The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1855-06-14
Jackson G. ILL.,, Ohio, Thursday, June IA, 1866.

AHN S'"'S"S" "NiN '"NNNiNi lSiJ HIlNu r
Sam Pratt performing that duty, and hi
took good care that Jacks glass had gooiI
quantity of sweetened rum in it.
"No,' said Jack, as the glass was movI
ed towards him; if you are going to com.
mence thus, | will keep you company witt,
water while you remain orderly, but l viii
not touch wine
This was spoken very mildly, and with
kind smile, but yet it was spoken firmly
and we could see that our plan was abou.
being knocked in the head. We urgec
him to drink with us--only one glass, ie
on more. We told him how innocent j.,
was, and how happy his social glass woulcl
make US; but we could not move him.
"Then let him gop cried Tim, who had
already drank some. In fact, all of US,
but Jack, had drank more or less during
the forenoon. Let him go. We don't
want the mean fellow with US p
"That's it, added Sam, with a bitter
5ncer, off he goes. If he's too good to
drink with his shipmates, we don't want
him.
"You misunderstood me, said Jack, in
a tone of pain. Il am not too good to
drink with you, in the sense in which you
would take it. But l donot wish to drink
at all
TOO stingy-,hat's all, said I deter.
mined TO make him drink if | could But
Jack looked at me so reproachfully as !
said this, that wished had not spoken
as cid.
"Ifyou wish to enjoy your wine' mess
mates, said Small, at the same tine RI
sing from his chair, you can do SO, but
| beg you will excuse me. will pay
my share Of the expenses for the dinner.
"And for your share of the wine, said
Tim, 'ior we've ordered il for you.
mo said Jack, Il cannot pay for any
Of the wine--'
Mean! = cried two or three at a
breath.
"No, no, messmates, not mean.
will pay for tine whole Of the dinner-fol
every article you and | have had in tht
house. save the wine
And as he spoke he rang the bell. He
asked of the waiter who entered, what tht
bill was for the company, without tht
wine, and after the amount had been sta
ted, lie took out his purse 10 pay it, wher
Sam Pratt, who was our acknowledged
leader, caught his arm.
"No-not so,' said Sam. You shall
not pay Tor 1t, tor we VIII not eat al th'
expense Of one who will sneak out Of {
scrape in this way. We want nothing
more to do with you, unless you will taxi
a glass of wine with US
"Very we'll, said Jack; and as h
spoke could see that his lip quivered
and that he dared not speak more.
He turned towards the door then, bu
before he reached it Tom Black ran ant
caught him, at the same time exclaiming
MAY | be blrssed il you 60 off SO
any way. You've commenced, and nov
you've got to stick it OUT
This was the signal Tor us to com
mence ogain. and once more we tried t
urge Jack TO drink the wine; and whe
we found that urging would not do, "
commenced 10 abuse and scolf. We az
cused him of trying to step over US
board the ship, and OF all other ba
things of which we could think. For
while the poor fellow seemed inclined
let his anger get the upper hands; but
length he Gained himself, and steppn
back 10 his chair, he said:
'Sbpmates, will you listen to me fc
moment Z
Silence gave consent, and in a mt
msnt more he resumed:
.'Since matters have come 10 this pas
have resolved 10 tell you what | ha
meant to keep locked up in my own be
SON.
we had always thought from Jack
manner, that there was something pec'
liar connected with his early life, and "
E were all attention in moment.
'My story is but very short one, f
continued, and can tell il in a very te
words. From the time of my earle
childhood | never knew what it was
have happy home. My father was
drunkard Ouce he had been goc
man, and a good husband, but rum rui'
ed all his manhood, and made a brute
him. | can remember how cold ar
cheerless was the first winter OF my Ii
10 which my memory leads my mind
We had no fire-no food-no clothes
no ioy-no nothing nothing but mise
and woe! My poor mother used TO ella
me 10 her bosom 10 keep me warm, al
once--once | remember-when her We
n