Drowne's Wooden Image

           Onesunshinymorning,inthegoodoldtimesofthetownofBoston,ayoungcarverinwood,wellknownbythenameofDrowne,stoodcontemplatingalargeoakenlog,whichitwashispurposetoconvertintothefigure-headofavessel.Andwhilehediscussedwithinhisownmindwhatsortofshapeorsimilitudeitwerewelltobestowuponthisexcellentpieceoftimber,therecameintoDrowne’sworkshopacertainCaptainHunnewell,ownerandcommanderofthegoodbrigcalledtheCynosure,whichhadjustreturnedfromherfirstvoyagetoFayal.

           "Ah!thatwilldo,Drowne,thatwilldo!"criedthejollycaptain,tappingthelogwithhisrattan."Ibespeakthisverypieceofoakforthefigure-headoftheCynosure.Shehasshownherselfthesweetestcraftthateverfloated,andImeantodecorateherprowwiththehandsomestimagethattheskillofmancancutoutoftimber.And,Drowne,youarethefellowtoexecuteit."

           "YougivememorecreditthanIdeserve,CaptainHunnewell,"saidthecarver,modestly,yetasoneconsciousofeminenceinhisart."But,forthesakeofthegoodbrig,Istandreadytodomybest.Andwhichofthesedesignsdoyouprefer?Here,"—pointingtoastaring,half-lengthfigure,inawhitewigandscarletcoat,—"hereisanexcellentmodel,thelikenessofourgraciousking.HereisthevaliantAdmiralVernon.Or,ifyoupreferafemalefigure,whatsayyoutoBritanniawiththetrident?"

           "Allveryfine,Drowne;allveryfine,"answeredthemariner."Butasnothinglikethebrigeverswamtheocean,soIamdeterminedsheshallhavesuchafigure-headasoldNeptuneneversawinhislife.