Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1907 — THE SAILOR KING [ARTICLE]

THE SAILOR KING

William 1., the uncle and Immediate predecessor of Queen Victoria, was usually called the “sailor king,”'and he possessed in a remarkable degree the open hearted, frank and generous spirit which characterizes the British tar. The prince, being at home for the Chrlßtmas gathering at Windsor castle, was taking a stroll in London by hjmself, a custom by no means uncommon with him, for he disliked being followed by attendants. It chanced that he made his way over London bridge, which at that time had a series of narrow alcoves or recesses with seats along the river or balustrade side of the pavement. In these nooks beggars often congregated, not only the regular professional mendicant with his ready whine and madeup tale of distress, but the really unfortunate, who were certainly not cared for then as they are now,* It was, a bitter December day, and the ice cold wind pierced even the comfortable wrappings of the sailor prince, chilling his young blood, but it seemed to freeze the ragged creatures whom he passed. It may be that feeling the cold himself caused him to look with awakened Interest at the poor, when suddenly he noticed u middle aged, weather beaten Jack tar in a ragged jacket and trousers, a red nightcap on his head and his old shoes tied on his feet by some strainds of rope. lie had neither shirt nor stockings, and, though his skiu seemed to have been bronzed and dried by the rigor both of heat nud cold In many different climates, he now appeared nearly perishing with frost and hunger. An expression gleamed in the eyes of this miserable object and the young prince at the same moment.

They knew each other, and as the poor man’s glance fell before the startled and benevolent gaze of the royal middy the latter sang out in a true sea breezy voice: “What, Bob Clewlines, do I not hall an old shipmate In you? To be sure I do, and as prime a seaman as ever trimmed a sail or Served a gun. Why, what has battered your old hulk in this way ?’ TTie man was dumb with conflicting emotions, but the tears started in his eyes. The middy, also overcome, stretched out his hand, which the other did not venture to take. “Come, Bob,” cried the prince, “no subordination now. We are all equals op life's qimrter deck when a storm comes and tears the rigging. Come, tip us your fin, old boy, and, 1 say, come along with me, and I’ll see a bit to the refitting of your canvas. Come, look sharp!” So saying, the youth walked briskly on till ho came to a shop near Wellclose square. “Here, you, sir, I want an ‘out and out,’ spick and span new rigging for my mate here.” “Who'S to pay?” said the cautious trader. ■“Why, I'll pay, to be sure,” was the reply. “Oh, very well,” he answered and retired with Bob into his back room and soon returned, bringing the seaman comfortably clad and two Changes of underlinen done up in a bundle uudei his arm. Just as Bob Clewlines appeared a half naked boy passed the shop doo^. “Pitch your old togs to that younker,” said the prince. “One good turn deserves another, Bob.” And so as the shivering lad thankfully gathered up the ragged garb there were two hearts made happier at the same moment “And now what’s to pay?” cried the royal middy. “Fifteen dollars, sir.” With genuine sailor impetuosity the generous youth had not calculated his finances, and as the allowance made to Prince William Henry was never large and he was by no means skillful in managing it he was for a moment perplexed w hat to do until he thought of his watch and said, “What will you give me for this?” The dealer eyed it suspiciously, weighed it In his hand and then began to deprecate It. V'."—“It’s very pretty, but not heavy. It’s the fashion maybe, but we buy by weight—just the case Is all. I’ll venture to give you S2O for the case, sir, but I’m like to lose by It.” “Let’s see, then, you take the gold case, and I’ll keep the Inside. It must work like my mate for a bit without Its jacket, but I must have $25. Do as I bid you, man, and let me have the money.” * The dealer finally took the watch and handed sls change to the royal middy, who said: “Here, Bob, do you take the odd change to keep your pocket warm till you get aboard again.” By this time poor Bob was crying like a child, for he had been long sick and disabled, and It was no fault of his that he was destitute. With honest pride he feared that he was asking too much from his benefactor, but the youth overcame his reluctance, saying os he held the money toward him: “Come, come, take In your cargo, shipmate. It’s only what I owe you. Were you not the kindest creature in the world to me when I was confined to my berth with yellow fever? Do yon think I have forgotten that? What do you take me for, eh? Go and get some rations, my man.” It Is said the royal middy had to put himself on a month’s short allowance of cash to make up the arrears incurred to get his wgteh case back. Meanwhile Bob did not forget to tell the story, and It was deeds like this that endeared William Henry, duke of Clarence, to the people of England.-* London* News.