The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-04-18

the winter. When the next spring came
could work, and | earned something for
my mother. No earthly consideration could
induce me to break the pledge | gave my
mother and my God on that dark, cold
morning. And even had | made no such
pledge, would not touch the fatal cup, for
| have fond, doting mother that my dis
honor would make miserable, and | would
rather die than to bring more sorrow upon
her head. Perhaps you have no mothers
and If you have, perhaps, they do not look
TO you for support, for | am sure that
neither of you would ever bring down a
loving mothers gray hairs in sorrow to the
grave. That is ALL shipmatcs. Let me go
and you may enjoy yourselves alone, for
don't believe that you will again urge the
wine-cur upon me-
GAS Small thus spoke he turned to the
door, but Tim Black stopped him.
"llold on, Jack" cried Tim, brushing
the tears from his eyes, and starting up
from his chair "You shant 90 alone. |
have got mother, and love her as fer
vcntly as you loyo yours and your mother
shall not be happier than mine, for by the
love bear her, here pledge myself that
she shall never have n drunken son.
shall drink no more
"Giye us your hand, Tim cried Sam
Pratt, "l'll join YOU"
hcsitated no longer, but quickly start
ing from my chair joined Tim and Pratt,
and ere long all five of us joined Small in
his noble ifc-plan. We called for pen, ink
paper, and made Small draw up pledge.
lie signed il first, and the rest of us follow
ed him and after the deed was done am
sure that little company was far happier
than it had been for years. The liquor upon
the table remained untouched. and the eff
feet OF that drank by us during the fore
noon had passed away.
Towards evening our company return
ell to the ship. The captain looked at us
suspiclously as we came over the side. for
he had not been accustomed to see us come
off from days liberty sober. But us we
all came over the side and reported our
selves to him his countenance changed. lie
could hardly give credit to the evidence of
his SENSES
Look here, boys, he said, after he had
examined us thoroughly, what docs this
mean :?
60 Show him the paper said l.
Small had our paper and not saying a
word he handed it to the captain. He took
it and read it, and his face changed its ex-
preston several times. At length tear
started in his eye.
Boys, said he, as he folded up the pa
per, ''let Inc keep this, and if you stick to
your noble resolution y0u shall never need
a friend as long as | live
- We let the captain keep the paper.
When he had put ii in his pocket he took
us each in turn by the hand lie was much
affected and evidently the circumstances
made him happy
"F'rom that day oar prospects bright
cned Jack Small no more had our envy,
for he took hold and taught us navigation.
On the next voyage we all six rated as able
seamen, and received pay as such We left
not that noblc-heartcd GA. tain uHlil We left
him TO become officers OF other ships.
Jack Small is one of the best masters in
the world. believe the rest Of our party
are still living. honoted and respected men.
Three years ago ali ,iN OF us met at the
Astor House, and not one OF us had broken
that pledge made in the hotel at Rio FauI
Of us then commanded good ships one was
a merchant, and the other was just going
out as American consul to one Of the Ital.
ian cities on the Mediterranean.
'Iou know now the reason do not
drink with YOU, and of course you cannot
urge it upon me, nor take my refusal as q
mark of GOODNESS or respect"