Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 90, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 July 1902 — An Unofficial Offer. [ARTICLE]

An Unofficial Offer.

Thomas, tenth Earl of Duudonald, at his death vice admiral in the English navy, tells in his “Autobiography of a Seaman” of an incident on board the Hind, on which he served as midshipman. The pet of the ship was a parrot, the aversion of the boatswain, whose whistle the bird leaned to imitate exactly. One day a party of ladles paid us a visit aboard. By the usual means of a "whip” on the yard-arm several had been hoisted on deck. The chain had descended for another. Scarcely had Its fair freight been lifted out of the boat alongside when the parrot piped, "Let go!” •' The order was instantly obeyed, and the unfortunate lady, instead of being comfortably seated on deck, was soused in the sea. Luckily for her, the men were on the watch and quiekly pulled her out, and luckily for the parrot the boatswain was on shore, or this unseasonable asanmptlon of the boatswain's function! might have ended tragically for the bird. • o What doth It profit a man if be maketh a three-bagger and dleth at third bzael