Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1885-12-24
A GOOD MATCH"
How a Poor Young Sailor For-
tunately Found One.

John Blake, 2 young man OF thirty.
had followed the life ol a sailor sine.
he was lad OF seventeen. Being a
person oi steady habits he had saved a
little money. and he hoped in time to
earn enough TO own craft of bis
own
Unfortunately, one day. when alof,
"n the forctop-gallant yard of a shin
coming in from the sea, past Sandy
Hook the foot rope broke and he feli.
As hc went head foremost his feet
caught IN the topmast ratlmes for a
moment, enabling him to clutch a back
stay. The impetus of his fall however
whiried oim over sideways, one of the
Zones OF his right arm was twisted and
broken, and although he was now able
TO hang ON TO the rigging with his left.
'h' oNcrucinting pain no suffered was
such that hc must soon have f,in,.d
away hut for the assistance hc received
rom couple of shipmatcs who. n
S"sh'Su, were also aloft and who
nelpe" him to the deck la due time
ne was taken 10 the lodgings heusually
occupied when in the city, and his
!,,nhdiadN summoned a good surgeon.
ne latter tended him for weeks. dur
ihg wnich "A large hole" was made i'm
Jacks money. His right arm was
now nearly useless. II hmdcred him
ir''n pursuing his calling a. a sailor.
Hp'd ne endcavored TO obtain other busi-
ness No one, however, could bo found
Wlillhg 10 employ "a man who could on
~ use nus lctt arm. Day after day his
savings dwindlcd, until finally they
were reduced To a few dollars. Having
p"lu ms last dollar TO his laudlady. he
wandered forth Tor another attempt to
| ob'hn employment. He had made a
solemn vow 10 himself that. were he
unsuccessful, ho would never return To
his lodgings.
NO, no, hc muttercd, I've alway,
pnu my debts like AN honest man. and
III MOI gong 90 live on people I've no
means oI paying. I'll 20 20 Davy
Jones hrsi-ay ny, ! certainly will.
seeihg rs re- charges nothing for board
and lodging
At dusk. weary and discnuraoed
having been unable to obtain work
Jack walked out to the end of a lon0
pier, and there sat down. looking at
the water.
"Ay, ay. a. soon as it's dark I'm
of, '' he said 10 himself. MAY as well
make the plunge first as last. and sheer
out of this world which can do moth
ing Tor "A chap that has sprung one Of
his timbcrs ="
The gloom OF night soon closed
around him. lie Just gave one wistfnI
squint at the forest of masts LOOMING,
up through the darkness on his right.
bit of fresh quid from plug of 10.
bacco. then dropped from the pier into
the river. and went down like a mar
linspike. But hc was an excellent
swimmer. and somehow. when he
found he was under water. tho instinct
OF self-prescrvation was asserted. and
he worked himself mp 20 the surface.
Halloal he muttered. as he
bobbed TO and fro, about the base Of
the pier, "what does this mcanp I
thought | was going 10 drown mvsclfl
Why, now, I'm ashamed Of NV COW.
ardicc-l certainly am
lie closed his eyes. opened his
mouth. and was about TO allow himself
To sink again. when he heard "a squeak-
ing voice above him
Hero ropcl Catch it and save
yOursC ~"
Looking mp, Jack could dimk dis
Germ the face OF q little. lean man. with
some Kind Of box strapped 90 his
shoulder This person bending too far
over to lower to Jack q short rope he
held lost his balance. and fell head
long from the pier into thc river.
'Ughl ugh he gaspcd in % CUR
glmg voice, as he came up "Helpi
helpi Save mel Wooden leg! Only
one eye. Hand paralyzed On
Jack had already seized him bV the
hair and thus kept his face above the
surface.
Don't be- afraid. shipmater be
cried. u ID save YOU II can. although
] can only use one amt'
Marcy On mei" spluftered the
other oh I'm afcared I'lI drowni
Quick quicki'
Jack. By vigorously kicking his legs.
coutrivcd 60 keep himself and his com
panion up until be reached small raft
oi iimbers, alongside Of the pier. only
@ few yards from where the man had
fallen
Meanwhile all thought of suicide bad
been banished from bis mind. IN bi.
cagerness Go save the life of fellow
creature The two were soon on the
tmbers. which las in the broad CLEAN
cast by lantern on the dock
Thanks to goodness cried the
stranger. after Jack had hauled him.
with bis one arm, ON the raft Here
, be-, safc and sound'
a the Young sailor looked ~ him hy
tne light of ihe lantern. be could not
help thinking the man was anything
bui soVUd Il- left jaw was dislocated.
be- bad but one eve. had a wooden leg.
his right Lex was parllyzed, and one
shoulder was hitcisd up almost TO the
Cir.
eyes. I'm s7fer' b. continued. erate-
twlF rolling up bis ono cyc sf Jack
Na..Hf tho f,rT La. t.r.,.,4fH h