The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-09-15

how my poor mother wept and groaned. She
sank down upon her knees, and clasped that
icy corpse to her heart, as though she would
have given it life from the warmth of her own
breast She loved her husband through all his
errors, and her love was all-powerful now.
The two men went away and left the dead body
still on the floor. My mother whispered to me
to come and kneel by her side. did so.
"My child" she said, and the big tears were
yet rolling down her checks, you know What
has caused all this. This man was once as no,
BILE and happy and true as man can be, put on
see how he has been stricken down. Promlse
me- my child, oh, promise, here before God and
your dead father, and your broken hearted
mother, that you will never, never touch drop
of the fatal poison that has wrought for us all
this misery p
> "Shipmates, I did promise all my mother
asked, and God knows that to this moment that
promise has never been broken. My father was
buried and some good, kind neighbors helped
us through the winter. When the next spring
came 1 could work, and earned something for
my mother. At length 1 found chance to
ship; and every time I go home have some
money for my mother Not for the wealth Of
the whole world would break the pledge
gave to my mother and my God on that dark,
cold, morning. That is all, shipmates. Let me
go now, and you may enjoy yourselves alone,
for / do not believe that you will again urge
me to drink
"As Jack thus spoke he turned toward the
door, but one of us stopped him.
"Hold on, jack" said he, wiping his eyes.
"You shan't go alone. I have got mother,
and love her as well as you love yours, and
your mother shall net be happier than mine;
for I swear that she shall never have drunken
son. I'll drink no more"
"Giye me your hand, old fellow !" exclaimed
the rest of US in chorus, starting from our
seats and before many minutes we all agreed
to initiate Jacks noble resolution. We called
for pen, ink and paper, and made Jack draw
up pledge. He signed it first, and we follow
ed him, and when the deed was done, l knew
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 in the
forenoon was now all gone in its effects.
Towards evening we returned to the ship.
There was frown upon the captains brow aswe
came over the side, for he had never known us
to come off from days liberty sober. But when
we all came over the side and reported our
selves to him his countenanced lighted up
He could hardly give credit to the evidence of
his own senses.
g ssBoys," 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 its expression
several times. At length l saw tear start to
his eye.
"Boys," he said, as he folded up the paper,
"let me keep this, and if you stick to your no.
BILE resolution you shall never want friend
while l live"
1--WE let the captain keep the paper, and
when he had put it in his pocket he came and
and took us each in turn by the hand. He
was much affected, and knew that the circum-
stance made him happy, From that day our
prospects frightened. Jack White no more
had our envy; for he took hold and taught us
navigation, and we were proud of him. On the
next voyage we all six rated as able seaman,
and received full wages, and we left not that
noble-hearted captain until we left to become
officers on board other ships.
"Jack White is now one of the best masters
in the world, and believe the rest of our par
ty are still living, honored and respected men.
Three years ago VIC all met, the whole six of us,
at dinner again, and not one of us had broken
that pledge which we made in the hotel at Rio.
We had all stuck to the sea, and were then
commanders of good ships.
''This is my story and now you know why
can't drink with you, and, as said at first,
will not take my refusal as a mark of oisrespect
or want Of good fellowship"