The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1881-02-10


aPron-string, and I am willing to "a,
that before all the world. Look her
boys" and here Jack threw himself Oh
the floor Of the forecastie, Il have
short yarn for you. I had a father
and [ think he was as nice a man q.
ever left bride behind him tc
follow the sea for a living, and q bra
yer man | know never put foot on s
ships deck. He became a eailor after
marriage, have said, and, beginning
rather late in life, he was naturally
anxious to make up for lost time, and
strove in. every way to win the good
opinion Of his officers. One day he
went into the water after man who
had fallen overheard and, risking his
own life, saved another's. The man
he rescued felt grateful, and, being rich
made him a present. lie also offered
him 4 glass Of wine, intending, sup
pose, to give him what he fancied vas
good thing,
"Well, that started my father. He
went on. lie became drunkard, d
poor, shiftless fellow, loafing in one
grog-hole after another. Coming home
drunk one day, he fell upon the side
walk and struck his head against the
curbstone, bleeding fearfully. I hap
pened to be going home drawing sled
q boy lent me, for drunkards' children
are not to be sled-owners, and on that
sled, helped by another boy, l drew
home my poor father. He died that
night, and that night, when mother
was crying, I told her 1 never would
touch liquor in any shape. from beer
to brandy and anything beyond. And
if to keep my word 70 my mother is 70
be tied 10 her apron-string then / am
fastened for life. and, God helping me,
[ will never. cut the string,
no, no, don. youl" implored old
Billy Minard, who was rough-handed
but not rough-hearted. That's a yarn
that fetches water and he drew his
tarred sleeve across his eyes.
"I.guess, I guess" CALCULATED the
owner of the flask, "we'll pat this By. "
The men had now been ordered on
deck, and up they scrambled one after
.heUther. Bob had.-.said nothing aud
made 10 apology for his words, slough |
lie felt small enough TO have slipped |
lown into his boots and hidden there
hey if had been an-inch wider.
"Look here, Jack, said jerry Mar
in, fellow with a small, half-shut Ii
ger eye, that's all.you're going to do
bout that insult? Sha'nt you take
t up%
q shall take it up as I think best, "
aid Jack.
'sLny aloft and furl that fore-top-.
;allan' sail" roared the captain, point |
ug atthe forcmsst.
The weather had suddenly become |
qually. The sea was tumbling about
md the ship with it, Ugly black
clouds rolled along the heavens. There
vas the sound of a growing and roll
ng along the rigging as ifa lot Of bears
we're climbing the ropes.
clay aloft there! BE spry," cried
he captain.
Up, up went several of the men, Bob
eading Off He felt light-headed, but
lie pushed on and reached the top-gal-
ant yard. Work on the sail was al
most over. Boz was the farthest on,
lis feet planted on the foot ropes run
ling ander the yard and clirging with
is left hand to a beckett OF rope out
he sail that the hand can grasp. Bob
lad been feeling dizzy, when suddenly
small squaII struck the ship. II
,ent the Gipsy over as if she were a
oy boat, shook Bob's feet from their
upon the rope,, and flung him
,ut so. that he hung over the awful
.byss of the sea, clinging to a beckett
My with his left hand. There he
wung. He tried to throw himself
,aek and grasp beckett with his other
land. He failed. He grew dizzier.
t seemed to him as if he must fall in
d that boiling, wrathful chasm opening
q receive him. He opened his eyes
nee more, saw that black, scowling
Ky, saw that angry, foaming sea, and
vas letting 60 his hold, when brave
.rm was thrown around his body, and /
omebody dragged him on to the yard.
"God give me etreagth," whispered
lis rescuer. "Hold on there, Bob,
:atch quick"
And Bob caught. He grasped
,ecket and clung fer life In a few
minutes the squail had exhausted itself
md the Gypsy lifted her masts into
,osltion, and the danger was over.
Bob looked about him to see who his
'riend was, and there was Jack the Ia
ly's man!
Bob MacGreger went down from
hat foremast different person from
the Bob MacGregor that went up.
His life had met with an abrupt shock. /