The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-11

It was a sorrow-laden face that looked up at them.
 Boys" he said, T will tell you a story. You are all starting out to make your fortune. You are periling your lives in search of gold. I, too. once, when I was younger than any of you are, set out for wealth." And then he told of how his first longing had been to go to sea. When quite young he had left his home and board ed a vessel bound for the Southern wa ters to dive for the pearl oysters" On account of his great sturdness and strength he had been made one of the principal divers. The captain had be- come very proud of him. and he had been quite a favorite with the men. But all the while this love of gain had been uppermost in his mind Instead of delivering to the captain all the pearls that he had obtained he had boarded the choicest ones for himself In hopes that some day he might own ship and be wealthy.
 Then they had sailed about in the great unknown South Sea. When at last they found their right course again their stock of provisions had entirely given out. The captain had gone ashore, with all the pearls to get more provisions.
 At least. he had thought that he had all. but in locked box in one of the small state rooms remained a dozen or so of the best pearls, and only the boy knew they were there. The captain had come back with the provisions scant supply for the long journey home-and they had started out again. The boy, since he had hoarded the pearls. had detSmined to get home nd hn foN nrIf A with the captain, and had access to the provisions, he had obtained more than his share of them. He did not seem to realize what he had done until. when about ten days journey from home @ man had died of starvation. Then he had realized what a great crime he had committed. But it was too late then Storms came. and the vessel lost her course again. Man after man died and day after day passed without the sight of a sail. The faithful captain at last passed away, and as he was dy- ing, he called the boy to his side
 " Joe he said, I leave to you my little boy. l know you will be true to him: You have always been true to me-
 old man continued. and l tried to tell him, I tried to confess, but 1t was too late, he had breathed his last. Little Robert, the Captains son, then only : years old. and l were all that were left on the great, desolate ship. He was a sturdy little fellow, and the Cap tain had given him his share of the food, so he lived. For two days and two nights, we sat together on that deck. without food, and watched for a sail. Then 1t came, and we were rescued. l have spent my life in devo- tion to Robert. whom you know as Robert Halcolm. the Captain of the Manetho.' I have tried to do all could to atone for my sin. But, boys he concluded, those pearls hang around my neck, like that dead alba tross hung around the neck of the Ma riner, only I have never been able to shake them off. I threw the pearls into the bottom of the sea. but the looks on the faces of those dead men have never left me for an instant during my life. Tonight l can see every one of them. It is awful" and the old man shuddered. Tt means death, boys death. Those faces hzpe never come before my mind so ' .dly except when death was near. An. boys, don't for get in your search for gold that there is something else in the world more valuable than gold. Make your aim higher, men. Work for something mine. in greed for gold"
 He looked up into the faces around him. and there were tears in his dim gray eyes.
 { Promise me. premise me tonight