"hadn't ony ile in 'em, ony how." They could not give the chase up so. Consequently the blacksmith was applied to at once for a regular harpoon. After a little tinkering they produced a stout steelpointed spear, well rigged with chain and stout line. so, again fitted out, the boat is headed in a beeline for the fishing-ground, or, more likely, a butterfly-line-a zigzag-for the lagoon lies to windward from the fortress, and nine times out of ten we have to beat up there, when the wind is a trade from the east, which is most of the time; if it blows a norther, there is little comfort; or if there is a dead calm, it is just as bad for sailing. THE BOS'N AT HOME The Bos'n begged off for this trip; | dispersed by the furious onset of their excited 66 sure The shoals were black with these huge creatures, but they were getting shy. The only chance was to float gently near them; in doing so they approached pretty closely, and Charley, regardless of boat or any thing, leaped over and made a plunge at one of the beasts, driving his harpoon "clean home," as Fatty said, enough." The water was just deep enough to make it difficult walking, so Fatty tumbles in and essays to help. Charley, in his eagerness to do the whole thing, lost his hold, while Fatty suddenly appeared to be running off in a most extraordinary manner. The shark had gotten so much line out that he had full play, and was now running at full speed, towing Fat Charley, like a big log, endwise on the surface. This was amusement for Fatty; and nothing can exceed the novelty of the scene, when all around the lagoon, back and forth, from one side to the other, the huge boy was seen driving his single team, and kicking out behind in the greatest glee. Imagine the astonishment of the rest of the herd, now huddling in some remote part of the lagoon, and then suddenly As long as we remained at the fortress we never could get a sight of them again; though previously they had been often seen feeding in great numbers within this inclosed shoal. The boat was then gotten under way, and Fatty bestowed himself amid-ships to look after the fore-sheet and take a quiet smoke, while Charley bethought him, at the helm, what report he should make to the Bos'n, who was ing observations over the top of his famous telediscerned, as they approached the shore, takscope. At the head-quarters of our crew, the old in an early Number, the evenings were somehospital, a description of which has been given The summer of 1863 was remarkably hot, times enlivened by unusual fun and jollity. and the rebellion at its height. Prisoners of Too many were here alall complexions were thronging the fortress, and still they came. ready, yet loads of them continued to arrive. Nearly all were badly tainted with scurvy; and no more unfavorable place could be selected for such as were thus afflicted, particularly on | ble index of the complaint, met one at every account of the scarcity of vegetables. Crowd- turn. ed as they were in the jails at New Orleans, many were broken down before they reached here; others were taken sick on the long voyage of the half-rotten tubs sent from the Northern ports. The surgeon's first thought was, what indigenous productions are possible? The boat is manned, and a thorough search is made of the islands in the group. It was found that purs ble, plant to be found. Boats were sent out, and loads were brought in and distributed among the various messes. The purslain was boiled, and used as greens, with vinegar and pepper. This, of itself, was not only useful in a wonderful degree as an antiscorbutic, but it proved a luxury as an article of diet. lain, a succulent vegetable that is well known Altogether a serious aspect was gathering in the gardens of the North as a troublesome upon our pleasant garrison. Nearly nine hun-weed-called there pusley-grew in profusion dred prisoners and a regiment of infantry on most of the islands, and particularly where were quartered within the walls of the fortress. the earth had been newly cleared and turned Though the medical department was usually up. This was the only available, the only eatawell provided with the necessary supplies, antiscorbutics were wanting, and no fund was available for the purchase of such. The surgeon suggested and carried out a plan which proved a godsend to the wretched creatures. It must be remembered that the great bulk of these prisoners were men with families, who had been hastily picked up and court-martialed for various infractions of discipline, and not for crime. Men they were who had found it difficult to succumb to the exactions of petty officers, who in many instances were their inferiors. Many decent men were thus punished unjustly; and many instances occurred wherein it was found that officers of their regiments had preferred charges from mere personal revenge. We are glad to record that such instances, when brought to the notice of the officers in charge, were considered, and the individual in nearly every case released from confinement. Those who have never made use of this article will find it an excellent greens, and also a pleasant substitute for asparagus, boiled, and eaten with butter, or dressed with toast, like asparagus. A most grateful article it proved to be to the sick and wretched of this garrison. The juice of limes is far beyond any other remedy for scurvy. Limes were to be obtained at Key West, but the quantity required constantly was so great that we were unable to meet the expenses. The Sanitary Commission sent useful articles, but the prisoners, who needed the most, were left out, and would have died in great numbers had not some extra measures been taken to provide for them. Money must be had at some rate to purchase the necessary Still there was much to do to provide for those who were to remain. Men were dying of scurvy, and those that were apparently well had no employment. The different depart-articles. The surgeon hit upon a plan whereby ments worked all they could use, but many were cooped within the close casemate quarters, and subject to the very conditions that