Town and Country; Or, Life at Home and Abroad Part 44

THE RECOMPENSE OF GOODNESS.

WHEN our hours shall all be numbered, And the time shall come to die, When the tear that long hath slumbered Sparkles in the watcher's eye, Shall we not look back with pleasure To the hour when some lone heart, Of our soul's abundant treasure, From our bounty took a part?

When the hand of death is resting On the friend we most do love, And the spirit fast is hasting To its holy home above, Then the memory of each favor We have given will to us be Like a full and holy savor, Bearing blessings rich and free.

O, then, brother, let thy labor Be to do good while you live, And to every friend and neighbor Some kind word and sweet smile give.

Do it, all thy soul revealing, And within your soul you'll know How one look of kindly feeling Cause the tides of love to flow.

BRIDAL SONGS.

TO THE WIFE.

LET a smile illume thy face, In thy joyous hours; Look of sympathy be thine, When the darkness lowers.

He thou lovest movest where Many trials meet him; Waiting be when he returns, Lovingly to greet him.

Though without the world be cold, Be it thy endeavor That within thy home is known Happiness forever.

TO THE HUSBAND.

WHATSOEVER trials rise, Tempting thee to falter, Ne'er forget the solemn vows Taken at the altar.

In thy hours of direst grief, As in those of gladness, Minister to her you love, Dissipate her sadness.

Be to cheer, to bless, to love, Always your endeavor; Write upon your heart of hearts Faithfulness forever.

THE JUG AFLOAT.

"WHAT I tell thee, captain, is sober truth. If thee wishes to prosper, thee must not allow thy sailors grog, lest, when at sea, they become tipsy, and thy s.h.i.+p, running upon hidden rocks, shall be lost; or else, when at the mast-head, giddiness come upon them, and, falling, thy crew shall number one less."

Thus spake a good old Quaker, a native of the city of Penn. Captain Marlin had been for many days and nights considering whether it were best to carry a complement of wine for himself and friends, and grog for his crew. He had that morning met Simon Prim, and asked his opinion, which he gave as above; yet Captain Marlin seemed undetermined. He felt it to be an important question, and he desired to come to a right conclusion.

They had been pa.s.sing up Broadway; had reached the Trinity, crossing over towards Wall-street. Simon, with his usual gravity, raised his hand, and, pointing to the towering steeple of the splendid edifice, said:

"If thou, neighbor, desired to ascend yonder spire, thinkest thou thou wouldst first drink of thy wine, or thy grog?"

"Certainly not," replied Captain Marlin.

"Then," continued the Quaker, "do not take it to sea with thee; for thou or thy men mayest be called to a spot as high as yonder pinnacle, when thee little thinkest of it."

The two walked down Wall-street without a word from either, till, reaching a s.h.i.+pping-office, Captain Marlin remarked that he had business within. The Quaker very politely bowed, and bade him take heed to good counsel, and good-day.

The owner of the vessel was seated in an arm-chair, reading the s.h.i.+pping news in the Journal.

"Did you know," said he, as his captain entered, "that Parvalance & Co. have lost their s.h.i.+p, 'The Dey of Algiers,' and none were saved but the cabin-boy, and he half dead when found?"

"Indeed not; when-where-how happened it?" inquired Captain Marlin, in some haste.

"On a voyage from Canton, With a rich cargo of silks, satins, teas, &c. The boy says that the men had drank rather too much, and were stupidly drunk,--but fudge! Captain Marlin, you know enough to know that no man would drink too much at sea. He would be sure to keep at a good distance from a state of intoxication, being aware that much was intrusted to his care which he could not well manage whilst in such a state."

"Perhaps so," said Captain Marlin, doubtingly. "Mr. Granton, this touches a question I have been for days considering. It is, whether I shall allow my men grog."

"Of course, of course!" answered the s.h.i.+p-owner; "nothing so good for them round the Cape. You know the winds there, rather tough gales and heavy seas. Cold water there, Mr. Marlin! Why, rather give them hot coffee with ice crumbled in it, or, carry out a cask of ice-cream to refresh them! Man alive, do you think they could live on such vapor? You talk like one who never went to sea, unless to see a cattle-show."

Captain Marlin could not refrain from laughing at such reasoning, yet was more than half inclined to favor it. He was fond of his wine, and being, as such folks generally are, of a good disposition, he wished to see all men enjoy themselves, especially when at sea.

He wished evil to no man, and had he thought that liquor might injure any of his crew, he would not that morning, in that office, have come to the conclusion to have it on board the "Tangus."

CHAPTER II.

On a bright, clear morning, a deeply-freighted s.h.i.+p started from a New York slip; a fair wind bore it swiftly down the bay, and a few minutes' sail found it far from sight of the metropolis of the Union. Friends had taken the last glimpse of friends, the last interchange of kindly feelings had pa.s.sed, and deep waters now separated them. It was the "Tangus," Robert Marlin captain, with a picked crew, and bound for the coast of Sumatra. Simon Prim shook his head, as he with others turned and walked home. "'T is a pity men will not see evil and flee from it," said he, and he pulled his straight coat-collar up, and thrust his hands more deeply than ever into his pockets. He was a little startled by a light tap upon the shoulder, and quite a happy voice exclaiming, "Why, Mr. Prim, how are you?"

"Verily, neighbor; thou didst move me; but I was thinking so deeply of Captain Marlin and his success, that no wonder thy light touch should do so."

"But what of him, Prim?"

"His s.h.i.+p, the Tangus, has just left, bound on a long voyage, and with a quant.i.ty of deadly poison on board, with which to refresh the crew. I tell thee, neighbor, I have fears for the result. The jug may possibly stand still when on land, but when it's afloat it's rather unsteady."

"Very true, but you seem to express unusual anxiety in regard to Captain Marlin and his good s.h.i.+p; thousands have been just as imprudent."

"But not in these days of light and knowledge, friend. There have been enough sad examples to warn men not to trifle on such subjects.

Twenty years ago I drank. We had our whiskey at our funerals and our weddings. I have seen chief mourners staggering over the grave, and the bridegroom half drunk at the altar; but times are changed now, and thank G.o.d for the good that has been effected by this reformation!"

"You speak true, Simon; and I wonder Captain Marlin could, if he considered the evils brought about by intoxicating drink, carry it to sea with him."

"I told him all as I tell it to thee, friend Jones. He asked my opinion, and I gave it him, yet it seems he thought little of it.

Good-day, neighbor; I have business with a friend at the 'Croton,'