Year: 1873

ed something for my mother. At length
founed chance to ship, and l did SO :
and every time | go home l have some
money for my mother. Not for the wealth
of the whole world would break the pledge
l gave my mother and my God on that
dark, cold morning. And even had made
no such pledge, / would not touch that IA
tai cup, for l know that have fond, do
ting mother, who would be made miserable
by my dishoAor, and | would rather die
than 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 know you too well to believe
that either of you would ever bring down
loving mothers gray hairs in sorrow to the
grave. That is all shipmates Let me 80
now, and you may enjoy yourselves alone,
for do not believe that you will again
urge the wne-cup upon me-


GAS Jack thus spoke, he turned toward
the door, but Tim Black stopped him.


"'Hold on, Jack cried Tim, wiping his
eyes and starting up from his chair. You
shan't go alone. haze got mother, and
love her as well as you love yours and
your mother shall not be happier than
mine for, by the love bear her, here
swear chat she shall never have drunken
son. will drink no more


"'Give us your hand, cried Sam Pratt
I'll go with YOU


81 waited no more, but quickly starting
from my chair, Joined the two, and ere
long the whole five of us joined with Jack
Small in his noble life-plan. We called
for pen, ink, and paper, and made Jack
draw up pledge. He signed it first aud
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 untouched, and the liqnor we
had drank during the forenoon was now
all gone in its effect


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


"Iook here, boys he said, after he had
examined us thoroughly what does this
mean?"





Show him the paper" whispered l.


"Jack had our pledge, and, without
speaking, he handed it to the captain.
He took it and read it, and his face changed
its expression several times. At length
saw 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 a friend while live.'


" We let the captain keep the paper
and whenhe had put it in his pocket, no
came and took us each in turn by the hand.
He was much affected, and knew the Cir
cumstance made him happy. From that
day our prospects frightened. Jack Small
no longer had our envy, for he took hold
and taught us navigation, and we were
proud of him. On the next voyage we all
six were rated as able seamen, and received
full wages, and we left not that noble
hearted captain until we left to become Off
GERS on board other ships.


"Jack Small is now one of the best mas
ters in the world, and believe the rest Of
our party are living, honored and respected
men. Three years ago we all met-the
whole six of us--at the Astor House in
New York, and not one of us had broken
the pledge which we made in the hotel at
Rio. Four of us were then commanders
of good ships, one was merchant in New
York, and the other was just going out as
American Consul to one of the Italian
cities in the Mediterranean.


"You know why do not drink wine
with you, and of course you will not urge
it upon me, nor take my refusal as mark
of GOODNESS or disrespect."


Fiddlinp for n Dancing Bridge.