The Life and Public Services of James A. Garfield

perience with a Drunken Captain.-

the winter, reading whatever books he could find, and t

wever, was st

said to h

a ship some day, you woul

dying her restless boy and was not unprepared for t

how you like it; but if you want to be 'somebody,' as you

ast words, so delighted was he to

ckly as possible and walked th

t the wharf, he asked one of the crew if the

as the answer, "the captain w

personage; he expected to see a fine, noble-lo

y terrible oaths. Stepping aside to let the drunken

here, yer green l

o see the captai

Could this besotted brute be a specimen of the monarchs of the sea? The boy was so shocked and disgusted that he made no further effort to f

en Lake Erie and the Ohio river. One of the boats, called the "Evening Star," was tied to the bank

you doing here?" said

work," repl

of work d

to ship on the lake, but they bluffed me

usin; "I should like to have you work for me, but I've nothing be

mes, "and if that is the best you

s after; and it is easy to see how fascinating the trips from C

nd a cook. The bowsman stood in the forward part of the boat, made ready the locks, and threw the bow-line around the snubbing-post. The drivers had

e Tow

"Kit and Nance," as his team was calle

ore any one quite knew what had happened, both driver and mules were jerked into the canal. For a few seconds it seemed as if they would go to the bottom, but James was equal to the emergency, and,

" the captain ordered a change of teams,

, gives the following account of his talk w

gine I knew it all. I had been teaching school for three months in the backwoods of Steuben County, Indiana. So I asked him several questions

captain sent his bowsman to make the first lock ready. Just as he got there, a voice hai

bend," said her bowsma

the "Evening Star," with a volley of o

he did not often interfere, but it was a new experience to

lock belo

ng to law," was the answer, "

ll not!" h

" said th

d, "because it do

, and ashamed of his own carelessnes

on! Let them

by James's interference they were greatly incensed, and be

icate his rights when the time came, and i

tting-pole against his shoulder; a sudden lurch wrenched it from hi

aid the boy quickly;

with clenched fists. A fight seemed inevitable, but with one well-directed

him a good thrashing!"

wer," said the boy. Then, letting

d!" and from that time forth

's sartin-but he's a good un, got a mig