The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1870-06-01


groancd. She sank down upon he
knees and clasped that icy corpse t,
her heart, as though she would hav,
given it life from the warmth Of he
own breast. She loved her husband
through all his errors, aud her love
was all-powerful now. The two mer
went away and left the dead body
still OH the floor. My mother whis
: pered to mo to come and kneel by hel
side. I did 80. My ohild,' she said
to me, aud tho big tears wore yet
rolling down her checks, syou kno VI
what has caused all this. This maj
was once as noble and happy and true
as man can be, but oh i! SEQ how he
has been stricken down. Promise me-
my child, oh promise, here, before
God and your dead father, and your
broken. hearted mother, that you will
never, never, never touch single
drop of the fatal poison that has
wrought for us all this miseryr
"Shipmates, I did promise all my
mother asked, aud God knows that to
this moment that promise has never
been broken. My father WIS buried,
and some good kind neighbors helped
us through tho winter. When the
next spring come l could work, aud
earned something for my mother. At
length l found q chance to ship; and
every time l got home I have somo
money for my mother. Not for the
wealth of the whole world would
break the pledge gave my mother
and my God on that dalk, cold morn
ing. That is all, shipmates. Let me
60 now, and you may enjoy yourselves
alone, for do not believe that you
will again urge me to drink"
AS Jack thus spoke no turned TO-
ward the door, but one of us stopped
him.
"Hold on Jack,' said he, wiping
his eyes. "You shan't 60 alone. 1
havo got mother, and 1 love her as
we'll as you love yours, and your moth
er shall not be happier than mine for
l swear that she shall never have q
drunken son. I'll drink no more %
"Give me your hand, old fellow -
exclaimed the rest Of us in chorus
starting from our seats and before
many minutes we all agreed to imi.
tate Jacks noble resolution. We
called for pen, ink, aud paper, and
made Jack draw up q pledge. He
signed it first and we followed him,
and when the deed was done I know
we were far happier than we had been
before for years. The wine upon the
table was not touched, and the liquor
we had drank during the forenoon was
now all gone in its effect.
Toward evening we returned to tho
ship. There was q frown upon the
captains brow as We came over the
side, for he had never known US to
come off from days liberty sober.
But when We all come over tho side
and reported ourselves to him his
countenance lighted up. He could
hardly give credit to the evidence Of
his own senses.
'"Boys," said he, '"what does this
mean ~
"Show him the paper" whispered
Jack had our pledge, and without
speaking he handed it to the captain.
He took it and read it, and his face
changed it expression several times.
At length saw tear start in his eye.
"Boys," he said> as he folded up
the paper, s'iet me keep this, and if
you stick to your noble resolution you
shall never want friend while [ live"
We let the captain keep the paper,
and when he had put it in his pocket
he came and took us each in turn by
the hand. He was much affected,
and I knew that the circumstance
made him happy. From that day our
prospects frightened. jack Small no
more had our envy; for he took hold
and taught US in navigation, and VIC
were proud of him. On the next voy.
age we all six rated as able seamen,
and received full wages, and we loft
not that noble.hearted captain until
we left to become officers on board
other ships.
Jack Small is now one Of the best
masters in the world, and T believe
that the rest of our party are still
living, honored and respected men.
Three years ago we all met, the whole
six Of us, at dinner again, and not
one of us had broken that pledge
which we made in the hotol at Rio.
We had all stuck to the sea, and were
then commanders of good ships.
That is my story; and now you
know why I oan't drink with you,
and, as I said at first, will not take
my refusal as mark Of disrespeot or
want Of good-fellowship.
----os - s---L--------
Still THEY ComE.-T.ast week
5000 Europeans were landed in New
York city from emigrant ships in
SEARCH Of new horaes. Fren ireland