Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1893-04-27
thrAshine our hands and endeuvoring

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hind Oh, how cold md desolate II
was, going round and round and round
in that contracted space, moving like a
chain gang. with one hand on the
shoulder of the man In front, so Us not
TO lose one another; for, small us that
space was, the night was black and
and the edge OF the foe was we knew
not how near Ono by ono the men
grew weary, aud Jim-almost over
looked aboard ship our leader now
slackencd his pace, to ease us up lit
tie. liIia r4I
Walter was tho first one to give out.
We heard him drop, the line stopped,
and we closed around him. Jim got
down on his knees beside him and
spoke. not SO gruffly as usual:
"Yc amt tuckered yet, are ye, lad?"
Half drowsily and YEARLY came the
answer:
I'm dead beat. Jim, and sleepy.
Don't mind me; let me sleep, and I'll
catch on to the line again, SOON"
We heard Jim muttcr to himself:
He'll freeze, lying here" and then
n movement on his part, and he said:
"Here, Walter, lad, here's my pea
jacket; I'll wrap this and my com
forter round We, and yell feel more
comfortable like"
He was putting them on to the al
ready sound asleep boy, when laid
my hand on his shoulder and told him
he'd freeze to death without any pro-
lection, f1c rose quickly and, in a
savage tone, said,
whats that to yc, doctorS Yer
never took any notice of me aboard
ship, and a-getting mighty tender o
me now"
spoke to him again, telling him be-
tween MS we could keep Walter NOV
ing round, and thus keep him alive,
and that he himself needed some pro-
lection. Els mates Joined me in my
entrcaty and tried to raise. Walter to
his feet; but he shook their hands off
and, facing us, spoke:
"Mr. Doctor and mates, amt no.
body, and it don't make no difference
whether die or not All of yc havc
mothers or swcethenrts waitin' for We
to come home. amt got nobody; no
home. A vagabond, mates, be, with
nothing but the ship whose articles
sign for home, and the sea'll be my
grave sooner or later; so, yc sec, it
don't make no difference whether
freeze ter death here or go to the bot
tom across the line. Walters got n
mother, lads, MS is waitin' ter see him
soon; and If Jim can help her do it, he's
a-going ter. thank We all, mates and
Mr.. Doctor, fer speaking ter me; and
il ugly Jim freezes ter death, don't
think too hard of him."
Again the line moves on, but the men
arc getting disheartened and overcome,
aud gradually, one by one, they lie
down on the ice, and, crawling closer
together, a sleep, sweet but deadly,
holds them in it's grasp Jim and arc
the only ones left now, and we walk,
walk, walk round and round the pros
trate forms like a deathwatch.
ITS no use, Jim; I've got to join the
circle"
And step toward it. He stops me
and says:
Cant We stick it out, doctor?"
mo" say, despondently; 81 am too
weak and numb to keep it up. Here,
Jim. give me your hand"
"Good-by, DOCTOR" he says, and
moves on again, lonely sentinel,
fighting death inch by inch, and by his
pluck and logged determination shak-
ing off its icy clutch.
1t was blank for me for know not
how long, and then partly awoke as
jim, tired out and exhausted, dropped
beside me. l was in dreamy state,
| but I heard these words, the last he
ever spoke. He was wandering, knew,
and his voice was so gentle and soft
hardly knew it ives his:
"Motherl" be murmured several
times, and then: Our Father which
art" and ugly Jim's lips had moved
for the last time on this earth. Icy
| fingers closed them here, but where his
noble deed and last prayer reached,
warm, loving fingers shall bid the
dumb to speak, and his first words
shall be his thanks for the Masters
plaudit: "Weli doneI'
peace and oblivion reign over all. :"
That was exactly my state; and on
awakening from my stupor, found it
hard to realize It was but a dream.
Was It possible I was once more safe
aboard vessel, not frozen stiff on the
desolate drift-ice, but tenderly cared
for by rough but kind hands2 Yes, it
was true; for wc-all that were left of
us, aye, and the poor fellows whose
awnking was Of another sort-were be.
ing carefully looked after on board the
American ship Yankee Tar whose
lookout had sighted on the field-ice
black specks which, through the glass,
he had made out to be human beings.
A boat was put out, and all hands
| taken on board. OF our crew of fifteen,
but five remained, with just spark
of life in their stiff bodies. Walter
and were among the survivors, and
careful administration of restoratives
had brought us round. have stamped
upon my mind, with the indelible ink
of undergraduates, the morning when,
for the last time, l gazed on the fixed,
immovable faces of my companions of
that fatal voyage. All in their wind
ing-sheets Of sail-cloth, shotted and
ready for the waters to cover them,
ranged in two rows along the deck, we
babe them each good-by. Last of all /
came to Jim, not ugly" Jim, now, for
upon the Scared face peaceful smile,
tranquil and happy, and his'last words:
"Mothcr, mother" seemed to play
upon the half-opencd, smiling lips
"All heads uncoveredl"
One by one, into the oceans bosom
they slid to rest, and, as poor Jim's
body lies poised upon the rail for its
final plunge, the captains voice shakes
and his eyes water, as he says:
"'Greater love hath no man than
| this, that he lay down his life for his