The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-08-10

measured his steps, and faster Allen
tried to 90, but his foot slipped, and fol
a moment stood horror struck, gazing
up at the dangling form suspended
from his arms in mid-air. A coarse
laugh from the Captain, Il jeer from the
sailors, and Allen again caught hold OF
the rigging, and in an instant more was
up in the watch basket. He waved his
hat to me and disappeared.
Now stay there, you young scamp,
and get some of the spirit frozen out OF
YOU" muttered the Captain as he with
drew to his cabin.
Knowing the Captains temper, |
dared not interfere while he was in his
present frame of mind. Before night
fall. however, | proceeded to his cabin
and found him seated before the table,
with half-empty bottle Of his favOrite
champagne before him. | knew he
had been drinking freely and therefore
had little hope that my protege would
be released, still | yentured to say:
" Pardon my intrusion, Capt. Harden,
but am afraid our cabin-boy will be
sick if he is compelled to stay up there
much longer"
'Sick? ha, not bit of it; he's got too
much grit in him to yield to such non
sense; no person on board my ship ever
gets sick, they know better than to play
that game on me. But I'll go and see
what he is doing anyhow" Arrived
on deck, speaking trumpet in hand, he
shouted; 'Ho! my ladn "Aye, aye,
sir" was the. faint but prompt re-
Spouse from above, as Aliens face APP
peared looking with eager hope for his
release.
:" How do you like your new berth Pr
was the Captains hooking question.
"Better than grog or whisky, sir"
came the quick reply from Allen.
" If l allow you to descend, will you
drink the contents of this glass;" and
he held up, as he spoke, a sparkling
! glass of his favorite wine.
8" have forsworn all Intoxicating
drinks, sir, and | will not break my
pledge even at the risk of my life"
"There, that settles it, said the
Captain, turning to me, "he's got to
stay up there tonight, and [ bet my
last dollar on it he'll be toned down be-
fore morning"
After the Captain had disappeared l
hastily took some blankets and induced
the steward to supply me with some
warm biscuit and coffee, and with them
proceeded to the poor fellow. He drank
it eagerly without saying a word, at
last he said:
81 suppose I will have to stay up
here all night
Eyes, poor fellow. I'm sorry, but
why did you not taste at least a little
of the wine, just to humor him? You
would have been free now if you had
done So"
Sir" he began earnestly. "ifyou
had promised your mother in her dying
hour never to taste anything intoXicat-
ing, would you break that promise?"
mo, certainly not, my friend, but |
think if your mother knew the circum-
stances you are placedin at present she
would absolye you from your pledge for
the sake of your Safety
"She does know it, she does know
it, twice whispered the youth, grasp
ing my hand tightly. But fearing to
be discovered in my work of mercy |
cut the conversation short and babe
him goodnight.
Once only during the night heard
the watch call for another blanket, and
to my inquiries replied that Allen was
well but very cold.
By the early dawn Capt. Harden or
dered him to be taken down, for to his
call of Ho, my ladn' there was no re-
ply, and he began to feel alarmed. A
glass of warm wine and biscuit was
standing ready for him beside the Cap
tain, who was sober now, and when he
saw the limp form of Allen carried into
his presence by two sailors, his voice
softened as he said: " Here, my lad,
drink that and l will trouble you no
more
With painful gesture the boy waved
him back, and in a feeble voice said:
"Capt. Harden, will you allow me
to tell you a little of my history?"
$50 on, but do not think that it will
change my mind; you have to drink
this just to show you how | bend stiff
necks on board my ship"
1.-TWO weeks before | came on board
this ship | took a handful of turf, and
threw it down upon my mothers coffin,
| saw lut pcO)lc lcuNc lnc pOl, anu
heard the dull thud of falling earth as
the sexton filled the grave which held
the last remains Of my darling mother.
Soon he too disappeared, and l was
alone, yes, alone, for she who loved
and cared for me was gone. | knelt
for moment upon the fresh turf, and
while the hot tears rolled down my
cheeks, | vowed never to taste the
liquor which had broken my mother S
heart, and ruined my fathers life.
Two days later | stretched my hand
through prison bars, behind which my
father was confined. | told him of
mothers death; of my intention of
going to sea. Do with me what you
will, Captain, let me freeze to death in
the main-mast, throw me into the sea
below, anything, but do not for my
dead mothers sake, force me to drink
that poison that has ruined wife's
husband, and do not let it ruin moth
er's only SON"
He sank back exhausted, and burst
into fit of tears. The Captain stepped
forward and laying his hand, which
trembled little, upon the boys head,
said to the crew, who had in the mean
time collected: For our mothers sake
let us respect Allen Barkroft's pledge.
And never" he continued, firing, "let