p. 220 | A Brave Boy

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 3, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 14.

A Brave Boy.

"So this is our new cabin boy," was my inward exclamation, as I walked on deck and saw a dark-eyed, handsome youth leaning against the railing and gazing with a sad, abstracted air into the foamy waves that were lustily dashing against the vessel. I had heard so many remarks made about him by the crew, who did not like him because he seemed somewhat shy of them, and were continually tormenting him with their rough jokes. He had refused to drink any intoxicating liquor since he came on board, and I was curious to know more about him.

My interest and sympathy were aroused, and I resolved to watch over and protect him as far as possible from the ungovernable temper of the captain and the rough jokes of the sailors. A few days after this conversation with Allen, I was standing beside the captain, when suddenly rough shouts and laughter broke upon our ears. We went to the fore part of the deck, and found a group of sailors trying their utmost to persuade Allen to partake of their grog.

"Laugh on," I heard Allen's firm voice reply, "but I'll never taste a drop. You ought to be ashamed to drink it yourselves, much more to offer it to another."

A second shout of laughter greeted the reply, and one of the sailors, emboldened by the captain's presence, whom they all knew was a great drinker himself, approached the boy and said:—

"Now, my hearty, get ready to keel right over on your beam end, whin ye've swallowed this."

He was just going to pour the liquor down his throat, when, quick as a flash, Allen seized the bottle and threw it far overboard. While the sailors were looking regretfully after the sinking bottle, Allen looked pale but composed at Captain Harden, whose face was scarlet with suppressed rage. I trembled for the boy's fate. Suddenly, Captain Harden cried out sternly:—

"Hoist that fellow aloft into the main topsail. I'll teach him better than to waste my property!"

Two sailors approached him to execute the order; but Allen quietly waved them back, and said in a low, respectful tone:—

"I'll go myself, captain, and I hope you will pardon me; I meant no offense." I saw his hand tremble a little as he took hold of the rigging. For one unused to the sea it was extremely dangerous to climb to that height. For a moment he hesitated, as he seemed to measure the distance, but he quietly recovered himself, and proceeded slowly and carefully.

"Faster!" cried the captain, as he saw with what care he measured his steps, and faster Allen tried to go; but his foot slipped, and for a moment I stood horror-struck, gazing up at the dangling form suspended by the arms in mid-air. A coarse laugh from the captain, a jeer from the sailors, and Allen again caught hold of the rigging, and soon he was in the watch-basket.

"Now, stay there, you young scamp, and get some of the spirit frozen out of you," muttered the captain, as he went down into the cabin. Knowing the captain's temper, I dared not interfere while he was in his present state of mind. By nightfall, however, I proceeded to the cabin, and found him seated before the table, with a half empty bottle of his favorite champagne before him. I knew he had been drinking freely and therefore had little hope that Allen would be released; still, I ventured to say:—

"Pardon my intrusion, Captain Harden, but I'm afraid our cabin-boy will be sick if he is compelled to stay up there much longer."

"Sick! bah, not a bit of it; he's got too much grit in him to yield to such nonsense; no person on board my ship ever gets sick; they know better than to play that game on me. But I'll go and see what he is doing, anyhow."

Arrived on deck, speaking through his trumpet, he shouted:—

"Ho! my lad."

"Aye, aye, sir," was the faint, but prompt response from above, as Allen's face appeared looking with eager hope for his release.

"How do you like your new berth?" was the captain's mocking question.

"Better than grog or whisky, sir," came the quick reply from Allen.

"If I allow you to descend will you drink the contents of this glass?" and he held up, as he spoke, a sparkling glass of his favorite wine.

"I have foresworn all intoxicating drinks, sir, and I will not break my pledge, even at the risk of my life."

"There, that settles it," said the captain, turning to me, "he's got to stay up there tonight; he'll be toned down before morning."

By early dawn Captain Harden ordered him to be taken down, for to his call, "Ho, my lad!" there was no reply, and he began to feel alarmed. A glass of warm wine and biscuit were standing ready for him beside the captain, who was sober now; and when he saw the limp form of Allen carried into his presence by two sailors, his voice softened, as he said:—

"Here, my lad, drink that and I will trouble you no more."

With a painful gesture, the boy waved him back, and in a feeble voice said:—

"Captain Harden, will you allow me to tell you a little of my history?"

"Go on," said the captain, "but do not think it will change my mind; you have to drink this just to show you how I bend stiff necks on board my ship."

"Two weeks before I came on board this ship I stood beside my mother's coffin. I heard the dull thud of falling earth as the sexton filled the grave which held the last remains of my darling mother. I saw the people leave the spot. I was alone, yes, alone, for she who loved and cared for me was gone. I knelt for a moment upon the fresh turf, and while the hot tears rolled down my cheeks, I vowed never to taste the liquor that had broken my mother's heart and ruined my father's life. Two days later, I stretched my hand through the prison bars, behind which my father was confined. I told him of my intention of going to sea."

"Do with me what you will, captain; let me freeze to death in the mainmast, throw me into the sea below, anything, but do not, for my dead mother's sake, force me to drink that poison that has ruined a wife's husband, and do not let it ruin a mother's only son."

He sank back exhausted, and burst into a fit of tears. The captain stepped forward, and laying his hand, which trembled a little, upon the boy's head, said to the crew who had collected around:—

"For our mothers' sake, let us respect Allen Bancroft's pledge. And never," he continued, firing up, "let me catch any of you ill-treating him."

He then hastily withdrew to his apartment. The sailors were scattered and I was left alone with Allen.

"Lieutenant, what does this mean? Is it possible that—that—"

"That you are free," I added, "and that none will trouble you again."

"Lieutenant," he said, "if I was not so ill and cold just now, I think I'd just toss my hat and give three hearty cheers for Captain Harden."

He served on our vessel three years, and was a universal favorite. When he left, Captain Harden presented him with a handsome gold watch as a memento of his night in the mainmast.—Sel.