Year: 1878

len-hearted mother, that you will never,
never, never touch u single drop of the
fatal poison that has wrought for us all
this misery


Oh, shipmates, l did promise then and
there, all she asked and God knows
that 10 this moment ii has never been
broken My father was buried, and some
good kind neghbors helped us through
the winter. When the next spring cam,
| could work, and earned something for
my mother. At length found chance
to ship; and did so, and every time 90
home | have some money for my mother
Not for the wealth of the whole world
would break the pledge | gave my moth
er and my God on that dark cold morning
And even had | made no such pledge
would not touch the fatal cup for knoo
that have fond and doling mother thai
would be made miserable by my dishonor
and would rah her die than to bring more
sorrow u on her head Perhaps you have
no mothers; and if you have perhaps they
do not look to you for support, for know
you too well to believe that either of yuu
would ever bring down a loving mother,
gray hairs in sorrow TO the grave. That
is all, shipmales. Let me 90, now, and
you may enj Y yourselves al ne. for do
moi believe you will again urge the vine
cup upon me-"


AS Jack thus spoke he turned towards
the door, but Sim Black stopped him.


Hold on, Jack, cried NJ. wiping hi
ewes and starting from his chair. "You
shan 90 alone. | have got IL mother ana
l love her as well us you love yours and
your mother shall not be happier than
mine, for by the love | bear her, ere
pledge myself that she shall not have II
drunken son. will drink no more


"Give us your hand, SIM" cried Sam
Pratt. "I'll 90 with YOU"
waited no more, but quickly starting
from my chair joined the two, and ere
long the whole five Of us had joined with
Jack Small in his noble life-plan. We
called for pen, ink and paper, and made
Jack draw upa pledge. He signed it first
and we followed him, and when the deed
was done knew we were far happier than
we had been before for years. The wine
upon the table was not touched, and the
liquor we had drank during the forenoon
was all gone in its effects.


Towards evening we returned to the
ship. There was frown upon the cap
tain S brow as we came over the side, for
he had never known us to come off from u
days liberty sober. But when we all came
over the side and reported ourselves to
him, his countenance changed. He could
hardly give credit to the evidence of his
own senses.


Look here, boys, " he said after he had
examined us thoroughly, ''what does this
mean"


"Show him the paper" whispered l,
eXcitedly.


Jack had our pledge, and without speak
ing handed it to the captain. lie took and
read it, and his face changed its express
sion several times. AT length l saw II tear
start to his eye.


Boys" he said as he folded up the
paper, let me keep this, and if you stick
to your noble resolution you shall never
want Il friend while live"


We let the captain keep the paper, and
when he had put it in his pocket he came
and took us each in turn by the hand. He
was much affected, and knew that the
circumstances made him happy. From
that Gay our prospects orlSnleheu' 1"ch
Small never more had our envy; for he
took hold and taught us navigation and we
were proud of him. On the next voyage
we all six rated us able seamen, and re-
ceived full wages, and we left not that
noble. hearted captain until we left to be-
come officers on board other ships.


Jack Small is now one of the best mas
ters in the world, and | believe that the
rest of our party are still living, honored
and respected men,.


Three years ago we all met. the whole
six of us, and-by the help of Him who
came to save the lost by His blood and by
His spirit-not one of us had broken that
pledge which we made in the hotel at
Rio. Four of us were commanders of
good ships, one was merchant in New
York, and the other was just going out rs
American consul to one of the Italian cit
les on the Mediterranean.