The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-06-06
snip. and a-gesting mighty tender o

tween us we could keep Walter NOV
ing round, and thus keep him alive,
aud that he himself needed some pro-
lection. His mates joined me In my
entreaty 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 ye have
mothers or sweethearts waitin' for ye
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'l1 be my
grace sooner or later; so, We see, it
don't make no difference whether
freeze ter death here or go to the bot
tom across the line. Walters got a
mother, lads, as is waitin' ter see him
soon; and If Jim can help her do 1t, he's
a-going tor. thank We all, mates and
Mr. Doctor, fer speaking ter me; and
if ugly Jim freezes ter death, don't
think too hard of him."
Again the line moves on, but the men
are getting disheartened and overcome,
and gradually, one by one. they lie
down on the ice, and. crawling closer
together, a sleep, sweet but deadly,
holds them in its grasp. Jim and l are
the only ones left now, and we walk,
walk, walk round and round the pros
trate forms like deathwatch.
tits no use, Jim; I've got to join the
circle .
And l step tow ID it He stops me
and says:
Cant We stick it out, doctor?'
mo" say, despondently; II am too
weak and numb to keep it up. Here,
Jim, give me your hand"
Good by, DOCTOR" he says, and
moves ON again, a lonely sentinel,
fighting death inch by inch, and by his
pluck and logged determination shal1-
ing off its icy clutch.
1t was a blank for me for know not
how long. and then / partly awoke as
Jim, tired out and exhausted. dropped
beside me- was in dreamy state.
but l heard these words, the last he
ever spoke. He was wandering. Iknew,
and his voice was so gentle and soft
hardly knew it was his:
'sMotherl" he 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: "Well donel''
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 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 veal that were left of
us, aye, and the poor fellows whose
awaking 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, 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:
Mother, mother" seemed to play
upon the haIf-opened, smiling lips.
"All heads uncovered"
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:
Hereafter love hath no man than
this. that he lay down his life for his
friends. Russell Gardner. In N. Y.
Ledger.