The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-08-12
Duty 10 tlle Last

Our frigato-the Columbus-lay in
the harbor OF Algiers, the broad, blue
pennant at the man, with its white stOrs,
showing tlint the ship contained the
commodore Bainbridgel.
One day / went ashore with several Of
the midshipmen, on liberty +; that is to
say, we had the day MI to ourselves, free
of orders, to do what We pleased, proyid.
cd we were not up to mischief.
The commodore chanced to DO ashore
at the same time, As we walked along
one Of the streets we saw him on the
other side Of the wuy (; tall, handsome
man, with clear eagle eyes, and decided
countenance.
Coming from an opposite direction, we
bcheld youth Of seventeen, one OF the
foremost hands. walking as II intoxicat-
cd. Usually, Henry Wcst-snch was the
name OF tho boy-wns n sober, we'll
behaved lad, who had never yet been
punished for misbelayior.
We OWNED at once that, for the first
time in his life, he had, by older ship.
mates, been persuaded to drink. He
was delicate youth, who bud Just rc'
covered from a bad fever, which, for sew.
cral weeks, had confined him 10 the
"Sick Bay"-an apartment on the berth
deck, for the accommodation OF the sick.
This lad was the son OF Tom West-an
old boatswain's mate, whom the commo'
dore valued more than any other petty
officer in the ship, as hc had been will
him on several voyages, and had the
honor Of piping II whistle aboard the old
Constitution, which Bainbndge com
,nanded, during the action with the
Java.
old West almost idolized his son. He
had never spoken cross word to him ii
lis life.
fathers slightest wish-neyer do any
thing to provoke him.
I" "iy. ay, he'll be commodore yet,
West would mutter to himself. "Blast
his eyes il he won't p
The commodore being preo:cupied
with his own thoughts, on this day, ran
slap against the youth, almost knock
ing him of his feet.
dYou big lubber," exclaimed the boy,
pushing Bainbridge with both hands
"why didn't you get out OF the way J
Even as he spoke, the coxswain OF oril
boat came rushing out OF public house
hard by, and catching the lad by the
collar dragged him of. .,
"Aboard with him at once sale
cambridge, and, coloring with displeas
ure, he walked on.
The result Of this insult to tue com
modore, was court-martial, which gen
fenced the youth TO one hundred lashes
"Itll kill him-it'll kill him !" mntter
cd old West, whose province it was Il
administer the cat.o'.nine tails.
The old fellows heart was almost bro
ken. Never before had Henry got in
toxicated lie had been q model for al
the other sailors until now.
Often during tho night watches,
would SEQ the old boatswain s mate walk
ing the deck, with tears glistenine in hii
II would be his duty to punish the lac
ny, his was the hand that must shovel
las6es upon the bare back Of his poo
boy. a.,
heart fail him as he lifted those sharp,
cutting thongs above his boy, who, little
more than skeleton since his GONZALES,
cence from the fever, had grown ye'
more thin since his confinement in the
brig, :, -. a, p,;n.
bridge when lie would come up on tht
spar.ieck for his afternoon walk, ant
wonder II lie ever thought oi the iaa ~
tIe brig, Occasionally, 1t seemed TO mt
that his piercing glance in that direction
always softened q little when II res'e.
ON tie old boatswain's mate, not lar Oh
1 believed lie felt mOrnsorrow Tor tue ID
ther than for the son. 80
Atlength the day fixed for the lad
punishmeht arrived.
The boatswain sounded a long call OF
his whistle then his voice was hear
ringing through the ship
"AlI hands on deck to witness punish
montr'
lust forward Of the gangway. Thithe
the master alarms led the youth, lashe,
his feet 10 the instrument, md his hands
vide apart, to the bnlwarkS. "a,
The boatswain's mate-old west
enme forward Oh phlo "a death.
And y,i, no. Aiismor shook his sfTam'