GETTING UP IN THE WORLD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 126, 28 May 1881, Page 2

GETTING UP IN THE WORLD.

" I must tell you," said a skipper, as he took up a fresh cigar, " about Stiles, a shipmate of mine on one of my early voyages. Stiles was a simple-hearted, transparent young fellow, and when we sailed had been * payin' ' attention to a young lady whom he had reason to think did not fully reciprocate his ardent feelings. At all events, the parting on her side was not so affectionate as he coutd wish, and he was impressed with the belief that sho only kept him as a stand-by, in default of a better offer. ' I don't believe/ Stiles | would say, with a despondent shake of j his head, * I don't believe Ann Jones '11 \ have me anyhow.' When we had been out a lew months aud bad met with

fair success, Stiles's tone was foodifted* The burden of his monologue changed to, * Well, I dun'no but what Ann Jones '11 have me after aft.* With a thousand barrels under hatches, he became still more hopeful. ; ' 'Chance is pretty good for Ann Jones,' he would say, * pretty good now.' At fifteen hundred barrels he had assumed a selfsatisfied manner, and thus he 1 soliloquised^ * I guess there's no danger but what Ann Jones 'H have me now.' At two thousand barrels, 'Ann Jones '11 be glad enough to get me now, I know.' •'■ When we cut the last whale to fill the Rose, and squared away for home, Stiles threw his hat in the air with a yell of triumph, 'I'll be blowed if I'll have Ann Jones, anyhow.' And he didn't." •