The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-02-04

1t. You come TO us; II you uemur, an
other shall take your place."
And, with a heavy heart, the poor
fellow signed the articles, while the
pale, suffering face of his wife rose up
before him.
The Exporter was lying off Shanghai
waiting for the valuable and special
cargo which had been ordered by mail.
The merchant, Mr.. Failing, was on
board, and as has already been narrated
was taking his comfort in the wide,
spacious cabin of the vessel.
Glass after glass of champagne had
been quafed, the fragrant perfume of
choice cigars filled the cabin, and poor
Jackson, as the generous vintage
mounted in his brain, for a time forgot
his troubles.
The letter lay on the table before
Failing, who, with his heels perched on
q projecting cornice of the cabin,
smoked in silence, while jackson, with
volubility entirely unnatural to him,
poured into the ears of Failing the en-
tire story of his wrongs.
"You are not half paid; that is GER
tain, Jackson, and there is but little
chance to make q dollar out of the
main hatch. To be sure, you can do a
little something with the stevedore,
ship-chandler, etc. but, after all, what
does il amount TOP / came out here to
make my fortune, Jackson; honestly, if
l can, and thus far have no reason to
complain. But you are situated differ
emily. You have no opportunities, your
life is passing away, the greater pOr-
ton of it is spent in buffeting the ele-
ments ut $50 per m~onth-for what?tha
your owners may reap hundreds Of dol
lars from your talents. Is that honest?
is it right or just? No. And how will
it end? You are past the meridian of
life, and you say you are 'astern Of the
lighter Now | shall speak plain,
Jackson, tooplain perhaps; but still your
glass, man, it has been empty this half
hour. A.s-fsaid before, every day will
bring you nearer your grave, and the
best years Of your life spent away from
your family whom you love. Even sup
posing 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 inca
pacitated by old age from retaining
command. What will the merchant
with his bags of gold, which you made
for him, care for you then? Will he
take into consideration the fact that you
have braved dangers and ransacked ev-
cry cline for the articles of merchan-
disc he required? No, he will never
give it a thought, and the old shipmas-
ter, the faithful but worn-out servant,
will totter TO the door of the sailors
snug harbor, and beg for charity and a
roof over his gray head, unless indeed
your wife and two girl babies can sup
port YOU"
The merchant blew a long cloud OF
smoke from his lips rs he ceased speak.
ing, and eyed Jackson with Il very pc
culiar look rs that individual wiped the
pe%rspiration from his brow, which had
been invoked by the awful picture pro-
trayed by the eloquence of the sharp,
shrewd merchant.
"Good God! Mr.. Failing, l never
looked upon it in that light; but dare
say you are right. But what can | dol
The $50 l get keeps my wife from
starving"
"Exactly, and no more. Take an
other glass-that's right. Your goot
health. The Exporter is insured, ism
, shep"
"Yes, to her full value"
. Sand you are to insure the cargt
alsoP"
Certainly; my owners are Away,
, very particular about that"
) "Humph! How would you like t.
, pocket $4,000, Jackson, and weathe
on your owners and the poor-house
q eh?"
Y "Wha a question to ask a man il
, my position!" and Jackson's head be
q gan to spin about as he listened to tn
artfully worded ~sophistry of the tempt
> er.
t "We can make a good thing of it
and row is your opportunity. You
owners grind you down, now let then
take the consequences, although the
n will not lose much, but the anticipate
$ profit. will furnish you the silk an