Year: 1876

for we had become too deeply moved.
But he soon went on.


"'I went to the tavern and told the
people there what had found, and the
landlord sent two of his men to carry
the frozen body of my father home.
Oh, shipmates, cannot tell you how
my poor mother wept and groaned.
She sunk down upon her knees and
clasped that icy corpse to her beating
bosom, as though she could have given
it life from the warmth Of her own
breast. She loved her husband through
all his errors, and her love was all
powerful now. The two men went away
and left the body still on the floor. My
mother whispered to me to come and
kncel by her side. l did 30. "My
child, !" she said to me. and the big tears
were yet rolling down her cheeks, "y ou
know what has caused all this. This
man was once as noble and happy and
true as man can be, but, oh, see how he
has been stricken down. Promise me,
my child, oh, promise here, before God
and your dead father, and your broken
hearted mother, that you will never,
never, never touch single drop Of the
fatal poison that has wrough, for us all
this misery


"Oh, shipmates, did promise, then
aud there, all that my mother asked, aud
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 win
ter. When the next spring came could
work, and / earned something for my
mother. at length found chance to
slip, and did so, and every time 1 20
homo have some money for my moth
Ell. Not for the wealth of the whole
world would 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 know that have fond, dot
ing mother who would be made miser-
arle by my dishonor, and would rather
die than to bring more sorrow upon her
bead. 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 over bring down n loving mothers
gray hairs in sorrow to the grave. That
is ell, shipmates. Let me go now, and
you may enjoy yourselves alone, for 1
do not believe that you will again urge
the wine cup upon me-


AS Jack thus spoke, he turned to-
ward 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. 1 have got a
mother, and 1 love her as well as you
lovo yours, and your mother shall not
be happier than mine, for. by the love
bear her, l here swear that she shall
never have n drunken son. l will drink
no more!'


"'Give us your hand, Tim,' cried
Sam Pratt. 'Ill 60 with you
81 waited no more, but quickly start
ing from my chair joined the other
two, and ere long the whole five of us
joined with Jack Small in his noble PLAN
We called for pen, ink and paper, and
made Jack draw up pledge. He signed
it first and We followed him, and when
the deed was done I know 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 now all gone in
its effect.


"Toward 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 days liberty sober. Bat when
We had nll come over the side and re-
|
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 mcan2'


"'Show him the paper, whispered I.


Jack had our pledge, and without
speaking he handed it to the captain
He took it and read it, ard 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 nc keep this and il you
stick DO your noble resolution you shall
never want a 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 I
knew that the circumstances made him
happy. From that day our prospects
frightened. Jack Small no more had
our envy, for he took hold and taught
us in navigation, and we were proud of
him. On the next voyage we all six
were rated as able seamen, and received
full wages, and wo left not that noble
hearted captain until we left to become
officers on board other ships


"Jack Small is now one of the best
masters 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-nt the Astor House in New York,
and not one of us had broken that
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
ont as American consul to one of the
italian cities on the Mediterranean.