The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1908-02-25
THE BALLAD OF THE BETHELL.

homeward bound was the Bethel. out
from the Midland Sea,
rust the strait of Gibraltar into the west
isaac Freeman, the master, thought of his
cargo sold
Thought of the wares of Europe laden safe
IN the hold,
Prayed for a peaceful passage, yet-if fight
Letters of marque he carried, and a score
- OF guns outthrust
Their menace to French and Spaniards.
m who never would need to know
mat SIX OF the guns were wooden-for the
Bethel still should go
Sate overseas to Boston, with riches
brought from far
10 owners that dared the uttermost. de-
spite King Georges War.
The sun swung low to the westward lost
W., were the hills of Spain,
when lar through the golden sun-track a
r., sail rose out of the main.
Slowly NJ grew to vessel, blocking the
-, Bethell's path,
Like a beast OF prey that waited for tho
Cutting of its wrath;
ana through the waning daylight q sea-
, schooled eye could tell
Twas the flag of Spain that lifted and
. sank on the long ground-swell
30 great foe for the BETHEL so small and
all unfit
Never such need had Freeman to summon
his Yankee wit.
"An hands below!" he shouted. SEARCH
every man his chest;
With your Saba day hats and Jackets LOT
~, slaves and oars be dressed!
linen range them along the gunwale-good
scarecrows breed good fearl
Make sure that all your lanterns are
trimmed and burning clear;
String them aloft in the rigging: then
~ heave the guns well out,
'Quakers and all-.step livelyl" aye,
aye!" came the answering shout
Thus did the peaceful Bethel put on
~, fighting guise,
mus through the gathering darkness she
loomed for twice her size,
AS under, the flag of England to the Span
lard close she drew,
Brave with her lights and cannon, proud
OF her mighty crew.
30 they hove to and parleyed. shouting
across in the night.
clear sounded Freeman's trumpet: "Yield
while We mayor fighti"
What should the Spaniard answer. with n
British sloop of war
Full-armed, full-manned, as he thought her.
-, monstrous of hull and spar
rolling there IN the darkness, ready to fire
and board?
Bitter the cry came back: II yield-take
- my snip anu sworn.
With the cheer that rang from the Bethel
laughing note was blent.
ana tne Spanish master, bewildered, won
derlng what it meant,
wondered no more when, captive, on Free
mans deck he stood,
And looked on the paltry cannon. six of
them hewn from wood
ana the 1anl zee crew redoubled by a
~, muster of empty clothes
linen what torrent of fury, what a flood
of Spanish oaths!
For his guns were six and twenty. and his
p, crew hundred and ten
10 the Bethells puny complement of seven
and thirty men;
And the Jesus Maria and Joseph, the ship
he had brought so far,
Bound from Havana to Cadiz, lost without
scratch or scar,
was register ship deep-laden with chests
OF silver and gold.
Doubloons, and dollars by thousands. for
naught to a trickster sold
But vain the wrath of the prisoners,
manacled all by morn;
for pleading they got but laughter, for
,r.,, cursing but looks of scorn.
iii they made Fayal, where the Spaniards
tuning but now set free,
Saw captor and captive westward fade
over the rounding sea.
anu the folk OF Boston marveled when
seamen swart and strong.
Armed to the teeth like pirates hore tho
treasure along
through winding streets to the mansion
~hy-e an oaken cellar door
swung shut with the owners blessing on
the sea and its golden store.
And pieces OF eight, of goodly weight
should have lined the captains kit
For the bloodless fight he had won that
=, night all by his Yankee wit.
M. a .DeWOlfe Howe, in Youths Com.
panion.