The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1878-06-27
oAsE oF ni,rAKrs IDENTITY.

psued 10 Jack Rodgers. cir, said the old
sailor, and u dlani know lhat Il actilly
happened, I'd be ineuned TO doubt ili
bal ms snj JACK was sbipmaies for 20
long $ time tbat I eouldnt be mistaken
10 bin, and know ,his thlpg what I'm
a.gning to tell you about did scIilly take
plsoe.
YUu zee, if, me and Jack was slip.
mates fnst 10 The North American, Black
I Ball packet, The time she went ashore on
Jersey coast aud was lest, and arter
T that We was together IN the Oxford, the
the Cambridge, the MoDtczama, when
she were new, the Westminster, London
! packet, aBd mayhsp some others; aud
we got TO be ehums ike, usin' each
Others damage with perfect freedom.
Z IL weren't likely, then, that Ia be mis-
taken in Jack, whatever a woman might
cay.
4 Arter took The fever and went of to
I Califoroy, me and Jack broke tackF l
goin' Of for long voyage into the Pa
ciic, aud Jack keepin' OF 10 the Liver
pool trade, sud we lost track OF one an
other. About a week after that, though,
I | falls IN with a chap by the name OF Ned
Morgan up TO the mines, and says he TO
me says Ned, You reColIects Jack Rodg-
ers, says he, aud says /, OF course does !;
and says he, He's nicely fixed, and says
/ |, As how aud says he, He's spliced TO
a woman as keeps public house In the
Scotland road 10 Liverpool, and has
knocked of goin' to sea altogether.
Well, sir, were right glad TO hear
this, cause Jack were nice chap, and |
didn't give him much thought after that
for years.
Finally, ! come over to this side Of the
land, aud ships into the Isaac Webb,
Black Baller, for Liverpool, havin' good
passage Of eighteen days, and arriyin' OF
a Saturday and dockin' the same tide.
Next day bein Sunday, gets my best
| dunnsge and / started for TO take walk
and have a look at the old place where
had been used to cruise in former years.
Passin' across the square of the Exchange
nigh at band TO the Nelson monument,
who should | come athwart but Jack
Rodgers.
Why, Jack says |.
Why, Tom says he, how goes it? says
he; and then be turned TO me quite seri-
Gus, aud says be, Tom Peters, says he,
amt you mistaken! Am | me, or amt |
me and am somebody else?
Well, thought Jack bad been hystin'
and says, Steady, my lad, steady; don't
let her yaw about too much; it's all right
old chap, and Pm glad to see you, aud if
so be as you hadn't enough aboard, I'd
say come down TO the widder's and have
dram and talk over old times.
Says be, Tom, you think I'm lush.
Well, says /, going for looks should
say no; but going for talk am ] me or
amt |, or what do you take me for?
I'd say yes.
Says Jack, Let's gil at this, beginning
with the fust. Am Jack Rodgers?
Says |, Who else, lad?
Says he, There's folks iu this town as
says as how Pm an alibi; not Jack Rod
gers at all, but Bill Williams, The hus-
band of a widder and the father OF her
children.
Seeing as Jack, to the best of my
knowledge and belief were sober, says
to him, This here's all Greek to me, but
If you like TO 20 down to tue widder's
wen have pot of beer, and if twill ease
your mind for TO spin the yarn Pm con
yenient.
SO we goes down TO the widder's, and
being seated in the snug, order pipes and
terbacker, and Of course mugs of ale, and
Jock reeled it off to me as nigh as can
recolect, in this here style:
Arter we parted in New York, says he,
ships into the Washington, along Of
Capt. Page, aud come out here, making a
fine run out of sixteen days and fine wea-
ther all the time with the exception of a
snifter from the s'uth'ard passin' the tail
OF the Banks. We'd been in s'pose
about a week, when one night takes a
stroll up Scotland roadway, and comes
TO little public house, and feeling bit
dry, went in for to have a drop Of ale.
There was tidy looking lass behind the
bar, dressed 10 deep mourning, and as
steps up TO give my order, she jist clapped
her eyes onto me and gives a yell, and
down she goes into fit like. Jist then
out comes little gal from the inner room
aud as soon as she makes me out she
sings out, It's dady, it's dady, and out
the door she rushes, and heard her call
I ing to the folks next door, and next
/ knowed she comes back with woman,
who iasteBs onto me with her fists, say.
\ ing, Goodness, gracious, Mr., Williams,
I you oughtn'tto come onto her so sudden;
why ever didn't you come into our house
/ fust and let me break II to Der gradually 2
Then she goes behind the bar and tends
to the lass there, making the gal git some
water TO bring her to With Then she
tells me 10 20 inside for a bit til she gits
her oil right. Well, Tom, Of course /
seen there was a mistake somewhere, and
/ ! goes in TO wait for the proper time Of
e1plAinin' matters and geitiu things to
rights.
II were tidy little room inside, nicely
furnished, aud everything snng aud ship
shape about il. Arler about fifteen min.
ules In comes two wimmin, and this here
one 10 black she JET makes for me and
gives me such a huggiu' as any man