at early dawn of day, determined to have the first glimpse of my future home. The vessels of war loomed up in tke distance like great castles as we neared Hampton Roads, and my heart beat with pleasure when some one, in answer to my inquiries, pointed out the. frigate Thunderbum lying among them, "all ataunto," and ready to sail at a moment's notice.

I could scarcely resist my desire to ask the captain to stop alongside and put me out, but then I recollected that I had not yet obtained my uniform, and I was determined to make an impression when I did go on board. So I bottled up my impatience for a day or two, and took up my lodgings at Glen's Hotel, which was the rendezvous of all navy ofiScers.

I found here, crowded together, all classes of officers in their gay uniforms, and was somewhat pleased (though not astonished) at the respect paid me by. the book-keeper, who immediately gave me Eoom No. 1, and also ordered the best supper in the house to be got ready for me. I found Eoom 'No. 1 at the top of the house, with ten beds in it, and the best supper consisted of oysters and sausages, which only had the effect of reminding me of old Shaker's feast, and the ill effects of it.

" At last I am in the navy," I said to myself as I sat down to my tea, "and all these fine fellows are to be my companions. What a glorious career you have before you, Harry Marline ! and don't forget old Abram's advice, and 'avoid the quicksands of temptation' ;" for I had seen enough during the short time I had been in the town to know that a young gentleman of my yielding disposition could easily be led astray. I made some terrible resolutions, however, about my future course of conduct, and determined to do my best to verify old Abe's prediction " that I would return a kurnel."

I found my way to Eoom No. 1, which I supposed I was to have all to myself, seeing none of the beds occupied, and no baggage being in the room (I did not know at that time that midshipmen were never troubled with baggage). Being tired out with the fatigues of the day, I was soon fast asleep, dreaming that old Shaker was turned into a great cat, and old Abram was riding him to death, with a large plug of tobacco sticking out of his jaw.

You now know, good readers, who have had the patience to follow me thus far, how it was that Uncle Sam became possessed of so valuable an acquisition to the nayy as myself, and if you think it worth while to follow me through my naval career, I promise you some tough yarns from my "Lucky Bag." I shall not draw upon my imagination for anything I shall herein describe. " Nought extenuate, or aught set down in malice," shall be my motto, and if the history of my cruise shall but enliven one fireside, I- shall think myself amply repaid for my trouble.

Kind readers may exclaim, "Can it be possible such events happen on board our naval ships, and do we send such captains abroad as representatives of our country ? " They must not forget the oft-quoted axiom, "Truth is stranger than fiction."

Chapter II

IN WHICH MARLIN-E IS INTKODljCED TO NAVAL LIFE, AND PROVES TO BE A HAED BAKOAIN.

I SPENT a most restless night in Room No. 1, and began to think the house was haunted. My bedclothes were taken off me more than a dozen times during the night, and I had to grope about in the dark to find them. The candle had disappeared, and so had the bell-rope, which hung over my bed when I turned in. The room seemed full of rats, for I heard them scampering over the floor, making a noise like the feet of a dog, and jumping on to the beds like the weight of a good-sized boy, and I got so many wipes with their ugly tails across my legs that I determined at last not to get out of bed any more.

After a while I was beset with a new persecution. My eyes, nose, and ears were bitten by some disagreeable insect, which tickled me so that I could not sleep, and whenever I attempted to cover my head the rats pulled the cover away. Once I was awakened by something heavy falling on me, and I heard a deep groan in the farther end of the room, but I never was afraid of ghosts, so I determined to get a light and see what the matter was. Much to my surprise, I found the door locked, and the key taken out, so I was obliged once more to seek my bed, without obtaining any redress. I soon sank again into a sound slumber, and was left unmolested for the rest of the night.

PRACTICAL JOKES. 17

Wliat was my surprise when I awoke in the morning to find eyery bed occupied with youngsters about my own age, snoring away at a tremendous rate, and laying in sleep enough to last them a week. There was the beU-puU hanging in the right place, and there was the door with the key in it, while the candle stood in the same place I had left it, burnt down to the socket. "It was a dream after all," I exclaimed, " and owing to those greasy sausages, which never do agree with me anyhow," and, seeing the sunlight streaming into the room, I arose with the determination to dress myself.

The first thing I laid my hands on was my shirt, with the sleeyes tied into hard knots I found impossible to cast loose. The middle of my coat-slecTes and the legs of my pantaloons were sewed up so tight that a tailor could not have cut them adrift in an hour ; and, worse than all, when I took up my boots, I found them half full of water.

I thought to myself that it was rather a dangerous thing for any one to play such practical jokes on me, for my abilities for retaliating were of no ordinary character. I began now to remember all the annoyances I was subjected to during the night, and knew that some of the present party had been amusing themselves at my expense. I looked up, involuntarily thinking which of the eight sleepers it might be, when my eyes encountered those of an olderlooking boy than myself watching my movements, but he turned over as soon as he saw me watching him in return, and tried to make me believe he was asleep. I slipped quietly to his bedside, and, placing my wet boots there, appropriated his to my own use, and found that they fitted me admirably. I slipped my clothes into my trunk, and, taking out others, made my toilet.

Before I got through dressing my watchful friend seemed to awake, and, sitting up in bed, he cried out, " Halloo, sleepers ! wake up. All hands ahoy ! Turn out, idlers, or you will get cold sausages for breakfast." Up popped the little heads in a minute, and the officious young gentleman jumped out of bed, saying, "Mint-juleps for all by the fellow who is last dressed."

There was a great scrambling to. get out of bed, and such shouts of laughter at the poor fellows who could not get their legs through their trousers and untie the knots in their shirt-sleeves. The older midshipman of all seemed to be enjoying the fun amazingly ; he had got his pantaloons on without any trouble, and Seized hold of the boots at his bedside in a hurry to save his juleps. Squash went 2 the -water as his foot slipped in, and in an instant he was -wet away up his legs. "Sold, by the great Lama!" he exclaimed. "May I swell up and sneeze if I would not like to know who played me this trick," and looking at me very inquisitiyely, he said, "Are your boots wet, sir ? "

"Very wet," I replied, "and feel very uncomfortable."

The middies fairly shouted with fun when they found Mr. Edward Keckless (as he was called) in a worse plight than themselves, and they redoubled their efforts to -win the jxileps, while that gentleman was vainly endeavoring to get on my boots. The result was, Mr. Reckless had to treat to the beverage. He took it good-naturedly, however, and asked me to join them, but it was evident that he strongly suspected me.