The Shasta courier., 1866-03-24

some
sweet wine brought on, and we would con
trive to get enough rum 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 man.
ner, for we fancied that the captains favor
itism would be at an end, that he would no
longer look upon our rival with preference
over ourselves. We had the matter all ar
ranged, and in the meantime we paid Jack
all the attention in our power-so much SO
that he at lengh signifed a willingness to
go anywhere to please us, provided we would
not go in any bad place.
All !! what have you here?' asked
Jack, betraying 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
I" But it is wine nevertheless, pursued he.
"It isn't wine,' cried Sam Pratt, who
was about one of the hardest nuts old Nep
tune ever cracked.
mol" chimed in Tim Black. another
of the same stamp. "It's only little SIM
pie juice. Come boys, fill up"
The glasses were accordingly filled, Sam
Pratt performing that duty, and he took
good care that Jacks glass had good auan-
tity of sweetened rum in it.
No." said Jack. as the glass was moved
towards him : if you are going to commence
thus, will keep your company with water
while you remain orderly, but l will not
touch wine.'
This was spoken very mildly, and with
a kind smile, but vet it was spoken firmly,
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 how innocent it was, and how hap
py his social glass would make US we could
not move him.
:" Then let him go!'' cried Tim, who had
already drank some. In fact the whole of
us but Jack had drank more or less during
the forenoon. Let him go. We don't want
the mean fellow with us?"
That's it," added Sam, with bitter off
he goes. If he's too good to drink with
his shipmates, we don't want him."
You misunderstood me, said Jack, in q
tone of pain. g am not too good to drink
with you, in the sense in which you would
take it. But do not wish to drink at all. :"
TOO stingy, that's all, said l, determined
to make him drink if 1 could. But Jack
looked at me so reproachfully as l said this
that l wished 1 had not spoken as did.
If you wish to enjoy your wine, mess
mates" said Small, at the same time rising
from his chair, you can do so, but l beg
you will excuse me. | will pay my share
Of the expenses for the dinner.
And for your share of the wine :" SAID
Tim, for we ordered for you"
No. returned Jack, g cannot pay for
any of the wine''-
g Mean ~ cried two or three at a breath
NO, no, messmates, not mean | will
pay for the whole of the dinner-for every
article you and have had in this house,
save the wine.'
And as be spoke he rang the bell. He
asked the waiter who entered what was the
bill for the company, without the wine, and
after the amount had been stated, he took
out his purse to pay it, when Sam Pratt,
who was our acknowledged leader. caught
his arms.
"No-not so," said Sam. 'You shall
not pay for it. for we will not eat at the ex-
pense of one who will sneak out of a scrape
in this way. We want nothing more to do
with you unless you have glass of wine
with u.s."
Very WE'LL" said Jack and as he spoke
| could see that his lip quivered, and that
he dared not speak more
g He turned toward the door then, but be
fore he reached it Tim Black ran and caught
him, at the same time loudly exclaiming:
May | be blessed if you go off so, any
way. You've com nenced and now you've
got to stick it out"
This was the signal for us to commence
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 scof. We accused him of trying
to step over US on board the ship. and of all
other bad things of which we could think
For while the poor fellow seemed inclined
to let his anger get the upper hand but at
length he Gained himself, and stepping back
to his chair, he said:
" Shipmates, will you listen to me for a
moment?'
Silence gave consent, and in o moment
more he resumed:
9 Since matters have come to this pass,
have resolved to tell you what l had meant
to keep silent in my own bosom.'
We had always thought, from jacks
manner, that there was sumething peculiar
connected with his early life, and we were
all attention in moment.
My story is but short one," he con-
tinued, and | can tell it in very few
words. From the time of my earliest child
hood | never knew what it was to have a
happy home. My father was a drunkard |!
Once he had been a good man and good
husband, but rum ruined all his manhood
and made brute of him. can remember
how cold and cheerless was the first winter
of my life. to which my memory leads me
back. We had no fre-no food-no clothes
mo joy-no nothing, nothing but misery
and Woe! My poor mother used to clasp
me to her bosom to keep me warm; and
once-once | remember-w her very
tears froze on my cheek Oh! how my
mother prayed to God for her husband and
l. who could but just prattle, learned to
pray too. And | used to see that husband
and father return to his home, and l remem-
Der how bitterly my poor mother cried and
trembled.
:. When grew older had to go out and
beg for bread. All cold and shivering
waded through the deep snow, with my
clothes in tatters and my freezing feet al
most bare. And l saw other children dress
ed warm and comfortable, and knew they
were happy, for they laughed and sung as
they bounded along toward their school.
These boys had sober fathers; knew
that their fathers were no better than mine
had been once, for my mother had told me
how noble my own father could be if the ac.
cursed demon rum had not been in his way
but the fatal power was upon him, and
l.