THE RELIGION OF A SAILOR
Aseacaptainwheandsuponthebridge,orlooksoutfromhisdeck-house,thinksmuchaboutGodandabouttheworld.Awayinthevalleyyonderamongtheandthepoppiesmenmaywellfetallthingsexceptthewarmthofthesunuponthefadthekindshadowuhehedge;buthewhojourhroughstormanddarknessmusthinkandthink.OneJulyacoupleofyearsagoItookmysuppertainMoranonboardtheS.S.Margaret,thathadputintoawesternriverfromIknownotwhere.Ifoundhimamanofmanynotionsallflavouredwithhispersonality,asisthewaywithsailors.HetalkedinhisqueerseamannerofGodandtheworld,andupthroughallhiswordsbrokethehardenergyofhiscalling.
“Sur,”saidhe,“didyoueverheartelloftheseacaptain’sprayer?”
“No,”saidI;“whatisit?”
“Itis,”hereplied,“’ivemeastiffupperlip.’”
“Andwhatdoesthatmean?”
“Itmeans,”hesaid,“thatwhentheyetomesomenightandwakemeup,andsay,‘Captain,we’regoingdown,’thatIwon’tmakeafoolo’meself.Why,sur,wewarinmidAtlantidIstandin’onthebridge,whehirdmateesuptomelookingmortialbad.Sayshe,‘Captain,all’supwithus.’SaysI,‘Didn’tyouknowwhenyoujoihatacertainpertagegodowneveryyear?’‘Yes,sur,’sayshe;andsaysI,‘Arn’tyoupaidtogodown?’‘Yes,sur,’sayshe;andsaysI,‘Thengodownlikeaman,andbedamoyou!”’松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读
“Sur,”saidhe,“didyoueverheartelloftheseacaptain’sprayer?”
“No,”saidI;“whatisit?”
“Itis,”hereplied,“’ivemeastiffupperlip.’”
“Andwhatdoesthatmean?”
“Itmeans,”hesaid,“thatwhentheyetomesomenightandwakemeup,andsay,‘Captain,we’regoingdown,’thatIwon’tmakeafoolo’meself.Why,sur,wewarinmidAtlantidIstandin’onthebridge,whehirdmateesuptomelookingmortialbad.Sayshe,‘Captain,all’supwithus.’SaysI,‘Didn’tyouknowwhenyoujoihatacertainpertagegodowneveryyear?’‘Yes,sur,’sayshe;andsaysI,‘Arn’tyoupaidtogodown?’‘Yes,sur,’sayshe;andsaysI,‘Thengodownlikeaman,andbedamoyou!”’松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读