Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-04-15

We had the matter all agreed aud in the
meantime VIC paid Jack all the attention iD
our power--so much so that he at length
signifed willingness to 90 anywhere to
please us, provided we would not 60 to any
bad place.
"Dinuer time came, and a most capital
dinner we had We had selected one OF
the best hotels, for the prices we're no higher
there than at places Of lower repute, and,
in fact not so high for the low places
fleece a sailor most numerically. The eat.
abes were dispatched with becoming gusto,
and then the dishes were removed, and at
a sign from me the wine was brought on.
go All, what have you hero7' asked Jack,
betraying some uneasiness at the appear
ance Of the glasses aud bottles.
"'Only little new wine, | replied, as
carelessly as | could. Mere juice Of the
grape
80 But it is wine, nevertheless pur-
sued he.
"'It isn't wine, cried Sam Pratt, who
was one Of the hardest nuts old Neptune
ever cracked.
go No. chimed in Tim Black, another Of
about the same stamp, It's only little
simple juice. Come, boys, Gil up.
1.-The glasses were accordingly filled,
Sam Pratt performing that duty, and he
took care that Jacks glass had a good
quantity of sweetened rum in it.
"' No. said Jack, as the glass was moved
towards him if you are going to com
menee thus, will keep your company with
water while you remain orderly, but | will
not touch wine.
This was spoken very mildly, and with
a kind smile, but it was spoken firmly, and
we could see that our plan was about being
knocked in the head. We urged him to
drink with us--only one glass, if no more.
We told him how innocent it was, and how
happy his social glass would make US ; but
we could not move him.
"Then let him go cried Tim, who had
already drank some. In fact, all of US but
Jack had drank more or less during the
forenoon. Let him go! We don't want
the mean fellow with US
That's it, said Sam, with bitter
smile. of he goes. If he's too good to
drink with his shipmates, we don't want
him.
" You misunderstood me, said Jack, in
tone Of pain. Il am not too good to
drink with you, in the sense in which you
take it. But do not wish to drink at all.
"'Too stingy, that's ALL, said l, de.
termined to make him drink if | could.
But be looked at me so reproachfully as |
said this that wished | had not spoken as
| did.
"If you wish to enjoy your wine, mess
mates, said Small, at the same time rising
from his chair, you can do so, but beg
you will excuse me. | will pay my share
of the expenses for the dinner
q" And for your share of the wine, said
Tim, for we ordered it for you
No. returned Small, Il cannot pay for
any of the wine
"Mean = cried two or three at breath.
"No, no, messmates, not mean. | will
pay for the whole dinner-for every arti.
Gle you and have had in the house, save
the wine
"And as he spoke he rang the bell. He
asked of the waiter who entered what was
the bill for the company, without the wine,
and after the amount had been stated, be
took out his purse to pay it, when Sam
Pratt, who was the acknowledged leader,
took hold Of his arm.
"No-not so,' said Sam. You shall
not pay for it, for we will not eat at the
expense Of one who will sneak out of ii
scrape in this way. We want nothing more
to do with you, unless you take glass of
wine with us
I" Very well,' said Small and as he
spoke I could see that his lip quivered, and
that he dared not say more.
"He turned towards the door then, but
before he reached it Tim Black ran and
caught him. at the same time exclaiming:
"'May | be blessed if you 90 off so, any
way. You've commenced it, aud now you've
got to stick it out
This was the signal for us to commence
again, and again we tried to induce Small
to take wine and when we found that
urging would not do, we commenced to
abuse and scoff. We accused him of try
ing to step over us on board the ship, and
of all other bad things of which we could
think. For while the poor fellow seemed
inclined to let his anger get the upper hand ;
but at length he calmed himself, and step
ping back to his chair said
"Shipmates, will you listen to me for a
moment2'
"Silence gave consent, and in moment
more he resumed:
"'Since matters have como to this pass,
| have resolved to tell you what had meant
to keep locked up in my own BOSOM"
awe had always thought, from Jack 5
manner, that there was something peculiar
connected with his early life, and we were
all attention in a moment.
"My story is but very short one, he
continued, and can tell 1t in very few
words. From the time ofmy earliest child
hood, never knew what it was to have a
happy home. My father was drunkard
Once he had been a good man aud good
husband, but rum ruined all his manhood
aud made brute OF him. | can remember
how cold and cheerless was the first winter
Of my life to which my memory leads my
mind. Wehad no ire-no food-no clothe:
no joy-no nothing, nothing but misery
and woe! My poor mother used to CLASP
me to her bosom to keep me warm, and
once--once | remember-when her very
tears froze on my cheek o, how my
mother prayed to God for her husband and
|, who could just prattle, learned to pray
too. And used to see that husband and
father return to his home, aud | remember
how my mother cried and trembled.
"Whon | grew older | had to 90 oui
and beg bread. All cold and shivering
waded through the deep snow, with my
clothes in tatters and my freezing feet al
most bare. And | saw other children ol
my own age dressed warm and comfortable
and knew they were happy, for they laughed
and sang as they bounded along towards
school. Those boys had sober fathers.
knew that their fathers we're no better thar
mine had been once, for my mother had told
me how noble my father could be IL the ac
cursed demon rum were not 10 his way
but the fatal power was upon him, anC
though he often promised, and though h,
often tried, yet be could not escape.
"Time passed on and was eight years
old, and those eight years have been year
Of such sorrow and suffering as pray God
| may never see another experience. Al
=. A.