Entertaining the Stokers.

Otago Witness, Issue 2046, 11 May 1893, Page 50

Entertaining the Stokers.

A pretty story, which.has, moreover, the merit of being true, is told of a certain professional singer. He had a beautiful tenor voice, of which he ww apt to take the best care, so that when he was orossing the Atlantio one summer with a party of friends, they were not surprised to find that he disappeared from view every evening at just about the same time.

"Afraid of the night air," said one with a slight smile. "Afraid we'll ask him to sing, probably!" said another ; but no one questioned him, as he was known to be quite immovable from his own way. But when the last night on board came a deputation descended to his state room to beg for a song, and discovered that he was not there.

They looked for him in vain, until at last the captain, who had evidently kept the secret as long as he could, said, pointing in the direction of the engine room : "I think you'll find him down there ; that's where he's gone every evening." Sure enough, when the deputation arrived at the engine room, they heard the sound of a guitar and a voice, and there, lolling against the wall, was the missing tenor, singing his best for the delight of the stokers, whom he had entertained in this way for more than an hour every evening during the voyage.