The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-07-11
ONLY JONES.
A Story of an Unpretentious
Hero.

Castletown. the capital of the Isle OF
Man one evening more than thirty
wears ago-that Is, all of them except
one: but then that one was only Jones.
Nobody minded Jones: even his p"cu-
liarities had begun to be an old sub
iect for chatting. and indeed, he had
paid such small attention to their
chatting that they had come to find 1t
little pleasure, and after some weeks
of discomfort, Lieut.. Jones had been
allowed to choose his own pleasures
without without much Interference.
These We're not extravaganza favor
tie book. "A long walk in all kinds of
weather, and a sail when the weather
was favorable. He would not drink
he said 1t hurt his health: he would
not shoot-he said it hurt his feelings:
he would not gamble-he said ii hurt
his conscience: and he did not care to
nrt. or visit the bellies of the capital
he said it hurt his affections. Once
Captain de Reusz lispinglv wondered
whether II was possible to hurt his
honor. and Jones calmly answered
thai 1T was not possible for Captain
de Reuse to do So. Indeed. Zones
constantly violated all these gentle
mems ideas of proper behaviour. but
for some reason or other brought him
to account for 1t. 1t Was easier to
shrug their shoulders and call him
queer or say 1T vas only Jones or
even to quietly assert his cowardice.
One evening Col. Underwood vas
discussing a hunting party for the
next day. Jones walked into the
room.a and was immediately accosted:
Something new, Lieutenant. find
there are plenty of hares on the island.
~ - 49, 60. -, -
morrow. have heard that YOU are a
good rider. Will you join u.s.
You must eXcuse me, Colonel; such
"a thing is neither in my way of duty
or my pleasures.
You forget the honor the Colonel
does YOU, Jones', said young Ensign
Powell.
Il thank the Colonel for his courtesy,
but | can see no good reason for &C
ceptlng 1t. L am sure my horse will
not approve of ii, and / am sure the
hare will not like it.. and | am not a
good rider, therefor. | should not en-
JOY it,.
You need be afraid, said the Colo
mel. rather sneeringly; the country is
quite open. and these low Manx 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 a man so
obstinate regarding conventiOnalities.
and who boldly asserted his coward
ice; The Colonel turned away half
contemptuously. and Ensign Powell
took Jones place.
The morning proved to be a very
bad one with the prospect of a rising
storm, and as the party gathered in
the barracks yard, Jones said earnestly
to his Colonel:
Il am afraid, sir, you will meet with
Il severe storm
Il think SO, Lieutenant; but we pro-
missed to lii at Gwyne Hall, and we
shall get that far at any rate.
So they rode rather glOOmily away
in the rain. Jones attended to the
military assigned to him, and then
about noon, walked seward. 1t was
hard work by tins time to keep his
footing on the quay, but amid the
binding spray and mist he saw quite
a crowd of men going rapidly toward
the great shelving of Scarlet Rock, a
mile beyond the town. He stopped
an old sailor and asked,
Is anything wrong"
a little steamer, sir, off ia Calf of
Man; she is driving this way; an in
teet | fear she will be on ia rocks afore
a night.
Jones stood still a moment, and then
followed the crowd as fast as the storm
would let him. When he joined them
they were gathered on the summit of
a huge cliff. watching the doomed
craft. She was now within sight, and
it was evident that her seamen had
almost lost all control of her. She
must, ere long, be flung by the waves
upon the jagged and frightful rocks,
towards which she was driving. In
the lull of the wind, not only the
booming of the minute gun. but also
the shouts of the imperiled crew could
be heard.
What can be done?' said Jones to
an old man whose face betrayed the
strongest emotion.
Nothing, sir, am afraid. IF she'd
manage to u ia rocks. she would
have gone to pieces on ia sand, and
there are plenty of men who would
have risked their life to save life. But
how are we to reach them from this
height
HOW lal are we above water.
This rock goes down like a wall
forty fathons sir
What depth of water at the foot =
Good Have you plenty of light,
long rope?
Much as you want sir, but let me
tell you sir, you can't live ten minutes
down there. ia first wave will throw
you on to rocks and dash you ia
pieces. Plenty of us would put YOU
down, sir, but you can't swim if you
get down.
Do YOU know old man. what surf.
swimming is: l have dived through
lie surf ut Nukuheva.'
God bless You sir thought no w. tie
man could do that same
While this conversation was going
OF JONES was divesting himself o. al
surpertiuous clothin &, and cutting out
the sleeves of his heavy pea-iacket
with his pocket knife. This done he
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