Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-10-14
THE STARS AND STRIPES.
What Paul Jones Saw In Ills Sleep ~ u
boy Was Really What Happened When
lie ISecame n Iiraye Man.

tHG = Nno ANC - n'T 80
What Paul Jones Saw In III, Sleep ~ u
hoy Was Really What Happened When
lie became n Brave Man.
A boy lay asleep in the midday sun
shine upon broad ilat ledge of rock,
with hi, sunburncd face pillowcd on
his bare brown arm. Most people
would have thought it rather dan
gcrous place for a nap. for the ledge
was many feet above the waves which
were now breaking against the foot OF
the crag in spOuts of glittcring foam,
and he was lying so near the brink OF
the prccipicc that had he happened TO
turn over in his sleep, he would have
fallen hcadlong over its edge down
into the lashing sea below. There he
lay. however. sleeping as soundly Oh
that pcrilou, perch as If he had been at
home in his fathers little fishing hut
among the ellis, built all of lriftwood,
with huge stones piled upon its roof to
keep the furious wind from tearing oil
the shingles. But although the boys
slumbcr was so deep, it was plainly
any thing but peaceful. His hands
were clinchcd, his teeth set, the muscles
of his face worked convulsively. and
half-formed words came brokcnly from
his quivering lips.
lie dreamed that he was sailing the
seas in command Of an armed vessel,
nj tho masthead of which iluttcrcd n
very strange flag. the like of which he
had never seen before. Then sudden
ly another ship. larger than his own.
came alongside of him. and n terrible
battle began. lie heard the shouts OF
the combatants, the thunder Of the
cannon. the crash of falling spnrs
and shattered ;imbcrs; then n ringing
cheer broke forth. ~ the cncmy's flag
came slowly down. and he started and
awokc. The din Of the cannonadc
seemed TO be still in his ears, but in
reality il was the deep, hollow boom OF
the waves that had surrounded his
rock and cut him oil from the shore.
But this mattcrcd little 10 one who
was the brs, swimmer Of his age for
miles around. Clambcring nimbly
down the steep face Of the rock. he
plunged hcadong into the sea, and
rising like cork on the crest Of q
huge wave, struck out gallantly for
the shore. just rs he reached ii. IA
miliar voice shouted his name and he
saw II tall young man in the uniform
of an English naval officer standing OH
the beach above him.
"Aha!' cried the latter, 'my friend
Paul trying to drown himself as usual.
What have you been doing?"
The boy answered by relating his
dream.
well. I dare say shall see you
commanding q ship yet" said the
young officer. "for you're right good
sailor already. But as for this flag OF
yours-what did you say 1t was like''
"All covered with red stripes. Mr..
Pearson. and thirteen white stars in
one corner. on a blue ground"
"Wcll. your dream was wrong there.
my lad" chuckled Lieutenant Pearson,
"for | know every flag that flies, and
there's none such among them. What
ever flag you fight under it won't be
that, unless you patch 1t up for your
SELF"
The sun was shining upon the sea as
brilliantly as ever. but its brightest rays
could not pierce the cloud of smoke
which wrapped two ships that lay side
by side. spouting fire at each other
from their battered portfolios. The
captain of the smaller vessel--a short,
strongly.built. very handsome man,
with keen black eye-gave his orders
Us coolly US ever, but his bold brown
face was growing very grave ana stern
And we'll 1t might. His whole deck
was one heap OF torn canvas and splin.
tered wood. Nearly half his crew were
lying dead. and the hollow gurgle be.
meath his feet told how fast the fatal
water was pouring into the hull where
a heavy shot had pierced 1t below tho
watcr.linc.
Suddenly there was a lull in the
firing, followed by deafenins shout
Of triumph. Down came tho British
flag from the place whore. torn though
1t was with the pelting shot, it had
auttcred defantly till now; and as tho
victorious captain sprang aboard the
enc my's ship. he saw the English COM
mander-a tall, hpe.looking man, with