The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1855-06-14


and he belonged in one of the back towns
of New Jersey.
Now Jack Small not only refrained en-
tircly from drinking himself, but he used
sometimes to ask us to let the stuff alone.
He gave that job up, however, forwe made
such sport of him Lhathe was glad to let US
alone. But our captain had sharp eyes,
and it was not long before he began to show
us. He would often take Jack on shore
with him to spend the night, and such
things as that, while we were kept on board
the ship. Of course this created sort
ofenvy on our part, and it ended in deci-
ded ill-will towards poor Jack.
Now in truth, Jack was one of the best
fellows in the world. He was kind, oblig-
ing, honest, always willing to lend help
ing hand in case Of distress, and as true a
friend as ever lived,-only he wouldn't
drink with us, that was all. No--that
wasn't all. He learned faster than we did,
he was better sailor, and had learned
more of navigation. But this we tried to
lay to the captains paying him the most
attention, though we knew better at the
time, for we had the privilege of learning
just as much as We lad a mind to. The
truth of the matter was, we five loved the
idea of being 'oH sails better than we
did anything else, and we spent more time
in watching for opportunities to have a
spree than we did in learning to perfect
ourselves in the profession we had chosen.
1t even got so at length, that Jack
Small was called upon to take the deck
sometimes, when the officers were busy,
and he used to work out the reckoning at
noon as regularly as did the captain, Yet
Jack was in our mess, and he was con-
stanteye-sore. We saw thathe was reach
ing rapidly ahead of us in every useful
particular, and yet we wouldn't open our
eyes. We were envious of his good for
tune, as We called it, and used to sieze
every opportunity to tease and run him
But he never got angry in return. He
sometimes would laugh at us, and at 9TH
ers he would so feelingly chideus that We
would remain silent for a while.
AT lenght the idea entered our heads
that Jack should drink with us. We etalk
ed the matter over in the mess when Jacl
was absent, and we mutually pledged eacl
other that we would make him drink at the
first opportunity. After this determine
ton was taken, we treated Jack more kind
ly, and he was Lappier than he had beer
) for some time. Once we laughed an(
ioked with him in the mess, and he in re
turn helped us in our navigation w
were on our homeward bound passage, b,
l the way of Brazil, and our ship stopped a
Rio Janeiro, where we were to remaina wee
or so. One pleasant morning We 81
} youngsters received permission to go o
a shore and spend the whole day; and &C
l cordingly we rugged up in our best tog
and were carried to the landing.
u Now was our chance, and we put ou
heads together to see how it should be dom
: Jacks very first desire, as soon as he &c
on shore, was to go up and examine tn
G city. Hewanted to visitthe churches, an
: such like places, and to please him W
d agreed to go with him if he would go an
take dinner with us. He agreed to this
u once, and we thought we had him sure
We planned that after dinner was eaten, "
would have some light sweet wine brougl
IN on, and that we would contrive to get ru
re enough into whathe drank to upsethim, fC
ie nothing on earth could please us more tina
" to get Jack Small drunk, and carry him
Il board in that shape, for then we fancied Il
10 captain's favoritsm would be at an ent
o. and that he would no longer look upon o1
IL rival with more preference than upon ou
10 selves. We had the matter all arranged
|" and in the meantime we paid Jack all Il
III III attention in our power-so much SO TIL
'e he at length signifed a willingness to
y, anywhere to please us, provided we wou
III not go to any bad place.
IL Dinner time came, and most capt.
& dinner we had. We had selected one
IL the best hotels, for the prices weren no hlg
5, er there than at places of lower reput
III and, in fact, not SO high, for these low pl
II ces fleece q sailor most unmercltully.-
al The eatables were despatched with becor
Il ing gusto, and then the dishes were r
IT. moved, and at sign from me the wine w
- brought on
% % "Ah! what have you herc?' ask
-. aa Jack, betraying some uneasiness at the a
- pearance of the glasses and bottles.
H. 10 "Only alittle new wine,' l replied
+o to carelessly as could. Mere juice of t
,s grape
q. "But it's wine, nevertheless pursu
II ba