Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-06-16
Sailor Jim'5 Bible.
BY j. o. CurwoOd.

There is a mystery about jim. Some
thing had happened many years ago,
even before the war, and ever since then
he had faithfully worn a little leather
bound Testament inside his shirt. He
told the story one bowling night when
most of the other sailors were drinking
or asleep.
Say" said he, tipping his glass to an
old man who sat on the other side of the
rough board table, and whose only repu-
tatiOn in the River street place was that
his lucky stars had destined him to be
born upon the sea, dye r'mcmber tn
hold United States, an 'ow tn bloody tub
done f'r six on 'er crew off tn rocks of
G'org'in bay in 1851"
The man who wgas born in the salt
spray of the banks and who was already
booked for the Iapotec of Marine City
for the coming season, hadn't heard, for
that was before rheumatic legs and bad
kidneys had encouraged him IT, wander
little bit inland. RE would ike to
know, however, why Sailor Jim SO incon-
venienced himself as always to wear the
worn, little Testament inside his grimy
shirt.
Il heard she was right pesky craft"
ventured an overgrOwn, unnautical lad
who had sailed season or two and in
one way or another had managed to pick
up a little history.
"Pesky? oily 'eavens. Cap'n Jason,
that was is name, picked 'er up after
Cleveland parties, who used t run 'er
twice u week t Detroit, 'ad dumped 'er
has owing good rot f'r tn fish, Il
didn't want 'er FIR cargo, did Jason, hand
nj,
trip t tn bay, but tn secret died with TIL
capn, lads, we'en e went down with TIL
other FIVE"
The unnautical youth, who was trying
to get his bearing and act at ease in
good company, awkwardly motioned to
the man behind the bar.
wet yer whistles, gents?"
Sailor jim WINGED as he listened to
the whistling of the wind and the beat
ing of the sleet against the window out
side. The River Place is a gloomy place
at night, and he shuted pack Of cards
uneasily.
"'Owls jes' like tn night saw 'cr
a-comin over tn rocks" he shuddered
Listen! Don't she wall like blizzard
'mong tn ropesY'
1t was late, and most of those who
hadn't gone above were sleeping in their
chairs or half reclining over the tables.
Only Sailor .Iim," the Zapotec hand,
and the unnautical youth were awake.
""Twas cold wen we left an colder still
wen we got there" said Sailor jim"
"a dell O. note did TIL cap'n ave in tn
bay, but e paid us like 'alf howners, hev
cry soul, an bloody few was tn questions
we axcd. Then weather stuck us like
an 'owitzer, an fr almost a week we
bucked an twisted right up ag'in tn
rocks. Hit all 'appened one black night
wen tn wind was a-'owln like creased
fear, an tn cap'n e came t me an sez,
seq e, Jim, m wife is dying"
"'Is face was mos awful white in tn
gale, an e looked at me so queerlike
that l tremblcd an stepped back as if e
was an aunt"
"'You will 'elp hout on deck, Jim
seq e t me, kinder 'usky, an then turned
an went below.
at grew blackcr an blacker, lads, an
tn sea was worse than twiStin tn 'Orn
in gale Thar warn't no rain. an tn
slect died away in tn middle hof tn
night. We men 'uddled in tn lee O. tn
bul'ark an shouted t one another now
an then t see was we all right, an lis
tened t wat we fancied was tn breakin
an thunder o surf on tn rocks. All at
once one o tn men up an seq, SEE e:
MY God, we're goin"
"Thcn @ cursed, FIR it jes' come out
O. i'm sudden like. wi no cause, but hit
we 'uggcd closer.
Barrin tn rocks, scz l, t strengthen
'em. thar amt much danger
'But she was rotten like punk. tn hold
craft, an they knew it.
"'TOw1r1 mOruin th' c1n'n came huD
ag'in. Twas black has pitch. an e
stood alone in tn bow, but | could ear
tn strange in lis vice wen he spoke.
"'Jim.' Scz q. she's goin.'
"'E left ag'in, an knew e meant is
wife.
give minutes later l saw her, lads,
comm straight hover tn sea from tn
rocks, hits eyes a-glcamin an hits 'ead
in tn center of bar o flame"
Sailor Jim was excited. He jumped
from his chair and seated himself on the
edge of the rough table.
"'Twas an hangcl, lads, MS God ear
me, an hangcl with air o fire gold an
eyes that shot straight at me like daz
zlin points O. flame. From straight
hover tn rocks she came, nearer-ncarer
-ncarer-an rs she foatcd past on tn
wings o tn gale. she seemed t smile,
lads: smile hat me!
"Sez |. She's dead an Jung { broken
'alyard.
"'rhcn tn lurch come-sounded like
a pumpkin wen We throw hit on rock
Hover we went, an
Sailor Jim paused. The unnautical
youth was feverish. the Zapotec hand
Interested.
"W'cn tn wave went over, somethin
struck my foot an settled thar. Twas
this. my lads, this ere"
Sailor Jim put his hand in his bosom
and drew ont the little Testament. He
touched it reverently.
81 was tn only one on deck who was
saved" he said. Il amt superstitiouS,
but thar warn no name in hit. an that
seems queer Hit mout ave been drop
ped
by tn angel" said the unnautical
youth.
Sailor Jim nodded.
Good night. JIM" said the boy.-Ex-
change.
A Thoughtful TyrRnt.