The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-04-03

- S%N G8SAN DS8E
Ganpowder JAck-what q nameI
Yeti belonged TO Sir John Marlborough.
one of the bravess of English seamen
he lived in the time Of the merry
N1narct," and won more than one
naval victory for England; and the
name was given him on account Of his
daring and dauntless courage. But
the story Il at I am going 20 tell you is
NOT about GunpoWder Jack himself,
but about his cabin boy, who became a
much more famous character than even
than the old admiral
Story! I wonder If you have ever
thought that story" is only the word
history" with It's head cut Gift And
this sorry is really a bic of history, ali
s5ou5 an interesting event and an in
teresslDg c1sracJ er, too.
The event was q great naval battle
5stween Z lRlisn sno Dutch fleets,
ought on Ene North Sea one gray au
umn day, more than two centuries
and q quarter ago Pluckv little Hol-
land dared contend with England for
the mastery Of the seas, and with q
we'll ordered navy and several naval
commanders of more than usual abil-
ity, she put England 70 some trouble TO
hold her own. Ga this particular oc-
casion the battle ragged long and furi-
ously; all day long the thunder Of the
great guns doomed over the troubled
sea-, and as the gloomy October night
came down, it looked as 1t victory
might perch on the banner OF the
pIucky Dutch Republic.
But Gunpowder Jack had not yet
given up the battle. Though 81 VzrRl
OF his guns were disabled and his main
and mIZEsn masEs shot away, and
EhoIe windows Of wounded and dying
hen lay upon his decks, he saw that
the Dutch fire was really lessening.
1.-The could hold his own an hour logger,
or until help should come, victory
might yet be Rrested from his brave,
but exhausted, enemy.
But how could help be summoned :
No sigdal could be seen amid the thick
clouds OF smoke, and no bUeE could
ant Its way safely through that fire Of
shot and shell. There was but one
way, and now the hero Of the day
comes for WRrd-R little cabin-Ooy not
more than twelve or thirteen years of
age, his face all grimy with smoke and
powder and his clothes despatched
With the blood of his fret battle.
The admiral had called fer volun
Eeers to carry a message TO the captain
Of a distant ship, promising fifty
guinees to the nj who should success
fully perform the undertaking.
L will 60, your honor" said the lad,
touching his foTelock.
y NJ exclaimed Marlborough
why, do you know it is all that your
lie is worth TO venture through such q
aea, with the shot flying round your"
i I'm small, your honor, and can
dodge the shot, and | have sWum In
worse seas than this. / will carry
your dispatches safely if you will give
them to me-"
The olo warrior gaz2 d at the fl shiDg
eyes and the 1.-the little body, Rnd his
own eyes glis 9ened with admiration as
be grasped the boyish hand.
Co, my brave lad, and God keep
you! You r worth your weight IN
god"
Placing the dispatches in his mouth,
the lad plunged into the boiling waves
amidst the cheers Of those who stood
On deck
Would he perform his errand4 VAinly
they watched for a glimpse Of the boy
sh figure through the smoke and
Settling waters; but after q time they
saw an E glish snip bearing down to
toe right, and shortly after another
bore down at the left, while their can
nonade Of guns swept al bsfore IE.
England had won the day, thanks 20
tha heroism Of q little cabin boy.
Who was he9 In Westminster
Abbey there is q noble monument to
ADMIRAL Sir Oloudesley Shovel, n Of
Iagland's proudest n wal heroes. who
Oegen hls care or as 'GuupnWder Jacks
CABIN boy. "-S9bbsth S3hool Visitor.
Labor Saving COnVeniences
cess on he farm today l. largely pro or
~. 10 Tho saw 2 Of time and labOr-whtcn
--a-- --ll0my of nrOdnctiOn-and MT HIGHER