Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-12-24

| ers OF n little Ciub Nhlch met ~ the
Gcou,c and Dragon and the Golden Lion
alternately
In the midst ~ terrific combat BE-
tween NJ. George and sie Turkish knight
there was commotion among the
crowd. and party ~ armci sailors aTp
pcar,d. headed 10y tall fellow. who,
floufishing n naked cutlass. cried, "ln
the kings namei" The crowd M once
broke away amid the screams of women
and cries ~ THE prcssl the press The
sailors made dash at some 81 the
younger men In the crowd. aud among
thoso they secured was Richard Hexel.
who vas standing at his fathers door.
The party then rctr,atcd with their cap
nycs. closely followed by the crowd.
crying. Down with the press gnngi
Down with themr More than once the
sailor. were ~ hard prv-scd that those
in ths rrar hal io turn and make n stand
In the narrow STREETS. and a serious con-
tiict was Threatened hut they reached
their boats with the men they had cap
turcd aud ai daylight next morning the
slcop of war Ia the lay hal disappeared
Tint night there was much wailing
among the women ~ 81 Ives. and a
fruitful subject II talk was Afforded TO
/ the club nj the George and Dragon.
Among the membcrs % this club were
Capt rrcnwith. a retired officer of the
navy who hal sailcd with Admiral Hen.
bow. and hal lost lex In the service Of
hi. country. Mr.. Matthews. rupcmaker
and mayor Of ST. Ives; old Will Nance.
who had once bccn a smuggler. AMI who
wore patch over his left eye. which
had hccn knocked cut In sOmo encounter
wiih revenue officers. and. lastly. John
| Tackabirl. the town tarler. who. al.
though oocupying lower -o-lal position,
vas allowed % associate after business
hours with the men whose wigs be-
dressed IN the morning But the barber
Wa I'm advance of his time. and held
opinions which Capt. Trcnwith and the
mayor thought little les than trcason.
able John Tackabiri was. In fact. q
Democrat. and on the present occasion
be- was loud In his denunciation - the
pruss gang. which be said was contrary
10 Magma Charta and the bill II rights
atyunnical and unconstitutional viola.
ton ~ the libcrty of the subject. and
showed the English io b. a nation of
dowutro.id.n slaves. writhing under the
,ron heel % dcspotism
Where. said he. waving a newspa.
pcr IN his hand. where are our boaste,l
lil-riic-. whcn the hirclings ~ corrupt
government can thrust themselves into
our houses and carry Oh our sous and
broiher- and force thcm to hsht In the
unholy quarrrls ~ king, and their un.
scrupulou. Minister'S How hong are Ne
to D. chained o. the chariot whc,ls of
blopiihiriy ohligarchyi How lons --
Tut. tuti- intsrposed Capt. TrenSiih
with warmth stop thy palavrr. John
nckabiri Tho king must have men
for his ship.-
"Msn for bis ship- Capt. Trcnwiihr
rctoried the barber. ''let tho king ct
them by fair and honest means, and then
be- will pefchauco have men Who will
stick 10 their colors. and not run away a.
one of Admiral ljcnbow's ship. did In the
Wet lndiosr
This was a sorc subject with Cap,
rrcnwith. who could endure M slur on
the British navy. AMI who had himself
l-,.n an oiiio.r on boarl Admiral Ben.
tow's ship at the time referred o.. The
barber feli be- had gone too Tar. bot the
mischief was done.
The captain rosc from his ssat, his face
purple With ngc Thou ID chin
scraping ra-cali how durst thou rake
that matter up IN my prc-cncci III
drive my stah down thy throat for
prating of matter. beyond thy barber.
BRAIN
Nay. nay. capn.- cricj Will Nance.
'l,t John Tackablri b. Mayhap he
hath spoken unwi.cly. but 'tis we'll
known Capn Wade and Capn Kirby
were shot a, Plymouth for desoriing tho
aimiral.
"Yes.- aid Capt, Trcnwilh. rcsuming
his Sat. his anger having passed away
a. suddenly a. Il came-''ycs. and shoot
Ing vas ioo good for them They ough,
"a have t-sen hanged at the yariarm-
and sl should some other, that ! wot OF
hero be lookei hard At the ci.dcyan,
smuggler
"Well. but"-rysumcd the barber.
who.s tongue must necds wag Ia spite
OF his fear Of the captain-''touching
this matter of the press gang
"Ill hear No more on {, cried Capt
Trenwiih. Ills In every fools mouth
that one volunteer Is worth ten pressed
men. bat have seen pressed men fight
a. bFnvely as the bcsi--and a. Tor Ad.
miral Benbow. he fought his ship ike
herO. and died the death of a gallant old
sea dog a. he va. II some of hl, men
left him in the lurch. enough remained
10 save the honor of England. But hark
yc. John Tackabird. let me warn thee
that there b. some matters had better 10
forgotten
At that moment, sleaming bowl Of
punch being brought In. all further un.
pleasnness disappeared under it, sooth.
ing influence. The party. which now
in,luded Peter IIeIel AMI John Renow.
den. drcw In their chairs. and the for
mer proceeded to Oh the glasses of his
guests with silver punch ladle that had
a guinea lct into the bottom of IL. As u
was not yet known that young IIeXel
vas one ~ the pressed men. there was
nothing TO cloud their enjoyment. A
visit from the press gang was too com
mon ln occurrence In seaport towns In
those days to excite much remark. save
among those who were the immediate
sufferers Capt. Trcnwith said be- would
take upon himself 10 propose a toast,
which he hoped no one present would
'cfusa % drink.
The king II England had declared war
against Spain. and. as the Spaniar,is had
SEIZED all the British ships In their har-
bors. be thought tie sooner they closed
with the enemy the better. lie begged
to propose the health of King George
and success to the British arms II they
lived to sce another Christmas eve he
doubted not they would be able TO say
the honor Of England had been well main.
tain~l. IA the punch was exceeding
good, and had put much heat into every
man u the company. the toast was drunk
with great enthusiasm. Even John Tacka.
bird smacked his lips with satisfaction.
lit hath been reported" said VIII
Nance. "that Admiral Vernon Is gone as
comnlander-in-chief to the West Indies.
and that he swears 10 take Portobello on
the Spanish main. even II he hath no