The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-04-22


messed together, and in all other respects
were separate from the rest of the crew,
just as much as the officers were. Our
captain was a noble-hearted, honorable
man, kind and generous, but yet very
strict. Of course we youngsters found
plenty of occasion to find fault with him,
and very often were his decisions arraign-
ed before our mess and decidedly condemn
ed In fact, we should have reversed
many of his judgments, if we had had the
power; but as he was the commander, and
we only foremast hands--and boys at that
he had his own way, and the luminous
decisions we came to were consequently
of no avail, and lost to the world.
"Now we boys had learned, in the
course of our travels, to drink our grog as
well as any sailors. We could toss off a
glass of rum and water with as much grace
as any one, and we claimed the right to
do so, not only as privilege, but as an
honor to which life upon the ocean en-
titled us. But even in this respect our
captain pretended to differ from US. When
we could get on shore, we would invaria-
bly, indulge in our cups, and not unfre-
quently would we come off, or be brought
of, in state anything but sober. I said
lce;' but there was one of our number
who never could be induced to touch a
drop Of anything Intoxicating His name
was John Small, and he belonged in one
of the back towns of New jersey.
| "Now jack Small not only refrained
entirely from drinking himself, but used
sometimes to ask US to let the stuff alone
He gave that job up, however, for we made
such sport of him that he was glad to let
US alone. But orr captain had sharp eyes,
and it was not long before he began to
show Jack Small iavors which he did not
show to Us. He would often take Jack
Gu shore with him t. spend the night, and
such things as that, while we were kept
on board the ship. Of course this created
a sort Of envy on our part, and it ended
in decided ill-will towards poor Jack.
Now in truth, Jack was one of the
best fellows in the world. He was kind,
obhging, honest, always willing to lend a
helping hand in case of distress, and as
true a friend as ever ived,-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 bet
ter at the time, for we had the privilege
of learning Just as much as we had a mind
to. The truth of the matter was, we five
loved the idea Of being old SALTS better
than we did anything else, and we spent
more time in watching for opportunities
to have spree than we did in learning
to perfect ourselves in the profession we
had chosen.
at 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 a con-
slant eye-sore. We saw that he was
reaching rapidly ahead of US IN every use
ful particular, and yet we wouldn't open
our eyes. We were en7ious of his good
fortune, as we called it, and used to seize
every opportunity to tease and run him.
But he never got angry in return. He
sometimes would laugh at US, and at others
he would SO feelingly chide US that we
would remain silent for while.
"At length the idea entered our heads
that Jack should drink with US. We
talked the matter over in the mess when
Jack was absent, and we mutually pledged
each other that we would make him drink
at the first opportunity. After this deter
mlnation was taken, we treated Jack more
kindly, and he was happier than he had
been for some time. Once more we laugh
ed and joked with him in the mess, and
he in return helped US in our navigation.
We were on our home-ward bound pass
age, by the wy Of Brazil, and our ship
stopped at Rio Janeiro, where we were to
remain week or so. One pleasant morn
ing we six youngsters received permission
to 60 on shore and spend the whole day :;
and accordingly we rugged up in our best
togs and were carried to the landing.
" Now was our chance, and we put our
heads together to see how it should be
done. jacks very first desire, as soon as
ne got on shore, was to go up and exam
Inc the various things Of interest in the
city. He wanted to visit the churches,
and such like places, and to please him we
agreed to 90 with him if he would go and
take dinner with US. He agreed to this
at once, and we thought we had him sure.
We planned that after dinner was eaten,
we would have some light sweet wine
brought on, and that We would contrive
to get rum enough into what he drank to
upset him, for nothing on earth could
please us more than to get Jack Small
drunk, and carry him on board in that
shape, for then we fancied the captains
favoritism would be at an end, and that
he would no longer look upon our rival