favor the increase if not the origin of the dread disease. The leaden complexion, that unmistaka he accomplished two important ends by very simple means. He would turn out from the vast throng all who could sing, dance, play a tune, or tell a story. Here was a chance to stir up this mouldering mass of humanity, give regiment of soldiers and a regiment of prisoners? All those who desire to take parts in music, dancing, minstrelsy, or the very light drama, etc., are requested to report, etc., etc. An order of this import was promulgated in the quarters both of the prisoners and soldiers. Such a motley assemblage! "Then came each actor" (from his cell)-"the best actors in the world" (upon their own showing), "either for tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, pastoralcomical, historical-pastoral, tragical-pastoral, scene individable, or poem unlimited." Unquestionably there were some who could, upon occasion, invest a scene with all the interest belonging to a real tragedy. Low comedy was well represented, as well as the comic drama. From the eager throng seventeen performers were selected; others were held in reserve. The old building was fitted up with comfortable seats for the audience. A decent stage was erected; suitable scenery was painted, and a gorgeous drop-curtain procured, upon which was a painting of Fort Jefferson. On the painting, which was very large, and the fort well in the fore-ground, were the two light-houses. A pleasant trick was perpetrated by Charley just before the opening, when the audience were admiring the unexpected scene. He punctured the lantern of the light-houses, and placed a candle behind each, which gave a very pretty effect, and, in the parlance of the theatre, brought down the house. What with the dropcurtain, a few pieces of appropriate side scenery, and a pretty display of flags and bunting of all colors, the interior of the little theatre was quite cheerful and inviting. The Bos'n was made usher and door-keeper, and was busy as a bee in all the various duties appertaining to his office. Fat Charley was to be drop-tender, to have charge of the curtain, and act as "supe" as occasion required. The green-room was above stairs, in a large room-as was requisite, it may be imagined, for seventeen performers. FORT JEFFERSON. To start with, it was deemed prudent to adopt the minstrel style of performance. The rehearsal revealed a personage who was at once elected as manager-Dan Sullivan. Who of that assemblage will ever forget Dan Sullivan and his inimitable performances? Dan was a snug-built, devil-may-care Irish boy; sharp as steel; with a peculiar mark in one eye, that, with his pock-marked face, gave him a look wherein mischief was read clearly. Dan could do any thing in the line of the "profession." He didn't brag-not at all; he only said "Yes, Sir," and opened that sinister eye in a peculiar way in answer to inquiries. The first rehearsal proved all; he was sufficient, and was pronounced a fit man to be a manager; though he was to be strictly subordinate to the directorship-a position that the surgeon held for himself as the supreme guide of the affair. An amusing crowd they were for minstrels, for nearly half were black-negroes. Bones was black as the ace of spades-a perfect African. Of course there was little need of burned cork in their case. Bones realized all that was pos sible in his part; he played every thing that could be put into the "instruments," and put himself into every conceivable position in doing so; but he had not a particle of humor in his composition, and only varied the stolid look which settled upon his countenance by an occasional exhibition of white ivory-a big mouthful-when the audience applauded with more than usual vigor. His bone-playing, in a word, was really a piece of perfection. Bones danced a jig also, with the same precise, mechanical method. Dan Sullivan danced in like manner, but always embellished his jig with humorous remarks and "taking" situations; expressions of face conveying humor, effective in the same manner as that of Grimaldi, or other successful clowns. There seems to be a fund of such humor in men of his class-an inexhaustible mine from which well up sparkling ideas that set the muscles of the face afloat, and the voluble tongue into electric-like fluency, on the slightest occasion. On some trifling theme the audience while, for those who love the humorous, to see George Cruikshank's drawing of the scene in Dickens's "Life of Joseph Grimaldi." though, as we have remarked, not unused to leaves. After this amusing description, which sportive tricks and first-class merriment-burst is from the pen of Charles Dickens, it is worth with simultaneous roar at a sudden turn in the fun then going on. We are often reminded in Dan's performances of Grimaldi's unsuccessful shave by the barber's daughter-showing how a "face" will sometimes create great merriment. "Grim" had walked up and down to look up a barber's shop. Seeing a pole near by, he stepped in, and observing that there was only a pretty little girl within, who was sitting at her needlework, he retired, saying as he did so that he would step in again. Strolling about the marketplace a while, he called again, but the barber had not come home. Grimaldi was walking down the street when he met Mr. Howard, the manager, who walked back with him, and stepped in. Her father had not come in yet. "That's very provoking," said Grimaldi; "considering that I have called here three times already." The girl agreed that it was, and stepped to the door to see if he was in sight. "Do you want to see him on any particular business?" inquired Howard. The tambourine-player, or Tambo, familiarly, was a wiry little mulatto, who called himself St. Clare-a mere boy. He was a perfect monkey in mimicry, and proved a great “card,” as the managers say. St. Clare, as well as Sullivan and others, had been connected with strolling companies-bands of " minstrels," circus followers, etc. St. Clare had a funny way of singing the popular songs of the day, and particularly those of the