Raymond S. Spears

“ Tappan was unusually generous in the matter; the fact was, he didn't want Toskin hiring a darky express drayman to bring trunks to that shanty boat, around which there had already grown up a tradition.
Putting the trunks onto the Sneak, he dropped down to the boat and handed them onto the stern deck. Toskin dragged them through the galley into the main cabin easily, despite their weight. He was a slender, graceful young man, with a pallid countenance, nervous energy and gray-green eyes of large and emerald luster. ”

“ Tappan, I've just finished an art course in New York. For years and years I've longed for the day when I should be able to float with the current down the Mississippi River. There are possibilities down here for an artist—there's an atmosphere, a spirit, which if I could only catch and fix it—um-m! I've been, mostly, an illustrator. I earned considerable in the advertising fields. Now—a dream I've had is come true!"
"Yes, sir, I expect." Tappan nodded. "It's a nice boat!" ”

“ Happening to be on Fox River at the ferry one day he found a young man standing on Pixie's float, looking up and down with wide-eyed interest. Tappan landed against the float, quite as though that had been his intention, and seeing his uniform, the young man walked up to him eagerly, asking:
"Isn’t the life in these house boats wonderful?"
"Yes, sir," Tappan replied, gravely and with sincerity. "There’s nothing more wonderful down thisaway than shanty boating." ”