Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-06-19

FROSTBURG, Md. SATURDAY, JUNE 49,

nut and had the name for tit were q
word and IA blow wi him. Many's the
time | shook my fis' l. his old face all
yaller-oh, he couldn't see me-think-
in O. the four dozen I'd had of him.
II were verra temptin to take my re-
venge. / could ha' killed him easy
Just like snuffin candle. How? Leave
his blankets off him. Let him lie naked
and sweat. Then quick march, But 1
didn't. Why? l don't know. 1t made
me grin to think he were at my mercy,
and l cared nowt for no man. Your
turn next, Archie, says 1 to myself,
and l smooks away. The second night
about four bells-light down-hot as
hell-he wakes up and sees me smookin
by his side and pourin vinegar ON to his
head, which were Tapped round wi
bandages to keep it cool.
"'Sloss, says he; is that you, Sloss?'
Aye, sir, it's me, right enough.
"'Sloss, your words has come true
"'What was that, sir?' says I, goin
Oh wi the lotion.
Why, didn't ye say as l might be
dead afore you?
"'What! Dye mean to say as ye
paid any heed to the likes me?' says
l, GRIMM,
"'Yes. did, Archie
More full yc then. It's fear as kills
the half of yez Now, don't get throw
in them blankets off. Dye hear? I'm
commander i this ship. l laffed out
loud to see his face when he heard me
speakin so sharp, like governor.
1.-THE tables is turned, sir.
''Then he begins to curse awful. He
was verra hot tempered gentleman.
"'Ye're my prisoner, l cries, jumps
on him, fair smothers him VII blank
cts. chucklin all the while to think I
were his master.
81 tell ye we was rough lot O. men.
I've never seen many rouaher."
l could not refrain from smiling as I
thought of Archie turned nurse. He is
so grim.
"Well, the old commander gets the
better O. Yaller Jack, though he'd
hard wrostle wi him.
"'Ye've had marry squeak for it,
says when he gets Oh his legs again. He
had to rest on me.
"'Well, Sloss, owes my life to ye,'
says he.
"'To me!'
"'Yes, Sloss. I'll never punish ye no
more
ooh, I've heard that tale afore.'
Then Archie gave Rabelaisian
chuckle at the memory, and ventured
to quote famous couplet:
The devil was sick, the devil monk would be-
The devil was WELL the devil a monk was he.
"Aye, that's it, said Archie grimly.
Then he went Oh with his story. $50 I
never give it another thought-indeed
I'd no time. I were ia ZEN myself that
afternoon. Yes, Jack taps me OH the
shoulder, and it were my turn. battles
him, tho'-and when l comes round l
finds myself ashore-the last patient
My, they soon has me to work agin VII
Nat-him diggin, me wheelin the muck
away, and | never got so much as look
from the old commander who'd bin so
grateful to me. Not a wink, not a word
81 know ed vera we'll how it 'ud be.
so four months passes along, and
I'd forgot all about Yaller Jack, till one
Sunday mornin | were dozin in chapel,
when hears my name mentioned:
"'Archibald Sloss'
II starts up wit jump. I could
hardly believe my ears. The chap in the
big box, lookin down at me, says:
'The remainder of your sentence is
RENTED for your bravery in nursing
Commander Jackson and those who were
sick with the yellow fever
"'Oh, glory, halleuiah! 1 cries. 1
couldn't help it.
"And afore I'd been Oh old England's
shores a week l We're copped agin. -
Westminster Budget.