, 1876-01-23
a PERHOUS COMPACT.

"A L AAA44lSO Oh OOmA AN41
..~You sAy. Capt, Jackson. zthat you have ro
coiyed written instructlons from your owners b,
the last mail ?"
'.Yes sir, very particular and specific ORDER
regarding the cargo wanted for the good shit
Exporter"
..If understand you Alright. tho best quality
OF silk aud the 6ueet grade Of teas only are
wanted:"
..Exactly, 31r. Failing. But why do you ask
Arc you unable TO load the ship with the re-
qui1ed quality and grade Of goods?"
"Ne'll eco III good time, Jackson. But say
hayo yon any objection to my glancing 'oSe1
your written instructions?"
. Certainly not aud, If you are to furnish The
cargo, l think it advisable for you to thoroughly
understand what is wanted and what am al
lowed to receive :.
The keen. gray eyes OF MIR. Failing wosc
fastened intently upon the weatherbeaten coun-
tenanca Of the seaman for moment and then.
in soft, inRinuating tone, he added:
"lf you will give me- boat, Jackson, 1 will
send my China boy ashore for a case OF dry
Monopolc- the weather is warm, and iced cham
pagne will not be disagreoable, Oh ?"
"By no means; but it is luxury We poor
sailors seldom have the opportunity Of tasting,
replied the Captain, with sigh, as be thought
Of his far-or wife and two little babies.
Tho champagne MAS soon sparkling in the sien-
der elnssas, and the merchant pledged the sailor
and bis noble ship 10 d brimmlng bumper.
The Exporter was fno clipper engaged in the
China trade, owned by an opulent firm who
counted their dollars by millions. The ship YVES
sh,pmaster, but xho had boen compelled to ac-
cept the grinding terms OF the parsiuonious
owners Of the Exporter.
Can't jackson had been unfortunate, and at
the time he applied to the firm for employment
he WAS in dept, with . wife and family looking
to him for support. He Was not in condition
to dictate terms. but vsntured to demonstrate
feebly at the inadequate salary offered for the
amount OF property and responsibility he was
expected to control and look sitter.
"We can get plenty Of shipmastcrs for $50
por mouth, ~, was the cold, harsh reply We
do not ask you to accept it. You como to Us; if
you demuE another shall take your place."
And, with a heavy heart, the poor fellow
signed the articles, while the pale, suffering fsce
Of his wife rose mp before him.
The Exporter was lying of Shanghai waiting
for the valuable and special cargo which had
been ordered by nail.
The merchant Ar. Failing, was on board. End
i as has already been narrated was taxing his
comfort in the vide, spacious CABIN Of ,ha yes-
ael-
Glass after glass OF champagne had been
quaHed, tho fragrant perfume OF choice cigars
flied tbs cabin. and Foor Jacasop, as the gener-
Gus vintage mounted in his brain, for time
forgot his troubles.
The letter lay on the table before Failing, Who
with his heels pcrched on projecting eoruice Of
the cabin, smoked in scnce wuio Jackson, with
volub;lity entirely unnatural to hin. poured into
tbs ears Of Failing the entire story OF his
wrongs.
"You are not half paid; that is certain. Jack
son, and there il cut litto chance to make a dol
lar out of the main hatch, To bs surc. you can
chandler, ETC.. but, after all. what does it
amount to ? I came out i1ore to make my for
tune, Jackson; honestly, If I can, and thus far
have no reason to complain. But you are Btu-
ated differently. You have no opportunities.
your life is passing away, the greater portion of
1t il spent in bufeting the elemeuss at $50 per
moutb,-for WHAT that your owners may
reap hundreds OF thousands Of dollars from
your talents. Is that honest; is it right
or inst? No. And how will it end? You
arc astern Of the lighter Now shall speak
plnin, jackson, too plain perhaps; but fill your
glass, man, it has been empty this half hour.
AS said before, every day will bring you nearer
your grave aud the best years of your life spent
away from your family whom you love. Even
supposing that no accident occurs to excite the
wrath of the firm that might cost you your
position. in due course OF time you will be worn
out, feeble, and incapacitated BY old age from
retaining command. What will the merchant
care for you thcn7 Will he take into considera-
ton the fact that You have bravcd dangers and
ransacked every cline for tho articles OF mer-
chandise he required? No, he will never give it
q thought, and tho old shipmaeter. the faithful
but wosn-ont servant, will tottor to the door Of
the aailors snug ha.bor, and hes for charity and
q roof over hiF gray head, unless indeed your
wife and two girl babies can support you."
Tho merchant blew long cloud OF smoke from
his lips IS he ceased speaking. and eyed Jack
wiped the Precipitation from his brow. which had
been invoked by tho artful picture protrayod
by tho eloquence OF the sharp, shroUd mer-
chaut. -~~ .-,.-..~~~>
GOOD God! Mr.. Failing. never looked up-
on it in that hight; bns dare say yon are right.
wife from starving"
"Exactly. and no more. Take another glass
that's right. Your good health. The Exporter
is insured. Isn't she?"
- Yes, to her full value"
! land you are to insure the cargo a1so2"
I" Certainly; my owners are always very par
ticular about that"
:. lIumph! How vonld you like to pocket
e50.000, Jackson, mud weather On your owners
and The poor-house, eh?
tiont" and Jacksons head began to spin about
Is ho listened to the artfully-worded soph1stry
of the tempter.
.'1ye can make good thing Of it, and now is
your opportunity Your owners grind you down,
now let them take the consequences, a!thouEh |
they will not lnse much. but the anticipated |
profit. I will furnish yoH the silk aud tea, but |
instead OF the best LII give the poorest. Don't |
Jump, man; there's no harm dono yet, Tile !
highest market price will be charged, ana you |
shall have S25.000 tonight. or when you sign |
he regular articles OF agreement 81 having re- |
,elved the stipulated quality ami quantity Tie !
2thez S25, 600 ehall be paid when the Exporter |
,oes to the bottom aud yon return to Shangha, |
rom the wreck. Not . word man. but come |
Ishore. Well talk it over at my Office"
And, linking h,s arm through Jac6son's. lie |
assisted the shipmaster to leaye the cabin and |
Ieecend the eide. ......
The next day the first 1ighter-load Of cargo for
he Exporter arrived. and both bale and box VAS
attled rapidly into her capac,ous hold. In 1css
han two weeks time the ship WAS ready for
ea and Jackson. WHO had spent the greater
'ortiou Of his time on shore. repaired on board.
Not until too late did the entangled seaman I
wake from the de1usive dream into which he I
nd been begru!ed by the skilful Failing. The
hip VAS loaded, the first half Of the
SUI 00U had been paid, and jackson, By the
drico Of the merchant, did not bank the
mount, hut negotiated for the value in dis
nouds, which he wore around 1is body
Hh tA- I-k- L