Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-09-07
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
; The Death of a Coward.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

'lic DulWark rails, watching
the lights rs they came mp
one by one on the coast. The
plunging OF the ship still made the
head reel, and he was weak from want
Of food. He seemed altogether apart
from the stir and life that three hun
dred emigrnnts on board created. His
whole soul was filed with n dumb
ana impotent protest against his fate,
and the life before him. Old Captain
Malcolm had shown little wisdom
when he sent his only son to sea to
have some pluck knocked into him.
In the fathers defence 1t may be
said that he was utterly unable to
realize the timidity and sensitiveness
of the boy. All his ancestors had
been rough seamen who had faced
storm and danger on every sea. and
courage aud nerve were hereditary
qualities. And now the last of the
Malcoms seemed more of girl than
any of his five sisters.
All the celebrations to manliness,
all the covert reproaches that came
from his father, We're so many darts
that ranked and feStered in his soul
but failed to compel his nature to
be other than he was. The boy
was made for peace. for the quiet
and uneventful life that an Office IN
his native town could lave offered
under his mothers watchful care.
instead. h", was here, an apprentice
on the, steamship Pride of Asia, n
big cargo boat just off the ships on the
Tyne. and carrying emigrants to the
Cape.
The ships doctor came out of the
saloon in the poop to go his evening
round below With him was his wife,
a slight, girlish figure. wrapt in Il
heavy cloak She turned at the ladder
which led to the lower deck. and was
about to go back, when her eyes
fell OH the boy. She had noticed him
once or twice before, and his white
face and lonely air reused the wom-
anly sympathy in her. She touched
him lightly on the shoulder and said:
"You are leaving home, like me-"
The boy started. A slight color
sprang to his cheeks. and tears to his
eyes. He smiled family, showing n
gap where two teeth had been
knocked out by smaller boy In the
only fight he had ever had at school.
"Yes, ma'am,' he replied.
"You must feel lonely" she said;
"but you will soon be back. and then
every one will think so much Of YOU"
Her voice had something caressing
and inviting about it; and so his con-
fidence, overcoming his shyness AMI
reserve. broke bounds. He told her
everything-how he would hate this
life, how all filed him with fear and
disgust. the cold and darkness. the
chaff and horseplay of his fcllOw-ap-
prentices. the Indifference of every
one around him. He told how i'm
fathers standard. how he felt he was
born coward, and that he would
always be one, shrinking instinct
lively from the danger and excite
ment that holder natures took
pleasure in.
She listened sympathetically Her
hand had patted him once or twice,
and encouraged him to 20 on. When
he ended, she said: you must not
be too hard on yourself. 1t is not
always those who fear the least that
are bravest in the end. When the
time comes, am sure you will do
your duty"
The boy heard her listlessly. He
had little heart to respond to any ap-
peal to his manliness. There seemed
no time when he would not shrink
from hardship or danger He almost
felt as If his confidence had been mis-
placed, and that she had understood
nothing after all.
She saw the change. and her in
terest in him somewhat wancd.
Courage to n woman is the primary
quality in the other sex. and nothing
will compensate for the lack of it. She
babe him good night and turned aw.y
to the poop.
In few minutes the second mate
passed along the deck and told the
boy to go below. Then all was quiet.
A few hours later the Pride Of A ;ia
was stenming at "slOw," with her
whistle going every few minutes. The
Channel fog glyt the ship like n
shroud. The Captain walked the
bridge uncaslly. No tempest or rock
bound shore gives the anxiety that
fog on this waterway of the ma
tons does. Danger is imminent
everywhere. and the most careful
seamnnship Is no guarantee of safety.
So 1t was now. A hoarse shout came
from the man on the lookout. The
Captain sprang to the telegraph. and
as Full speed astern" rang out
large sailing ship took form in the
fog. and in a few seconds crashed in
to the steamer in front of the bridge
The Pride Of Asia shook from stem
to stern, hecled over to starboard
and then began to forge ahead, while
the other went pounding along her
side, wrenching the port boats fro'n
her davlts and staving them In with
her bow-sprIt Then she passed away
as ghost In the fog.
The Pride OF Asia had mci her death
wound At once all was noise and
confusion, The emigrnnts came pour
ing up on deck, screaming and shout.
ing with terror. Some of the sailors
rushed to clear the boats, but n sharp
order from tie Captain stopped them
In few seconds the Captain had
decided on his course. The remain
Ing boats would not carry hundred
and fifty people. There were more
than twice that number on board.
On the other hand. the land was about
three miles off, and sandy aud pro-
tected beach meant safety. But could
1t be done with that hole In her side?
He would try. He changed her
course. rang Full speed ahead" and
shouted to the mate. eco down aud
shut the for'ard bulkhcads, Mr.