The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-27

l dare say you've never heard tell of
my wifes grandfather. Capt John
hackabird-or Cap'n Jacka, as he was
always called He was II remarkable man
altogether. and he died of seizure i'll
the Waterloo year: an earnest Mcthedy
all his days, and toward the end high
" respected class leader. To tell you
the truth. he wasn't much to look at
being bald as n coot and blind of one
ove besides other defects. His mother
LET him run too soon, and that made his
legs handy. And then n bee stung him.
and all his hair came off. And his eye
no lost in a little job with the preVoh-
tive men; but his lid dropped So you q
hardly know twas missing. He'd a
way. too. of talking To himself as he
went along. so that folks reckoned him
silly. 1t was queer how that maggot
stuck in their heads; for in handling u
privateer or a Guernsey cargo-Smk the
crop or run it stra ight--thcrc wasn't his
master in Polperro. The very children
could tell 'ee.
I'm telling of the year five when the
most of the business in Holnerro-frec
trade and privatccring was MANAGED
rs the world knows, ny Mr.. Zephaniah
Job This Job. he came from st, Ann -
by reason of his having SHE'D some per
sons child out of a window IN mt OF
temper-and opened school at Polperro'
where he taught rule Of three and men,
suration: also navigation. though he
only knew about it ON paper. By ana
nv he became accountant to all the
free-trade companies and agent for the
Guernsey merchants: and at last bios
somed out and opened n bank with L
pound and . pound note, and bigger ones
which he drew on Christopher Smith,
alderman of London. In those days gold
was so scarce that the Jews We're buy
ing guineas for ~ shilings apiece col
lectinc them, folks said. for government
to send to armies. You wouldn't see
gold piece in Polperro not once IN IL
months.
Well! this Job was agent for COM
pany of Adventures called the Pride
o. the West" and had ordered new
lugger to be built for them down at
Mevagissey She was called the Unity
100 tons THAT would be about 90 as they
measure now, mounting l6 carriage
guns and carrying GO men. nice and
comfortable She was tying on the
ways ready to launch. and Mr.. JOB
proposed to Cap'n Jacks to sail over to
Mevagissey and have look at her.
Cap'n Jacka was pleased as Punch, OF
course. He'd quite made up his mlnd
he was to command her. seeing that,
first and last. in the old Pride lugger.
he had cleared over 40 per cent for this
very company. So they sailed over ana
took thorough stock of the new craft,
and Jacka praised this and suggested
that. and carried on quite as if he'd
inc
which was where he usually carried
them. Mr.. Job looked sidelong down
his nose-he was leggy old galliganter
with silverish gray hair and jawbone
long enough to make Cap'n Jacka a
new pair of shins-and said he, "What
do'ee think of herr"
WELL" said Jacka. ''any fool can
see she'll run, and any fool can see
she'll reach. / reckon she'll come about
as fast as tn old Pride and if she don't
SIT higher the wind than the new rev
enue cutter it'll be your sailmaker S
fault"
That's first-class report" said Mr.
Job. Il was thinking of offering you
the post of mate in her.
Cap'n Jacka felt poorly all of sud
den ''Aw," he asked, who's to be
skipper, then?"
The company was thinking of young
Dick Hewitt
"Aw.'' said Cap'n Jacka again, and
shut his mouth tight. Young Dick
Hewitt's father had shares in the com
pany and money to buy votes besides.
What do'ee think?' asked Mr.. Job,
still slanting his eye down his nose.
I'm go home an take my wife's opin-
ion,' said Cap'n Jacka.
So when he got home he told it all TO
his funny little wife that he dotted on
like the apple of his one eye. She was
small, round body, with beady eyes
that made her look like doll on pen
wiper: and she said, of course, that the
company was parcel of rogues and
fools together.
Young Dick Hewitt is every bit Sc
good seaman as | be-" said Cap'n
Jacka.
He's boaster."
$50 he is, but he's smart seaman fol
ALL"
II declare if the world was to come
to an end you'd sit quiet an never say
a word"
II dessay I should. I'd leave you t.
speak up for me"
"Baint'ee goin' to say nOthin', them
Lord"
SO down pom their knees those ole
souls went upon the limeash and asked
for guidance, and Cap'n Jacka, after
a while, stretched out his hand to tho
shelf for Wesley's hymns. They always
pitched hymn together before going
to bed. When he'd got the book in his
hand he saw that 'twasn't Wesley al
ALL out another that he never studied
from the day his wife gave it to him
because it was called the only Hymn
Book" and he said the name was as
good as a lie. Hows'ever, he opened il
now, and came slap on the hymn: pro
badly "Olney.')
Tho troubles assaid and danger at
fright.
If foes all should fail and foes all unite
Yet one thing assures us, whatever
betide,
/ trust in all dangers the Lord vii
provide.
They sang it there and then to the
tune of 30. All That Pass By" and the
very next morning Cap'n Jacka walked
down and fold Mr. Ioh no was readv II