The Stinger being nearly ready for sea, the boatswain's wife determined
to give a party in honour of the event, and suggested that Mr. Shever
should ask a few of his men. Now, this was certainly very contrary to
all that warrant officer's ideas of propriety.
"What! ask blue jackets? why, my dear, it is against all precedent," he
exclaimed.
"Bother your president," said the good natured woman. "Ask a few of the
poor fellows; I warrant you they will behave well; then, knowing me, if
ever you are sick, they will look after you."
After many pros and cons the husband as usual, yielded to his wife's
persuasion, and agreed to invite Gummings, a quartermaster, Price, a
boatswain's mate, and the tender-hearted Jerry Thompson.
Jerry was of middle height, well built and active, with good-looking
oval face bronzed by exposure in many climes, dark eyes, and curly
chestnut-coloured hair. Frank, generous and good natured to a fault, he
was liked by every man and boy in the ship,--while his respectfully
cheeky manner was tolerated by his officers, who passed over his freedom
of speech and action.
At various times Jerry had determined to give up the sea and settle on
shore, but after a few month's trial his roving propensities would get
the better of him, and in spite of the lamentations of the children and
regrets of his numerous circle of lady friends, he would pack his chest
and be off to sea again.
Previous to joining the Stinger he had for some months been employed as
a super at the Surrey Theatre; but growing weary of that life, and the
country being at war, he joined the navy, as he remarked, "from
patriotic motives of a hard-up description." This was his first trial of
a man-of-war's life, he being, to all intents and purposes, a
merchant-service sailor, which will account for his want of reverence
for the authorities and traditions of H. M. Navy.
Mr. Shever was serving out spun yarn one morning, when Jerry came to him
for orders. Giving directions as to the business on which the seaman had
consulted him, the boatswain, after a short pause, suddenly asked "if he
had ever been to a party?"
"Many a one," replied the sailor, "The last one of any importance was
with my Lord Buckingham."
"Come, now," growled the boatswain, "I wants no chaff. I knows a lady
who intends giving a party, and probably she may ask you."
Jerry at once saw how the land lay, and assured the official that, "in
case of his being a favored one, he would be on his best behavior."
"None of your--" (here the boatswain lifted his hand as if in the act of
imbibing some intoxicating fluid). "You know I don't allow none of that
sort of goings on in my house; and," added he, "the party breaks up when
I pipes down; that will be _your_ signal."
Mr. Shever was somewhat doubtful in his own mind whether Jerry was
sufficiently sedate for admission to such a select company as his wife
had asked; but, as she had set her mind upon it, come he must, or a
family difficulty might arise, in which case Mr. Shever would as usual,
come off second best. His idea of "piping down" when he thought his
visitors should depart was both novel and nautical.
He merely stated to the other sailors that he wanted them to take a cup
of tea at his house on a certain day; they were old and tried men, and
he knew they would not be any trouble to him.
Whenever the boatswain had an opportunity he would put a few questions
to Jerry, or ask his advice on important points of the coming
entertainment. Mr. Shever was of the opinion that "tea and shrimps, with
a song afterwards, was the correct sort of thing;" while Jerry suggested
"tea and muffins, with a dance to follow,--the whole to wind up with a
glass of punch." On this coming to Mrs. Shever's ears, she at once
adopted the idea as an entirely original plan of her own, and declared
"if Mr. Shever did not order a fiddler and a harpist, she would
forthwith pack up, visit her mother, and remain there until the Stinger
had sailed."
Jerry looked forward with pleasure to the entertainment, and determined
to show the natives a few of his most elaborate steps in the hornpipe
line, being sure he would be called upon to amuse the company in that
way.
At last the day arrived, and at about six o'clock P.M. Thompson was on
his way to the boatswain's house. His companions were dressed in their
very best, and looked as unhappy as two baboons who had tried on a suit
of clothes for the first time. On the road he endeavoured to instil a
little cheerfulness into them, but it proved a total failure.
"We mustn't chew, and we mustn't get tight, and we mustn't smoke,"
growled Gummings.
"We've got to stay until he pipes down, and then all the publics will be
shut," muttered Price.
Mr. Shever walked slowly home, keeping the party always at a respectable
distance from him. What would people say if they knew he had invited
such strange guests? You see even H. M. boatswains are afraid of Mrs.
Grundy.
