Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-06-26
Only Jones.


-Congregationalist
Only Jones.
The officers of Her Majesty's Twenty-fourth
and Eighty-fourth infantry were sitting round
their mess-table in Castletown, the capital of
the Isle of Man, one evening more than thirty
years ago-that is, all of them except one
but then, that one was only Jones. Nobody
minded Jones; even his peculiarities had be-
gun to be an old subject for chatting" and,
indeed, he had paid such small attention to
their chatting that they had come to find it
little pleasure, and after some weeks of dis.
comfort Lieutenant Jones had been allowed
to choose his own pleasures without much
interference. These were not extravagant
"a favorite book, long walk in all kinds
of weather, and sail when the weather was
favorable. He would not drink-he said it
hurt his health; he would not shoot-he said
it hurt his feelings; he would not gamble
he said it hurt his conscience and he did
not care TO flirt or visit the bellies of the
capitalize said it hurt his affections. Once
Captain de Reuzy lispingly wondered if it
was possible to "hurt his honor" and Jones
calmly answered that ait was not possible
for Captain de Reuzy to do So" Indeed,
Jones constantly violated all these gentle
mems ideas of proper behavior, but for some
reason or other no one brought him to ac-
count for it. 1t was easier to shrug their
shoulders and call him "queer," or say ait
was only Jones" or even to quietly assert
his cowardice.
One evening Colonel Underwood was dis
cussing hunting party for the next day
Jones walked into the room and was imme-
diately accosted:
"Something new, Lieutenant. | find
there are plenty of hares on the island, and
we mean to give puss run tomorrow.
have heard that you are good rider. viii
you join us ?"
thing is neither in my way of duty nor my
| pleasure"
"You forget the honor the Colonel does
you, JONES' said young Ensign Powell.
al thank the Colonel for his courtesy,
but can see no good reason for accepting
it. am sure my horse will not approve of
it ; and | am sure the hare will not like it
and am not good rider therefore, l
should not enjoy it."
| You need not be afraid" said the Colonel
rather sneeringly; the country is quite open
| and these low Maux walls are easily taken.
| Excuse me, Colonel, am afraid. If
should be hurt it would cause my mother
and sisters very great alarm and anxiety.
am very much afraid of doing this"
What was to be done with man so OBJ
tuse regarding conventionalities, and who
boldly asserted his cowardice? The Col
onel turned away half contemptuously, anc
Ensign Powell took Jones' place.
The morning proved to be very bad one
with the prospect of rising storm, and a.
the party gathered in the barracks yard
Jones said earnestly to his Colonel;
al am afraid, sir, you will meet with
severe Storm"
al think so, Lieutenant; but we promised
to dine at Gwynne Hall, and we shall ge
that far at any rate"
So they rode rather gloomily away in tn
rain. Jones attended TO the military dutie
assigned to him, and then, about noon
walked seaward. 1t was hard work by thi
time to his footing on the quay but amt
the binding spray and mist he saw quite
crowd of men going rapidly toward the grea
shelving Scarlet Rock, mile beyond tn
town. He stopped an old sailor and asked
as anything wrong 2"
"a little steamer sir, off Calf Of Man
she is driving this way an, infect, fea
she will be on Ia rocks afore ta-night."
Jones stood still moment, and then 70
lowed the crowd as fast as the storm woul
let him. When he joined them they wer
! gathered on the summit of huge eli
watching the doomed craft. She was no
within sight and it was evident that he
seamen had lost all control of her. Sh
must ere long be flung by the waves upo
} the jagged and frightful rocks toward whic
: she was driving. In the lull of the win,
, not only the booming of the minute GU
e but also the shouts of the imperiled ere,
e could be heard.
+ "What can be done 7" said Jones to a
y old man whose face betrayed the stronge
S emotion.
a "Nothing, sir, am afraid. If she'd ma
: age to rount Ia rocks, she would have goI
to pieces on ia sand, and there are plenty
men who would have risked their life to sa'
life. But how are we to reach them fro
4 this height ?"
a How far are we above water p
n "This rock goes down like wall for
o fathoms, SIR
"What depth of water at the foot 7"
q Thirty feet or more''
\, "Good. Have you plenty of light, lol
is rope :"
4 you sir, you can't live ten minutes doy
a there ia first wave will throw you on
is rocks ana oash you W pieces ienSy u
As would pue you uowh' Sir' ou' you Can 3"
Id IL you get GOWN. -
at "Do you kho", oiu man "hae SUR swi
I'd ,nihg 10 nave ui'ea 'h'o'sn 'No SUR
'r. Nukuneya, i; r,,. h
uou piess YOU sir' y 'iiousn' ho WI
m man Mte, Sonia 40 'na' ,;. sauls; ,.a ao;,r
~ ~ WINE 'h,s ooilNersalion WIS sons
~ ~ Jones was uiyessing himself oi al super
~ ons clohihs anu cu'lih pu' ,ue . sieeteS ss;
~ t nls heavy peaJaeke. WIN ms pooAesAnl nr ~
be nls upn1, ne p"Sseu Tt SUM st' s'is In; =.
al oniousn at .no' al .aa;n Sn aha;r ;nnn;si % =
~ .. eaSer iS in.eies'' anu 'e'ins 'n'i' '"iD''''
H. ioohi rh he ss;u ssta a,,.. ,u;u ,.,,. a.. -,
,,;n nc .nIn hos, s,eeneS es' m,n tio'e"' ''e ~
ir 'ua'ing my DJrs' you sae see, now what Won