Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-10-17
DEATH OF A JACK TAR.

he was no longer able to perform his du-
ties on board of the yacht, with his former
activity; by and by, by slow degrees, these
pains and the concomitant ia6rmities OF
age increased upon him, and the yacht
had to be given up altogether. Then in
the ample chimney corner Of the servants
hall, in his lordship's mansion, in winter.
and on seat covered with an arbor,
overlooking the fish pond, which Lord
Mordant had constructed for his especial
benefit in summer, the old man passed his
waking hours telling his adventures by
land and food over and over again for
ycars-until at last he was confined to
his room-then to his bed.
He fingered, however long while and
Lord Mordant, who had become greatly
attached to him, frequently spent an hour
by his bedside. He was present when the
old man died. No one supposed that the
last event was. so neal. at hand.
His lordship, upon entering the room,
asked Jack, as usual, how he felt.
Sim drifting ashore fast, your HONOR
was the reply. "Old Jack Jenkins'll soon
be stranded in eternity"
Keep your courage; Jack said his lord
ship. / hope you'll be with us for many
day yet"
mo your honor. The orders been pass
ed to slip old Jacks cable, and the chains
already inhibited"
Can do anything for you? Have you
every thing you wish"
" I should like pipe of 'bacea, your
honor. Those varmints of servants won't
give it to me. though I've axed it twenty
times-coz why-the doctor says how it's
bad for my cough. The cough was plaguey
bad last night, your honor"
Then, Jack, [ think they did right.
You know they must follow the direction
of the physician"
"All right, sir. I don't blame 'em.
never axed for "a pipe these three weeks
till yesterday. l know it's a seaman's
duty to obey orders; but when a mans on
his beam ends, and all the doctors in the
service can't set up his rigging again
why, then | think it hard to thwart his
humor. Isshan't see daylight tomorrow
sir, and should like one pipe afore |
drops off the hook. May be 'bacca amt
served out in the other world
Jack said this so earnestly, yet so in
nocently, that his lordship, notwithstand-
ing that he saw the old man was rapidly
sinking, could scarcely forbear smile,
and he ordered a servant to bring the
much coveted pipe, which Jack smoked
with much apparent pleasure. Then lay
ing it aside, he said:
Bacca and me cuts acquaintance, your
honor, that's the last pipe old Jack Jen-
kins'l ever smoke.
Now, sir, please send for the parson,
for the old sailor'll take his departure for
the unseen world"
do you feel so very bad, Jack" asked
his lordship, with great feeling expressed
in the tone Of his voice.
/" / feels no pain, sir, but / know my
cables almost run out, the last bites close
to the hawse-hole, and there amt no time
to spare. / should like to make my ac-
counts all square before | sheer of.
Lord Mords.r,t pe.s dseeely for the
rector of tho parish, who soon arrived at
the abbey, and was shown into the old
mans bedroom.
Lord Mordant would have retired, but
Jack begged him to stay.
''How do you find yourself now, Jack?"
said the clergyman, to whom the old sail
or was personally known.
" | am dying, your reverence-dying-
slipping away quietly and comfortably
but my glass is nigh run out"
"Shall read to you, or pray with your"
" Thank you kindly-you may--I shall
be glad to listen; but first | would like
to ask your reverence a few questions"
!" What are they, Jack ? Speak freely"
said the clergyman. " Is your mind at
peace with the world ? do you possess the
hope Of happiness hereafter %
g | am pretty comfortable that way,
sir-as comfortable as man may well
be, who is passing, as / have heard you
say, through the valley of the shadow of
DEATH where all beyond looks hazy thro'
the spY-glass- but there is one thing that
troubles me sorely."
Then tell me what it is my good old
friend, and relieve your mind from all
earthly cares"
" This amt an earthly care, your rev.
erence," feebly replied the old man whose
life was evidently now fast ebbing away.
:" So much the better, Jack. It is well,
if at this awful hour you have been ena-
bled to forget all earthly cares, and turn
your thoughts entirely to that future,
whose mysteries you are so soon to solve.
What is it that you would speak to me
about?"
" It's one of those mysteries, sir, as |
should like to have my mind made easy
about before ! slip off. I've been spliced
on to two women, your reverence both
of whom have slipped their cables afore
me. What troubles me is to know which
on 'em | shall be lotted on to when I gets
up aloft."
I" In the future world there are no mar
riages, neither is there any given in mar
rage" replied the clergyman. "Let no
such triling thoughts occupy your mind
now"
WE'LL" replied Jack, Z" if your rever-
ence says SO, and the Bible says so, sup
pose it's all right. Not but what I'd
have liked to have tackled on nv first
wife again, poor thing but it would
have been hard to have had to hook on
through all eternity with old mother
Shipley's daughter. could never have
heard the songs of the angels while her
tongue was agoing, your reverence"
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