Mrs. Shever had stationed a small girl at the front door to let in
visitors, so that when Jerry touched the bell the door was promptly
opened and they were shown into the parlour. Here, enthroned upon the
sofa-bedstead, sat the good lady, waiting to receive her company. By her
side was seated her sister, a plump jolly girl, about eighteen years of
age, who, when she saw the sailors, giggled and bashfully hid her face
behind a turkey-feather fan.
The three men walked into the room, and stood looking at the ladies like
shy children.
In a few moments Mrs. Shever recovered her composure, which had been
slightly disturbed by the sudden entrance of the sailors, although all
three of them were well known to her, and addressing Jerry, said,
"Good-evening, Thompson, I'm proud to see you; and you too, Price and
Gummings." Jerry, not at all abashed after the ice was broken, advanced
towards the ladies, and politely inquired after their health. The two
sailors looked around with a bewildered air, pulled their forelocks,
mumbled, "Service to ye missis," and then retired to a bench behind the
door, from which place they did not emerge until tea commenced.
Thompson was soon quite at home; and as one corner of the sofa was
vacant, he requested permission to take it. His amusing stories quickly
won the young girl's attention, and a formal introduction took place,
Mrs. Shever giving him what he termed a handle to his name, by saying,
"Miss Mary Ann Ross, permit me to introjuce you to Mr. Thompson." When
she rose to bow, the artful fellow seized the opportunity, and sat down
between the ladies; and as they did not ask him to move, he made the
most of his position.
Soon after this Mr. Shever arrived, and seeing Thompson ensconced so
snugly, tried to catch his eye, to show him that he did not quite
approve of his freedom. But it was of no use. Jerry was oblivious of
winks and nods, or returned them as witty and artful exchanges to the
bewildered boatswain. At last, upon the arrival of Mrs. Shever's mother
and father and two of her cousins with their respective young men in
waiting. Mr. Shever requested Jerry to "move off that 'ere sofa, and let
the girls sit down," upon which his wife told the aforesaid girls to
"sit on chairs by the fire, as Mr. Thompson was getting on nicely," and
forthwith ordered her husband to go into the kitchen, and help the girl
to toast the muffins, adding, "she thought they could spare _him_ well
enough."
This flattering sentiment was fully indorsed by Jerry, who declared "he
often saw too much of the boatswain," a remark which was received as a
real joke by all present excepting the two sailors, who were fast asleep
when it was made. They woke up, however, in time to join in the laugh
that followed, after which they again sweetly slumbered.
Mr. Shever stood in the passage between the parlour and kitchen until
the laughter died away, and, we are sorry to state, said anything but
his prayers. "Bless his impudence to sit on the sofa between 'Melia and
Mary Ann, and to wink at me like that there, and he only a common
sailor. For two pins I'd pipe down now."
Another peal of laughter followed just then, as Jerry had finished
relating a joke, the fun of which was torture to the boatswain. The
latter seized his call, and putting it to his lips, blew the shrill
signal, known on board ship as "pipe down."
"What's that?" exclaimed Mrs. Shever.
"Do you keep a canary?" innocently inquired Thompson. Upon which the
boatswain gave another blast of the pipe, and this time it was much
louder.
Mrs. Shever rang the bell, and when the servant appeared told her "to
inform Mr. Shever if he wanted to amuse himself in that way he'd better
wait until he got on board his ship," and added, "I suppose he don't
want _me_ to come out to him."
As he did not repeat the noise, it may be presumed he felt as if his
wife was just as well where she was; so holding his peace, he turned his
attention to toasting the muffins, and winking at the servant girl,
which combination of amusement and labour at last made him recover his
temper, and by the time he had finished he became quite cheerful again.
"If you please mem, tea's aready in the back bedroom," said the servant.
Mrs. Shever darted a look of displeasure at the girl, but without
otherwise noticing the _faux pas_, invited her visitors to the room
above, which was indeed usually devoted to the purpose described by the
maid.
