The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-05-27

was q large one, ana our creW was iaIge
in proportion, there being fifty-two, all
told. We boys as we were called, mess
ed together, and in all other respects were
separate from the rest of the crew, just as
was noble-hearted, honorable man, kind
and generous, butyet very strict. Of course
we youngsters found plenty of occasions to
find fault with him, and very often were
his decisions arraigned before our mess and
decidedly condemned. In fact, we should
have reversed many of his judgments if we
had the power; but as he was commander,
and we only foremost hands-and boys at
that-he had his own way, and the lumi-
nous decisions we came to were consequent
ly of no avail, and lost to the world.
"Now, we boys had learned, in the
course of our travels, to drink our grog as
well as any sailors. We could toss off
glass of rum and water with as much grace
as any one, and we claimed the right so to
do, not only as privilege, but as an honor
to which life upon the ocean entitled us.
But even in this respect our captain pre-
tended to differ from us. When we could
get on shore, we would invariably indulge
in our cups, and not unfrequently would
we come of, or be brought off, in state
anything but sober. / said 'we,' but
there was one of our number who could
not be induced to touch drop of anything
Intoxicating. His name was John Small,
and he belonged in one Of the back towns
of New Jersey.
"Now, Jack Small not only refrained
entirely from drinking himself, but he used
sometimes to ask us to let the stuff alone.
He gave that job up however, for we made
such sport of him that he was glad to leave
us alone. But our captain had sharp eyes,
and it was not long before he began to
show Jack small favors which he did not
show to us. He would often take Jack on
shore with him to spend the night, and
such things as that, while we were kept on
the ship. OF course this created sort of
envy ON our part, and it ended in decided
ill-will toward poor jack
"Now, in truth, Jack was one of the
best fellows in the world. He was kind,
obliging, honest, always willing to lend a
helping hand in case of distress, and as
true a friend as ever lived-only he would
not drink with us, that was all. No--that
wasn't all; he learned faster than we did
he was better sailor, and learned more of
navigation. But this we tried to lay to the
captains paying him the most attention,
though we knew better at the time, for we
had the privilege of learning just as much
as we had mind to. The truth of the mat.
ter was, we five loved the idea of being
'old salts better than we did anything else
and we spent more time in watching for
opportunities to have spree than we did
in learning to perfect ourselves in the pro-
fession we had chosen.
at even got so, at length, that Jack
Small was called upon to take the deck
sometimes, when the officers were busy,
and he used to work out the reckonings at
noon as regularly as did the captain. Yet
Jack was in our mess, and he was a perfect
eyesore. We saw that he was reaching
rapidly ahead ofus in every useful particu-
lar, and yet we wouldn't open our eyes.
We were envious of his good fortune, as we
called it, and used to seize every opportuni.
ty to tease and run him; but he never got
angry in return. He sometimes would
: laugh at us, and at others he would SO feel
, inCly chide us that we would remain silent
; for awhile.
"At length the idea entered our heads
that Jack should drink with us. We talk
ed the matter over in the mess while Jacl
] was absent, and we mutually pledged eacl
| other that we would make him drink at thu
first opportunity. After this determination
] was taken, we treated Jack more kindly
and he was happier than he had been fo
D some time. Once more we laughed anC
D joked with him in the mess, and he IL
a return helped us in our navigation. W.
l were on our homeward bound passage, b,
| the way Of Brazil, and our ship stopped a
t Rio Janeiro, where we remained week o.
so. One pleasant morning we six young
r sters received permission TO go ON shor
Q and spend the whole day; and accordingl.
E We rugged up in our best togs and wer,
: carried TO the landing.
y "Ncw was our chance, and we put ou
heads together 10 see how it should b.
4 done. Jacks very first desire, as soon a
l he got ashore, was to 90 up and examin
/ the various things Of interest in the city
n He wanted to visit the churches and sucl
g like places and 30 please him, we agrees