Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-05-30
selefted Misfellanv.
FAITH AND NERVE.

1t was in the year 1851. was sail
ing as second engineer on Liverpool
steamer bound for New York. When
three days out the chief engineer came
down and told us stowaway had been
found on board
l didn't wait to hear any more, but
went up on deck like sky-rocket, and
there | did sec sight and no mistake.
Every man Jack of the crew, and what
passengers we had on aboard, were all
in ring on the forecastle, and in the
DifRt kal MS 'nTdndtf fggrm ir0ilfeasffi6eii ms-
lookin' regular mite among all them
big fellows, was little bit O. lad not
ten years old-ragged as scarecrow,
but with bright curly hair and bonnie
little face of his own, if it hadn't been
so wocful thin and pale.
But, bless your soul, to see tho way
the little chap held his head up and look
ed about him you'd ha' thought that the
whole ship belonged to him. The mate
was a great hulkin', black bearded fell
low, with look that would have fright
ened horse, and O voice fit to make one
jump through kcy-hole: but the young
un warn'ta bit afeared he stood straight
up and looked him full in the face with
them bright, clear eyes of his'n, for all
the world as if he was Prince Hatred
himself. Folks did say afterward Cow
ering his voice to a whisper) as how he
coined O. better blood nor what he ought,
and, for my part I'm rather o that way
o thinkin myself; for | never yet seed
a common street Harab, as they call them
now, carry it off like him. You might
ha' heard pin drop as the mate spoke.
"Well. you young whelp." says he in
in his grimmest voice, "what brought
you here :"
at was stepfatbcr as done it," says
the boy in weak little voice, but as
steady as could be Gathers dead and
mothers married again, and my new
father says as how he won't ha' no brats
about eatin' up bis wages ; and he stow
ed me away when nobody warn't looking
and guy me some grub to keep me goin
for day or till | got to sea. lie says
I'm goin' to Aunt Jane, at Halifax, and
here's her address,"
And with this he slips bis hand into
the breast of his shirt, and out with a
scrap of paper awfully dirty and crump-
led up, but with the address on it right
enough.
We all believed every word on it even
without the paper, for his look and bis
voice and the way he spoke was enough
to show that there wasn't ha'porth o.
lyin' in his whole skin. But the mate
didn't swallow the yarn at all he only
shrugged his shoulders with kind O.
grin as much as TO say:
"I'm too old bird 10 be caught with
such chaif." and then he says to him,
Look here, my lad, that's all very fine,
but it wont work here; some o these
men O mine are in the secret, and |
mean TO have il out Of them. Now you
Just point out the man who slowed you
away and fed you, this very minute; if
you don't it will be the worse for you"
The boy looked up 10 his bright fear
less way--it did my heart good 10 look
at him, the brave little chap-and says
quietly, '1'yc told you the truth amt
got no more 10 say"
The mate says nothin'. but he looks
at him for minute as il he sec clear
through him, then be faced round to the
men lookin' blackor than ever. Reeve
ropo to the yard !" he sings out loud
enough to raise the dead, "smart now"
The men all looked at each other as
much as to say "What on earth is
coming now? 2" But on board ship. o
course when you are told to do thing
you've got 10 do IL; and the rope was
rove in iiiiy.
Nov, my lad" says the mate in a