The boatswain had what he called "rigged the tea table" after the
fashion common on board ship, when the sailors make an effort to
entertain some distinguished visitor. In the centre was a huge
earthenware jug, filled with choice flowers; and the decorations on this
article being of a gorgeous and somewhat eccentric nature, we will
briefly describe them. On one side was depicted H. M. S. Bluefire, which
with brown sails, red masts and rigging, and blue hull, was bounding
over a yellow and black sea, in company with some purple and brown
boats. On the reverse side was a representation of the Sailor's
Farewell, showing how a gallant tar in a blue suit, scarlet face, and
goggle eyes, takes leave of a young woman dressed in a yellow gown, cut
very low to show off her pea-green complexion. The said jug was a relic
of Mrs. Shever's girlish days; and being a present to her from a
sweetheart, who was lost in an Arctic expedition, was looked upon as an
ornament of great value, and as such only brought out on state
occasions, like the present.
The table presented a somewhat crowded appearance, as the boatswain had
piled up the eatables until there was not room to set another tea-cup.
As they had only eleven chairs, he rigged a seat by the window, and when
the visitors entered the room, he endeavored to allot this to Jerry.
"Well, mum," said the unabashed sailor, "you have done the thing hansom;
ellow me--" upon which he handed the delighted woman to her place at the
head of the table. He next installed Mary Ann; and taking a seat between
them, cheerfully observed that, "the company had better fall to."
The silent sailors being somewhat modest, were still standing in the
passage, and there were two vacant places at the table. The boatswain
was about availing himself of one of these, when his wife exclaimed,
"Mr. Shever, where's your manners? the visitors are not all
accommodated."
Shever brought in the two sailors, who seated themselves upon the
extreme edge of their chairs, and looked around at the festive party
like infants suddenly led into a confectioner's and left to their own
resources.
The unfortunate boatswain had no alternative but to take the seat by the
window, from which he was presently drawn to hand round the muffins;
this occupation calling forth from Jerry the witty remark that, "Mr.
Shever seemed quite in his element," the point of which was utterly lost
upon that worthy.
Thompson related some of his most amusing yarns, which were received
with roars of laughter by all present, with the exception of the host
and the two seamen. The latter, finding themselves behind a heap of
bread and butter, were busily employed in reducing the level of the
same, varying their banquet with a few pinches of shrimps, which they
swallowed whole, utterly oblivious of heads or tails, washing down any
little obstacle with tea, which they imbibed from pint mugs, Mrs. Shever
knowing it was useless to tickle their palates with ordinary quantities.
"Oh, you funny man!" screamed Mary Ann; "I never heard the likes of you
before."
Jerry received this as a direct avowal of admiration on the part of the
young lady, and redoubled his exertions to amuse her.
The boatswain was boiling over with rage; and as he dared not object
before his wife, was obliged to nurse his wrath, his only relief being
to go outside the room, and "pipe down" softly in the passage, or to
wink at the servant whenever he could do so with safety.
The ladies pressed Thompson to eat, saying "he had not done justice to
the fare." This brought forth an avowal from him, "that to his idea
their company was more delightful than the choicest viands." Upon this
sentence being explained to Mrs. Shever's mother, who was a deaf old
lady, the latter signified her appreciation by hammering on the table
with a fork, and crying "braywo," which being looked upon as a genteel
proceeding and part of the ceremony by the silent sailors, was
immediately adopted by them, and a round of hearty applause followed.
The boatswain, seizing this opportunity, placed his call to his lips and
"piped belay," a feat which he accomplished without being detected by
his wife; although the seamen understood it, and ceased their knocking
at once.
The company descended to the parlour, which they cleared for dancing;
after this the seamen took up their old positions behind the door,
where, like two well-gorged boaconstrictors, they curled themselves up
and went to sleep.
As a sort of opening exercise, one of the young men in waiting
volunteered a song, which was chiefly on "wiolets." This he bellowed
out in a high tone, turning up his eyes to the ceiling all the while,
until, in rendering the more powerful notes, he strongly resembled a
blind man.
Jerry listened very attentively, until the last verse was sung, when,
attracting Mary Ann's eye, he turned up his optics exactly as the singer
was doing. This was too much for her, and she laughed outright; the rest
of the company following suit, until the fellow began to think he was
singing a comic song instead of a floral howl, and catching the
infection himself, laughed louder than any of the party.
The boatswain now introduced the fiddler, who, apologizing for the
absence of the harpist, who, he stated, was suffering from a headache,
fell to tuning his violin.
Thompson was uncertain whether to ask the hostess or Mary Ann to dance
with him. He was about to speak to Mrs. Shever, when she said
good-humouredly, "Now, Mr. Thompson, _don't_ neglect Mary Ann!" upon
which he led the blushing girl out, and in a few moments they were "hard
at it," this being the only term we can apply to their exertions, Mrs.
