Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1879-03-08
THE RED JACKET.

lHE hED JAbNE 4,
IL was queer scene that our crew
| presented, as we caroused, when GU
schooner lay careened, in the COO
| ground, floor Of the Hacienda dc |,
R)saca, which re had turned into
public house Tor theronce. The hacien
dero was 80 oyeLoyed at our having rur
our eighty slaves aale into Cuban water
thst he gave US the key of the cellars
| and roy, tering time had we. Fiercely,
moustaohed Caspardo Chaco took III,
turn at spinning a yarn. He had been
drinking deep, and, glass in hand, he
began the following, in a mys,eriou,
tone, which he deepened into a doleiuI
strain as he progressed:
-" Joseph Bolton, see you" said the
Old schoOl-teacher to one pupil of thir
teen whom he detected linking the ncse
Of sleeping ac5ool,mate.
| Joseph Bolton, though admonished by
the teacher, was soon after guilty Of
blowing paper wadding through quill.
point blank at the head OF the school
monitor, and it did not 80 happen at the
time that Providence favored those who
sported the heaviest artillery. On the
contrary, the teacher pounct9 upon the
young carn0nier, dragged him from hi4
seat, and joseph was soon separated from
his brethren, and placed in durance vile,
and must say thst was no great pun.
ishment. He WAS up into o close cock
loft, where there were sundry old pam.
Phlets, letters, manuscripts he was
completely sheltered from the eyes of the
master and could Smuse himself in any
way be thought proper. He opened the
Scuttle without difficulty, end let in the
pleasant beams Of a summer afternoon,
while the aperture was so low that when
ne stood upright his head and shoulders
were above the roof Joseph amused
himself by rolling little psper balls down
the slated ro0', for a while, sud then he
paused to examine tho various objects
which came within range OF his vision
The school house stood or the brow of
bill, and the view from the open scuttle
was extensive. The top-masts Of the
vessels lying about the wharves about
Bristol harbor-ior there were 10 steam.
ferries then--were distinctly visible.
Sailors could be seen at work on the rig
ging, on the yards, or engaged in scraping
down the tsp.masts and top~gallants
The masts Of large brig, which seemed
very near, engaged his attention; but he
had not looked st them long before he
was summoned to descend from his lofty
quarters, az the teacher was about to
dismiss the school. When he came down
into the school.room he was observed TO
be very pale and he tTembled excessive.
ly. can well remember how he looked
the pallOr OF his cheeks, and the wild,
ness il his eyes. Some OF the boys eaid
he was scared, and one or two called him
coward. When Joseph arrived near
man . estate he took fancy to go to sea.
He made voyage to India In ship be.
longing 10 firm much celebrated in
those days. Our hero appears to have
been followed by his usual bad foItune-
that OF giving otfense 70 his superlors.
They had not yet reached the Cape of
Good Hope when Joseph was condemned
to be hJgsed before all hand5. He had
given mortal ofiensa to the frat mate of
the ship, vino insisted that it would be
impossible for him to preserve discipline
among the crew if young Bolton was not
punished.
Bolton was rather a favorite Of the
captain, but he could not resist the
impetuous vengeance Of the mate, and
be gave orders accordingly that the
youth should be seized up in the rigging
The crew were assembled 10 witness the
punishment, the younger portion look
ing on with curiosity, ard the old sailors
banging back and soowling at the rre-
parstions Everything being prepared,
the msto drew nesr, A)urishirc the
scourge in his hand, when the youth
begged leave to whisper something in his
private ear.
8" It's no use" returned the ClHcor:
" its too late tob2g now; you We got to
tako it !"
lie drew back, and was about to give
the first blow when Bolton said aloud
4" Il you won't hear mo privately, |
shall speak before all these people"
The mate pRused and said
What il you do? What then r'
" You wore RET jacket once" cried
the youth
The mate approached Bolton, and the
latter whispeled lew words in his ear.
The mate became deadly pale.
What does he say ?" demanded the
captain, who bad appeared to be siugu>
larly interested by the turn which affairs
had taken.
"IPs only some Of his nonsense"
returned the mate, "but | suppose |
must let him off this time, as he has
made an explanation"
" Well, well-what explanations" ?" de.
manded the captain.
" He says that when he ssuced me, in
the morning watch, he mistook me for
Ben Lowell; and now l recollect that he
did call me Ben though l was 50 angry
that it had slipped my memory"
The old tara did not accept this expla.
nation, and when Joseph met them at
supper, they asked him whether the
mate had reported his words correctly.
The youth colored, thrust out his lower
lip, and ended by lifting his in cup 10 his
countenanoe. 40 other reply could be
got out Of him, From that time forward
it was observed that the first mate treated
young Bottom with much Kindness. He
seemed to have forgotten entirely that
the youth had formerly offended him.
and that they owed each other a grudge.