The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-07-17

you're told to do a thing, you're got to d'
il; so the rope was rove in jiffy.
Now my lad" says the mate, in a hart
square sort of voice, that made every wort
seem like fitting stone into wall, '.yor
see that ere rope? Well I'll give you tel
minutes to confess" (he took out his watcl
and held it in his hand); "and il you dom
tell the truth afore times up, I'll hang yor
like u dog"
The crew all stared at one another, as il
they couldn't believe their eaIs Il didn'
believe mine, l can tell ye), and then low
growl ran among 'em, like wild beas
awakin' out of a nap.
"Silencc therei" shouts the mate, in .
voice like the roar of a nor easter. "Stand
by to run for'ard," and with his own hand
he put the moose around the boys neck
The little fellow never f1inched a bit, but
there was some among the sailors, (blg
strong fellers as could ha' felled an ox) as
shook like leaves in the wind. As for me,
bethought myself o. my little curly.
headed lad at home, and how it 'ud be if
anyone was to go for to hang him; and at
the very thought ont l tingled all over.
and my fingers clenched themselves as If
they was a-grippin somebody's throat. 1
clutched hold ~ u hand-spike, and held 1t
behind my back all ready.
tom, )" whispers the chief engineer to
me, 'd'ye think he really means to do it ?"
Il don't know" says through my teeth /;
al ut if he does, he shall go first If L
swings for itr'
I've been in many an ugly scrapc in my
time; but never felt 'arf as bad as | did
then. Every minuts seemed as long as a
dozen; and the tick % the mates watch
reg'lar pricked my ears like apin. The
men were very quiet but there was preci-
Gus ugly look on some ~ their faces; and
l noticed that three or four on en- KEEP
edgin' for'ard To where the mate was stand
ing, in a way that meant mischief. As for
me, I'd made up my mind that ifhe did go
for To hang the poor little chap, I'd kill
him on the spot, and take my chance.
Eight minutes!" says the mate, his
great deep voice breakin' upon the silence
like the toll of u funeral bell. IF you've
got anything to confess my lad. you'd best
out with il, for yer times nearly up"
''I've told you the trutn," answered the
boy, very pale but as firm rs ever.
May say my prayers, pleases"
The mate nodded; and down goes the
poor little chap ON his knees with that in
fernal rope about his neck all the time),
and puts up his poor little hands TO pray.
/ couldn't make out what he said Qact my
head was in stitch whirl, that I'd hardly
ha' knOwed my own namc), but I'll be
bound God heard it, every word. Then
ne ups ON MS leet again, anu puts MS
hands behind him, and says to the mate
quite quietly: I'm ready"
And then sir, the mates hard grim face
broke up all at once, like I've seed ice in
the Baltic. He snatched up the boy in his
arms. and kissed him, and burst out cry
in like child; and think there warn't
one of us as didn't do the same. l know
l did for one.
"God bless you my boy!" says he,
smoothing the child's hair with his great
hard hand. you're true Englishman,
every inch ofyou; you wouldn't tell a lie
to save your life. Well if it be rs yer
fathers cast We of. I'll be yer father from
this day forth; and if ever forget you,
then may God forget mer
And he KEEP his word too. When he got
to Halifax, he found out his little un's
aunt, and guv her lump of money 10
make him comfortable; and now he goes
to see the youngstcr every voyage, reg'lar
as can be, and to see the pair on 'em to
gether-the little chap SO fond O. him, an
lot bearin' him a bit o. grudge-it's bout
as pretty sight as ever seed. And now
sir, akin your parding, it's time for me to
be going below; so III just wish yer good
night"