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

;
) length signifed willingness to 90 any
where to please us, provided We would not
: 90 to any bad place.
;, "Dinner time came, and most capital
dinner we had. We had selected one of
the best hotels, for the prices were no
higher there than at places of lower re-
pute, and, in fact, not so high, for these
low places fleece sailor most unmerci-
fully. The eatables were despatched with
: becoming gusto, aud then the dishes were
removed, and at sign from me the wine
was brought on.
9" All what have you here?' asked
Jack, betraylng some uneasiness at the ap-
pearance of the glasses and bottles.
, "'Only little new wine;' [ replied,
) as carelessly as [ could. Mere juice of
| the grape
, "' But it's wine, nevertheless pursued
he.
9" 1t isn't wine,' cried Sam Pratt, who
was one of the hardest nuts old Neptune
ever cracked
Ono chimed in Tim Black, another of
about the same stamp. It's only little
simple juice. Come, boys, fill up
"The glasses were accordingly filed,
Sam Pratt performing that duty, and he
took good care that Jacks glass had a
good quantity Of sweetened rum in it.
"'No,' said Jack, as the glass was
moved towards him; if you are going to
commence thus, I will keep your company
with water while you remain orderly, but
[ will not touch your wine
This was spoken very mildly, but with
kind smile, but yet it was spoken firm
ily, and we could see that our plan was
) about being knocked in the head. We
urged him to drink with us-only one
glass, if no more. We told him how in
nocent it was, and how happy his social
glass would make US; but we could not
move him.
"FThen let him gop cried Tim, who
had already drank some. In fact, all of
US, but Jack, had drank more or less DUR
ing the aforenoon. Let him 60 We
don't want the mean fellow with us
"fThat's It, added Sam, with bitter
sneer, " off he goes. If he's too good to
drink with his shipmates, we don't want
him.
"' You misunderstood me- said Jack,
in tone of pain. [ am not too good to
drink with you, in the sense in which you
would take. But | do not wish to drink
at ALL
"'Too stingy-that's ALL said I, de-
termined to make him drink if [ could
But Jack looked at me so reproachfully
as | said this, that I wished | had not
spoken as [ did.
W you wish to enjoy your wine, mess
mates,' said Small, at the same time rising
from his chair, you can do SO, but I beg
you will excuse me. I will pay my share
of the expenses for the dinner
"'And for your share of the wine
said Tim, for we've ordered it for YOU
"'No,' returned Jack, Il cannot pay
for any of the wine
"'1MeanP cried two or three at breath.
"'No, no, messmates not mean I will
pay for the whole of the dinner-for every
article you and [ have had in the house.
save the wine
"And as he spoke he rang the bell.
He asked Of the waiter who entered what
the bill was for the company, without the
wine, and after the amount had been stated,
he took out his pnrse to pay it, when Sam
Pratt, who was our acknowledged leader,
caught his arm.
"'No-not so, said Sam. You shall
not pay for it, for we will not eat at the
expense of one who will sneak out Of
scrape in this way. We want nothing
more to do with you, unless you take a
glass of wine with us
"'Very well, said Jack; and as he
spoke | could see that his lip quiyered,
and that he dared not speak more
"He turned towards the door then, but
before he reached it Tim Black ran and
caught him, at the same time exclaiming Il
'llay be blessed if you 90 off so, any
way. You've commenced, and now
you've got to stick it out"
"This was the signal for us to COM
menee again, and once more we tried to
urge Jack to drink the wine; and when
we found that urging would not do, We
commenced to abuse and scott We ac-
cused him of trying to step over us on
board the ship, and of al other bad things
of which we could think. For while
the poor fellow seemed inclined to let his |
anger get the upper hands; but at length |
he calmed himself, and stepping back to
his chair, he said
"Shipmates, will you listen to me for
moment ?"
"Silence gave consent, and in a mo-
ment more he resumed:
"Since matters have come to this pass,
[ have resolved to tell you what had
meant to keep locked up in my own bo-
SON."
"We had always thought, from jack
manner, that there was something pecu-