Shever dancing with her husband, who was about as active as a
half-trained elephant.
Jerry was in great favour. His frank manner and amusing stories
delighted every one; he danced with all the ladies in succession, and
quite won the heart of the oldest one by asking her twice, although
there was little danger of her accepting him the second time, as he had
completely exhausted her for the evening during the first; nevertheless,
the old lady was charmed with him, and declared he was "quite a
gentleman."
His best efforts were, however, reserved for his performance with Mary
Ann and his hostess, with whom he was, as the boatswain remarked, "as
much at home as if the house belonged to him." He amused them during the
intervals of the dances with choice songs of a pathetic kind; and, as he
possessed a good voice and style, the women were several times melted to
tears.
About ten o'clock the hostess produced a steaming bowl of punch, upon
which the silent sailors immediately woke up, and received a liberal
allowance of the liquid. Carefully holding their mugs, as if anxious
that none of the nectar should escape they retreated to their corner,
and two sponges could not have absorbed the fluid more expeditiously or
quietly than they did. After a time they emerged from their concealment,
and finding no one was looking, helped each other to another dose of the
delicious beverage, then sank back into their former retirement, this
manoeuvre being repeated several times during the evening.
Under the influence of Mrs. Shever's brewing the party had become quite
noisy, and Thompson had danced his last hornpipe before they found the
time had arrived to separate. The boatswain decided to walk a short
distance with the seamen; and Price and Gummings after many declarations
that "Misshis Sheaver was a dutchessh, and Missir Sheaver wast a
perfetchs shentleman, and they never had enjoyshed themselves so much
afore," were with the assistance of Jerry, at last fairly got out of the
house.
When at some distance from his residence the boatswain suddenly stopped,
and drawing forth his pipe, blew the well-known "pipe down;" then
assuming his naval authority, he ordered the sailors to go their ways.
Upon turning to speak to Jerry, with whom he wished to have an
explanation, he found that individual had vanished; thinking it might be
from fear of his anger, he did not trouble himself, knowing he could
talk to him at a future time, when the sailor would be a little more
respectful. Mr. Shever then walked about with his hat off, until his
mind was thoroughly composed, when he retired to the bosom of his
family.
Jerry had quietly returned to bid Mary Ann good-bye, and entering the
house, found the two ladies busily engaged in putting their hair in
paper, preparatory to retiring up-stairs.
"Law, Jerry, how you did frighten me," exclaimed Mary Ann.
As the effects of love at first sight were somewhat increased by the
punch he had imbibed, Thompson was not at all hurt at being called
Jerry, but he advanced towards the blushing maiden, and saying she
looked like an angel, proceeded to kiss her in a vigorous manner.
"For shame!" said the delighted girl. "Have done now, Jerry, or I'll
scream."
"You rogue, you," observed Mrs. Shever. "Why you'd kiss me if I didn't
stop you. I wish Shever would come in."
The active sailor proceeded at once to demonstrate his admiration of the
latter speaker, evidently having little fear of the boatswain's
returning just then, and a loud smack on the face, administered "more in
sorrow than in anger" announced the completion of the outrage.
"There never was such a shocking man," giggled the matron.
"Don't you try it on again!" cried Mary Ann, in a most provoking manner.
Despite her pleading, Jerry renewed his attention, and as they parted,
boldly declared that "he'd have her if she'd have him."
Mary Ann saw him out of the house, and as he kissed her for the last
time, quietly murmured, "Jerry, dear, I'll marry you whenever you are
ready."
Happy pair! they had now a bright future to anticipate: both could dream
of it. It was a pleasant and inexpensive luxury, and about as likely to
be realized as such visions usually are. However, "they've done it now,"
as the boatswain observed, when his wife informed him of the fact of
Mary Ann's engagement. "That's what comes of introducing people of low
manners into society. There'll be a 'mess-alliance,' and all the parties
will be sorry for it when it's too late." Mr. Shever was evidently of
opinion that Jerry was far beneath Mary Ann's notice, and possibly
forgot that when he married her sister he was only what he now termed a
common sailor; while his wife, seeing in Thompson, a good-hearted, merry
fellow, woman-like, favoured his suit.
[Illustration: Decoration]