Year: 1874

We bad become too deeply moved. But
soon he continued;


&C. went to the tavern, and told the peo-
pie there what had found, and the land
lord sent two Of his men to carry the frozen
body Of my father home o, shipmates,
cannot tell you how my poor mother cried
and groaned. She sank upon her knees,
and clasped that icy corpse TO her beating
bosom, as though she would have given it
life from the warmth of her own breast.
She loved her husband through all his er.
rors, aud her love was all.poweriuI now
The men went away, and left the dead body
still on the floor My mother told me to
come and knoel by her side. | did so.
My child, she said to me,-the big tears
| yet rolling down her checks - you know
the cause Of all this. This man was once
as noble and happy and true as man can
be- but, o, see the destruction rum has
caused. Promise me, my child, o, prom
ise here, before God and your dead father,
and your broken.hearted mother, that you
will never, never, never touch a single drop
Of the fatal poison that has brought about
all this misery


go, shpmates, did promise, then and
there, oil my mother asked, and God knows
that to this moment that promise has never
been broken. My father was buried, and
some good, kind neighbors helped us through
the winter. When the next spring came
could work and / earned something for
my mother. No earthly consideration could
induce me to break the pledge [ gave my
mother and my God on that dark, cold
morning. And even had made no such
pledge, would not touch the fatal cup, for
| have a fond, doting mother that my dis
honor would make miserable, and | would
rather die than to bring more sorrow upon
her head. Perhaps you have no mothers;
and if you have, perhaps they do not look
to you for support, for | am sure that
neither Of you would ever bring down n
loving mothers gray hairs in sorrow to the
grave. That is all, shipmatos Let me 90,
and you may enjoy yourselves alone, for |
don't believe that you will again urge the
wine-cup upon me.


GAS Small thus spoke he turned to the
door, but Tim Black stopped him.


go Hold on, Jack, cried Tim, brushing
the tears from his eyes, aud starting up
from his chair. You shan't 60 alone. |
have got mother, and love her as fer
vently as you love yours; and your mother
shall not be happier than mine, for by the
love bear her, here pledge myself that
she shall never have drunken son. |
shall drink no more


"Give us your hand, Tim" cried Sam
Pratt; IN join you"


81 hesitated no longer, but quickly start
ing from my chair Joined Tim and Pratt,
and ere long all five of us joined Small in
his noble lfe-plan. We called for pen, ink
and paper, and made Small draw up pledge.
He signed it first, and the rest Of us followed
him and after the deed was done am sure
that little company was far happier than it
had been for years. The liquor upon the
table remained untouched, and the effect Of
that drank by us during the forenoon had
passed away


Towards evening our company returned
to the ship. The captain looked at us sus-
piciously as we came over the side, for he had
not been accustomed to see us come of from
days liberty sober. But as we all came
over the side and reported ourselves to him
his countenance changed. He could hardly
give credit to the evidence of his senses


go Look here, boys, he said, after he
had examined US thoroughly, what does this
meant


"'Show him the paper said |.


"Small had our paper, and not saying
word he handed it to the captain. He took
it aud read it, aud his face changed its ex-
preston several times. At length tear
started iu his eye.


" Boys he said, as he folded up the pa
per- let me keep this, and if you stick to
your noble resolution you shall never need a
friend as long as live


1--WE let the captain keep the paper.
When he had put it in his pocket he took
US each in turn by the hand. lie was much
affected, and evidently the circumstance
made him happy.


Z" From that day our prospects Frightened.
Jack Small no more had our envy, for he
took hold and taught us in navigation. On
the next voyage we all six rated as able
seamen, and received pay as such We
left not that noble-hearted captain until we
left him to become officers of other ships


Jack Small is one Of the best masters
in the world. believe the rest Of our
party are still living, honored and respected
men. Three years ago all six Of us met at
the Astor House, and not one of US had
broken that pledge made in the hotel at
Rio Four of us then commanded good
ships, one was merchant, and the other was
just going out as American Consul to one of
the Italian cities on the Mediterranean.


"You know now the reason do not drink
with you, and Of course you cannot urge it
upon me, nor take my refusal as mark Of
GOODNESS or disrespect.'