The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-04-05

H. iho away "heh noDOay Warn't
lookin', and guve me some grub to keep
me goin' for day or two till got to
sea. He says I'm to go to Aunt Jane
at Halifax; and here's her address,"
"And with that he slips his hand into
the breast of his shirt, and out with
scrap O paper, awful dirty, and crum-
bied up, but with the address on it, right
enough.
1--WE all believed every word ont,
even without the paper; but his look
and his voice and the way he spoke was
enough to show that there warn't q
haporth o. lyin' in his whole skin. But
the mate didn't seem to swaller the
yarn at all; he only shrugged his
shoulders with a kind O. grin, as much
as to say: I'm too old q bird to be
caught with that kind O. chaff;' and
then he says to him, Look here, my
lad. that's all very fine. but it won't do
here-some of these men O. mine are in
the secret, and mean to have it out of
'em. Now you just point out the man
as slowed you away and fed you, this
very minute; if you don't it'll be the
worse for YOU"
1.-The boy looked up in his bright,
fearless way, and says quite quietly:
"Pve told you the truth; I amt got no
more to say
''The mate says nuthin, but looks at
him for minute as if he'd see clean
through him, and then he faced round
to the men, lookin' blacker than ever.
Reeve rope to the yard!' he sings
out. loud enough to raise the dead;
smart now
".Now, my lad.' says the mate, in a
hard, square kind o voice that made
every word seem like fittin' a stone into
a wall. you sec that ere rope? Well.
Pll give you ten minutes to confess Che
took out his watch and held it in his
handy and if you don't tell the truth
afore the times up, I'll hang you like
dog!
1.-THE crew all stared at one another
as if they couldn't believe their ears
/ Il didn't believe mine, I can tell ye),
and then low growl went among EN-,
like wild beast awakin' out of nap.
"'Silence therel' shouts the mate in
voice like the roar of nor'easter
Stand by to run for ard!' and with
his own hands he put the moose about
the boys neck. The little fellow never
flinched bit. but there were some
among the sailors, (big, strong chaps,
as could ha' fellcd ox) as shook like
leaves in the wind. AS for me, / be-
thought myself O my little curly
haired lad at home, and how it 'ud be
if any one was to go for to hang him.
and at the very thought on It tingled
all over, and my fingers clinched them
selves as if they was agrippin' some
body's throat. / clutched hold O. a
handspike and held it behind my back
all ready.
"'Tom.' whispers the chief engineer
to me. dye think he really means to
do itP''
az don't know says /, through my
teeth; but if he does he shall 60 first,
if have to swing for it,
".Eight minutesr says the mate, hi:
great. deep voice breakin' in upon the
silence like the toll of a funeral bell
If you've got any thing to confess, my
lad, you'd best out with it, for yel
times nearly up.
".rve told you the truth. answers
the boy, very pale, but as firm as ever
May say my prayers, please?'
The mate nodded; and down goe
the poor little chap on his knees (witl
that infernal.rope about his neck al
the time). and puts up his poor littl'
hands to pray. L couldn't make ou
what he said fact, my head was il
stitch whirl that hardly ha' knowet
my own name). but I'll be bound Cos
. heardit, every word. Then he ups OIL
his feet again and puts his hands be
hind him and says to the mate, quit
quietly. Pm ready!
: "And then, sir, the mate hard. grin
,, face broke up all at once, like I've see'
,, , the ice on the Baltic. He snatched n
the boy in his arms and kissed him, an,
bust out a-cryin' like a child; and
\
.. think there warn't one of Us AS didn'
do the same. Iknow l did for one.
".God bless you. my boy!' says he
.. smoothin' the child's hair with hi
great. hard hand. You're tru
/, Englishman, every inch of you; yo
: wouldn't tell a lie to save your life
; Well, if so be as yer fathers cast y
!. off. I'll be yer father from this day forth
! and if ever forget you, then may Go
! forget me"
.'And he KEEP his word, too. Whe
we got to Halifax he found out the littl
: un's aunt and gave her lumpo none
: to make him comfortable, and now h
: goes to see the youngster every yovag
} as reg'lar as can be; and TO see the pai
T on en- together-the little chap so fon
n O. him, and not oearin' aim a bit {
|. grudge Its bout as pretty q sight a
It ever seed And now, sir. akin ye
it parding, it's time for me to be goil
A below: so I'll just wish yer goodnight.
l-Mt L. Evening World.
! l D. that 1RS