Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-06-16
Small Skipper Sam, and His Cruise Home

Small Skipper Sam, and His Cruise Home
What do you think can be done,
Aunt Hannah? II didn't want to
tell of it, but Uncle Sam drinks more
than he used to when he went off in
the old dory. Now he he has got a
new boat he seems to take more. /
thought you ought to know it, be-
cause if anything can be done, it is
time"
AS he spoke, young Sam Trefether,
sometimes called "Small Skipper
Sam, to distinguish him from his I'M
Gle, with whom he lived, looked visit
fully up into tho face of Aunt Han
nah, troubled and burdened. A serious
thought troubled her--the knowledge
that her husband was heavier drinker
thar ever.
Aunt Hannah looked out of the win
dow fronting the blue sea, and sighed.
Then she steadily eyed this boy of Il,
who each day went out with his uncle
to the fishing grounds off Seal Rocks.
you never touch his stuff, Sam?"
mo, Aunt Hannah; Id jump over
board first"
Poor little"
Don't call me little, Aunt Hannah
Can't | swim across the river? Don't
worry about me; and Uncle Sam has
always been able to manage himself
thus far, only it is getting worse"
Yes" replied Aunt Hannah,
thoughtfully. He's said more than
once, and 1 shall hold him to it, that
when he was the worse off he'd sign
the pledge. I've got it down in black
and white in that drawer"
She went to the old pine table under
the clock, opened a drawer, and I'M
folded piece of paper.
There it is, if you want to see it,"
she said. I'll real it to you, for
wrote it down. My husband says
when he's the worse off for liquor hell
sign the pledge"
AS if anticipating that day, Aunt
Hannah had written down brief
pledge to abstain from the use of in
toxicating beverages. Fisher boy Sam
read all this for himself.
what can we do?" said Aunt Han
nah. "That is what you wanted to
know" She looked out of the window
and slowly repeated, "What can we do?"
IL won't touch it, Aunt Hannah"
THAT'S good, and that's so much
that will help. Well, all we can do is
to do our duty as comes up, and leave
the rest to God"
When Sam, that very day, was in his
uncle's dory, accompanying his uncle
to the fishing grounds off Seal Rocks,
he thought of his Aunt Hannah's words.
He looked lack on the little home,
nesting in corner of the shore, and
thought of Aunt Hannah leaving the
rest to Cod
Il expect she praying, leaving it all
where she said," thought Sam.
The trip to Seal Rocks that day was
quicker and the er-fishng more sue
cessful than ever. Big Skipper Sam
was delighted.
"Ah, boy!" he exclaimed, "it pays to
be fisherman. Yes, yes, a good days
work"
Here Zig Skipper Sam lifted his
whisky-jug to his mouth and took n
deep draught.
"1'll leave a sip for you, boy" he
said. Heres mug, and | have got
some sugar down in that locker, and /
know you'll like it.
Small Skipper Sam scowled. and
shook his head.
what, not take it?'
"No, SIR" replied Sam, determined
he would lelp Aunt Hannah, though
he had to go overheard for it,
His uncle was provoked, but he was
not violent. He comforted himself
with the thought that tho less his
nephew drank, the more there would
be for him, and if the boy took moth
ing, it was easy to guess who would
get all there was in the jug. 1t was
easy to surmise another thing-that
after the unusual drinking, the drinker
would be lost in the depths of the inc
briate's slumber.
"Whew!" said young Sam, still fish
ing. "Uncle gone to sleep! Well, that
won't do. uncie!" he shouted.
No answer.
Then he shook the sleeper, but shout
ing and shaking were in vain.
I'D better go home," continued
Small Skipper Sam.
He hoisted tn sail of the fisherman's
boat. made fast the sheet, and then
pointing the bow toward home, held
the dory steadily to her course. He
had sailed the dory before that day,
but never with that cargo of drunken
uncle. Oh. it was goodly sight to
see Small Skipper Sam sitting in the
stern of the boat, his hand on the til
Ter, while the wind filled the dory's sail.
1t was shImeful sight to glanc down
into the bottom of the boat and see that
drnn Ion a.