The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-11-04

OON "oJ hONot otO III uuObueI tApeTl-
encc. At length one cold morning in tho
dead of winter, my father was not OF
home. He had not been at home through
the night. My mother sent me to the
tavern to see if could find him. I had
gone half the way whom l saw something
in the snow by tho side of the road. l
stopped, and shudder ran through me,
for it looked like human form. | went
up to it, and turned the head over and
brushed the snow from the face. 1t was
my father-and he was stiff and cold {!
l laid my hand upon his pale brow, and
it was like solid marble. He was dead =
Poor Jack stopped a moment and
wiped his eyes. Not one Of us spoke, for
we bad become too deeply moved. But
he coon went on.
al went to the tavern and told the
people there what l had found, and the
landlord sent two of his men to carry the
frozen body Of my father home. Oh,
shipmates, l cannot tell you how my poor
mother wept and groaned, She sunk
down upon her knees and clasped that
icy corpse to her beating bosom as though
she could have given it life from the
warmth of her own breast. She loved
her husband through all his errors, and
her love was oil powerful now. The two
men went away and left the body still on
the floor. My mother whispered to me
TO come and kneel by her side. l did
so. My child she said to me, and the
big tears were yet rolling down her
cheeks, you know what has caused all
this. This man was once as noble and
happy and true as man can be, but, oh,
SEQ how he has been stricken down.
Promise me, my child, oh, promise here,
before God and your dead father, and
your broken.hearted mother, that you
will never, never, never touch single
drop Of the fatal poison that has wrought
for us all this misery
"'Oh, shipmates, 1 did promise, then
and there, all that my mother asked, and
God knows that to this moment that
promise has never been broken. NV
father was buried, and some good, kind
neighbors helped us through the winter.
When the next spring came l could
work, and | earned something for my
mother. At length l found a chance to
ship, and l did SO, and every time 90
home have some money for my mother.
Not for the wealth of the whole world
would break the pledge | gave my
mother and my God on that dark, cold
And even had made no such
plodgc, would not touch that fatal cup,
for know that have fond, doting
mother who would be made miserable by
my dishonor, 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 know you too we'll
10 believe that either of you would ever
bring down loving mothers gray hairs
in sorrow to the grave. That is all,
ihipmates. Let mo 60 now, and you may
enjoy yourselves alone. for do not be.
ieve that you will again urge tho wine
,up upon me-
"As Jack thus spoke he turned toward
he door. but Tim Black stopped him.
"'Hold on jack cried Tim, wiping his
,yes and starting up from his chair.
You shan't 60 alono. l have got q
and l love her as well as you
owe yours, and your mother shall not be
happier than mine, for. by the love l
,aar her, l here swear that she shall
lever have a drunken son. will drink
10 morer
"'Give us your hand, Tim,' cried Sam
Pratt. III 60 with you.'
II waited no longer, but quickly starting
rom my chair I joined the other two,
md ere long the whole five of us Joined
With Jack Small in his noble plan. We
,alled for pen, ink and paper, and made
Jack draw up a pledge. He signed it
irst and wo followed him, and when the
Iced was done We were far happier than
We had been before for years. The wine
lpon the table was not touched, and the
liquor We had drank during the forenoon
vas now all gone in its effect.
Toward evening we returned to the
hip. There was frown upon the cap.
aims brow as We came over the sido, for
lie had never known us to come off from
days liberty sober. But when we had
IL come over tho side and reported our.
elves to him his countenance changed. |
10 could hardly give credit to the evi.
lpnna of his NUN eapoao
"Look here, boys he said, after nc
lad examined us thoroughly. what does
his mean?'
"'Show him the paper whispered |.
Jack had our pledge. and without
peaking he handed it to the captain lie
ook it and read it, and his face changed |
is expression several times. At length
saw tear start to his eye.
"'Boys,' he said,as he folded the paper,
let me keep this. and if you stick to your
loble resolution you shall never want q
riend while | liye.'
1--WE let the captain keep the paper. |
md when he had put it in his pocket he
'amo and took us each by the hand. He
vas much affected, and l knew that the
circumstance had made him happy, From
hat day our prospects frightened. Jack
Small no more had our envy, for he took
iold and taught us in navigation, and we
we're proud of him. On the next voyage
ye all six were rated as able scamen, aud
'eceived full wages, and we left not that
noble hearted captain until we left to be
come officers on board other ships.
Jack Small is now one of the best
masters in the world, and l believe hat
he rest Of our party are still living, hon.
,red and respected men Three years
lgo we all mct-the whole six Of us--at
iho Astor House in New York, AM not
one of us had broken that pledge which
we made in tho hotel at Rio. -Four Of
US we're then commanders Of good ships,
one was merchant in New York, and
The other was just going out as American
consul 10 one of The italian cities of the