Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-04-03
him, the brave little chapD and says.
quite quietly: I've told you the truth; I

him, the brave little chapD and says.
quite quietly: I've told you the truth;
amt got no more to say
1.-The mate says nothin', but looks at
him as if he'd seen clean through him;
and then he faced round to the men,
| lookin' blacker than ever. Reeve rope
to the yard! he sings out, loud enough to
raise the dead; smart, now!
"The men all looked at each other, as
| much as to say: What on earth's COM
in now?' But aboard, O. course, when
| you're told to do thing, you've got to do
it; SO the rope was rove in jitfy.
"'Now, my lad said the mate, in a
hard, square kind O. voice, that made
every word seem like fittin' a stone into
a wall, you see that ere rope? Well,
I'll give you ten minutes to confess Che
took out his watch and held it in his
hand); and if you don't tell the truth
atore times up, I'll hang you like
dog
1.-THE crew all stared at one another,
as if they couldn't believe their ears q
didn't believe mine, can tell ye), and
then low growl ran among 'em like a
wild beast awakin' out of a nap.
Silence therer shouts the mate, in a
voice like the roar of Worcester. Stand
hands he put the moose round the BOYS
neck. The little feller never fiinched a
bit; but there were some among the sail
ors (big, strong chaps as could ha' felled
an OK as shook like leaves in the wind.
AS for me, bethought myself O. my little
curly haired lad at home, and how it I'D
be If any one was to go for to hang HIM:
and at the very thought ont tingled all
over, and my fingers clenched themselves
as If they was a-grippin' somebody's
throat. | clutched hold O. a hand-spike,
and held it behind my back, all ready.
Tom, whispers the chief-engineer to
me, dye think he really means to do ito
" don't know says 1 through my
teeth; but if he does, he shall go first, if
[ swings for it,!
I've been in many an ugly scrape in
my time, but never felt art as bad as |
did then. Every minute seemed as long
as a dozen, and the tick o. the mates
watch regular pricked my ears like pin
The men were very quiet, but there was
a precious ugly look On some O their
faces, and noticed that three or four on
'em KEEP edgin' for'ard to where the mate
was standin', in way that meant mis-
chief. AS for me, I'd made up my mind
that if he did go for to hang the poor lit
tie chap, I'd kill him on the spot. and take
my chance.
Eight minutesr says the mate, his
great deep voice breakin' upon the silence
like the toll O. a funeral bell. If you've
got anything to confess, my lad, you'd
best out with it, for yer times nearly
up
"I've told you the truth, answers the
boy, very pale, but as firm as ever. May
L say my prayers, please?'
1.-The mate nodded, and down goes the
poor little chap on his knees with that
internal rope about his neck all the
tlme), and put up his poor little hands to
pray. | couldn't make out what he said
fact, my head was in stitch whirl that
I'd hardly ha' knOwed my own name(,
but I'll be bound God heard it, every
word. Then he ups on his feet again,
and puts his hands behind him, and
says to the mate, quite quietly: Pm
ready
And then, sir, the mates hard grim
face broke up all at once, like I seed ice in
the Baltic. He snatched up the boy in
his arms, and kissed him, and bust out
cryin' like child; and l think there
warn't one C us as didn't do the same
l know did, for one.
God bless you, my boy? says he,
smOothIn' the chlld's hair with his great,
hard hand. You're true Englishman,
every inch of you; you wouldn't tell lie
to save your life! Well, if so be as yer
father cast We off, III be yer father from
this day forth; and if l ever forget you,
then may God forget mep
and he KEEP his word, too When we
got to Halifax, he found out the little
un's aunt, and Civ her lump Of money
to make him comfortable; and now he
goes to see the youngster every voyage,
regular as can be; and to see the pair on
'em together-the little chap so fond O.
him, and not bearin' him bit O. grudge
its bout as pretty a sight as ever l
seed. And now, sir, AKIN yer parding,
it's time for me to be goin' below, so I'll
just wish yer goodnight. ''-Cham6ers's
Journal