break-down kind. He was good in "Ham Fat" and "walk-arounds," and particularly strong in "H'ist up the Flag" and the "Baby Show." Tambo led off usually with song in the minstrels, and the company joined in the chorus. Conundrums were introduced, and many local hits. On one occasion St. Clare-Tambowas given a part to perform which "brought down the house"-"highly gratified the aujence," as the Bos'n remarked. A light-brown "Bless my heart! no; I only want to be dog had long been the pet of the garrison, beshaved," said Grimaldi. "Shaved, Sir!" cried the girl. "Oh dear me, what a pity it is you didn't say so before, for I do most of the shaving when he is at home, and all when he is out." "To be sure she does," says Howard. have been shaved here fifty times." longing to no one person, but making his home at the guard-house. He came to be called "Sugar," and always answered to that name. Sugar had a habit of always meeting the ladies and officers of the garrison at the sally-port, "I and accompanying them in the usual walk around the walls, first saluting, which was accomplished in the usual manner of dogs-by coming to attention, arching gracefully the spinal column, extending the jaws to a right angle, and gaping. "You have ?" said Grimaldi. "Oh, I am sure I have no objection. I am quite ready, my dear." Sugar was the garrison dog. Just as engine companies have their dogs, so do battalions or companies of soldiers have theirs. Sugar was just the color of the brown sweet that you see in long boxes marked, Cuba. He was much attached to the guard-house, and, for the time being, the officer of the guard was his commanding officer. Tambo was bright enough, and played the tambourine acceptably. He had a good deal of original humor; but he could not remember new things with certainty. On this occasion he was drilled for the local joke, and after a few rehearsals he was charged, and ready to fire off on the coming evening. Evening came, but not without some misgivings on the part of the director. Full of humor as St. Clare was, he was unaccountably stupid in learning any new joke. Sam Douglass, another mulatto, one of the sentimental kind, who would always sing "Rock me to Sleep, Mother," or one or more of the numerous paterno-pathet Grimaldi sat himself down in a chair, and the girl commenced the task in a very businesslike manner-Grimaldi feeling an irresistible tendency to laugh at the oddity of the operation, but smothering it by dint of great efforts, while the girl was shaving his chin. At length, when she got to his upper lip, and took his nose between her fingers with a piece of brown paper, he could stand it no longer, but burst into a tremendous roar of laughter, and made a face at Howard, which the girl no sooner saw than she dropped the razor, and laughed immoderately also; whereat Howard began to laugh too, which only set Grimaldi laughing more; when, just at this moment, in came the barber, who, seeing three people in convulsions of mirth, one of them with a soapy face and a gigantic mouth, making the most extravagant faces over a white towel, threw himself into a chair without ceremony, and dashing his hat on the ground, laughed louder than any of them, declaring in broken words, as he could find breath to utter them, that "that gentle-ic ditties, had just been informing the audience man as was being shaved was out of sight the that "poor dog Tray's never ugly," when St. funniest gentleman he had ever seen," and en- Clare commenced: "I's gwine ter perpound treating him to "stop them faces, or he knew fur yer eddification a conundlecumdrum. Kin he should die." When they were all perfectly enny you ign'ant darkies 'splain ter me why exhausted, the barber finished what the daugh--dat is, can yer-can yer"-("Grocery store,' ter had begun; and, rewarding the girl with a says the prompter in his ear; for Tambo sat shilling, Grimaldi and the manager took their purposely at the extreme end under the folds head, and looked about as much like getting the true an swer as the side of a stove-pipe. "I kin tell yer why dat box am like a groDat box cery store. am like a grocery store "Who-0-0 ya fesultin' dar? Jes' you hole yer lip! I'll tell yer why dis box dat I's settin' on am like a grocery store-becase it is chock-full of Brown Sugar." "Bress us, honey! Well, now, de gen'l'man hab lef' his mind, shuah," says sentimental Sam, with an expression of mingled indignation and ridifcule. ALONG THE FLORIDA REEF. "Git back, now! Wha-wha-what der yer mean, foolin' the gen'l'Whar's de sugar?" men ob dis yer stage? says Violin. Tambo stood up, lifted the box by the edge, when Sugar, the dog, who had been curled up in the small space of a candle-box, leaped to the front, shook himself, came to a "right-shoulder shift," and left the stage by the "right oblique" in "quick time." It is needless to add that the house was then and there "brought down." Here was a minstrel troupe of real Southern Among the negroes was one most mysterious BROWN SUGAR. class that he could find-one about the size of his head-had cut the point away; and the music that he got out of that contrivance would have arrested the attention of Ned Kendall's ghost. In the chorus, loud above the din and rattle of the various instruments, the hoarse croaking of Pedro's conch was heard. Sam, the affectionate, beat the triangle; and it was as good as a play to see him fondly gazing at the wonderful performance of Pedro in his occasional "conch solos." Pedro came out stronger afterward in a He was a magician. The Bos'n new rôle. remarked that "that yallow fellar had an oncommon look o' the devil aboot him." Pedro was allowed to spread his throne of mysteries, and come out between the second and third parts with an astonishing array of articles appertaining to the mystic craft. He gave quite a creditable performance, and several tricks were new to the audience. Among the best performances, or we ought to say the very best, was the "song and dance," by Dan Sullivan, song and which always came in secondly, after the minstrels; we might say, also, that the " |