And there they stood, the quick and dead,
Propp'd by that dungeon's wall,
And the dying mother bent her head

On her child-but she could not fall;
In one dread night the life had fled,
From half that were there in thrall.

The morning came, and the sleepless crew
Threw the hatchways open wide;
Then the sickening fumes of death up-flew,
And spread on every side;

And ere that eve, of the tyrant few,
Full twenty souls had died.

They died, the gaoler and the slave-
They died with the self-same pain;
They were equal then, for no cry could save
Those who bound, or who wore the chain;
And the robber-white found a common grave
With him of the negro stain.

The pest-ship slept on her ocean bed,
As still as any wreck,

Till they all, save one old man, were dead
In her hold, or on her deck :-
That man, as life around him fled,
Bow'd not his sturdy neck.

He arose, the chain was on his hands,

But he climb'd from that dismal place, And he saw the men, who forg'd his bands, Lie each upon his face;

There on the deck that old man stands

The lord of all the space.

He sat him down, and he watched a cloud

Just cross the setting sun,

And he heard the light breeze heave the shroud,
Ere that sultry day was done;

When the night came on, the gale was loud,
And the clouds rose thick and dun.

And still the negro boldly walk'd

The lone and silent ship;

With a step of vengeful pride he stalk'd,

And a sneer was on his lip

For he laugh'd to think how death had baulk'd The fetters and the whip.

At last, he slept; the lightning flash

Played round the creaking mast,

And the sails were wet with the ocean's plash,
But the ship was anchor'd fast;

Till, at length, with a loud and fearful crash,
From her cable's strain she past.

Away she swept, as with instinct rife,
O'er her broad and dangerous path,
And the midnight tempest's sudden strife
Had gathering sounds of wrath;

Yet on board that ship was no sound of life,
Save the song of that captive swarth.

He sang of his Afric's distant sands,

As the slippery deck he trod;

He fear'd to die in other lands

'Neath a tyrant master's rod;

And he lifted his hard and fettered hands
In a prayer to the negro's God.

He touch'd not the sail nor the driving helm,
But he looked on the raging sea,

And he joy'd-for the waves that would overwhelm
Would leave his spirit free;

And he pray'd that the ship to no Christian realm
Before the storm might flee.

"Poor old man! we are sorry for him; and yet he seemed glad, and, indeed, happy, to think that his enemies were dead."

"Yes, boys; he felt as a savage would feel on such an occasion. Heathens are taught that revenge is virtue; but the Christian religion teaches us to forgive and love our enemies. Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you,' Matt. v. 44. I might keep you another hour; but now it is time for you to be weighing anchor, and making off for Cape Academy, under press of sail. Always obey flag-ship signals, never neglect your duty, and who can tell but you may sail yourselves some day with a red flag at the fore. Farewell!"

"Farewell, Captain, and thank you.”

E

Up all hammocks-A bo's'un-The ship-captain's address-Grog -The old bo's'uns speech at the temperance meeting-His drunken son-His conduct to his father-Intemperance like Goliath-The resolution-Its great success-The only cure for hard drinkers.

"How do you do, Captain! What picture is that you were looking at?"

"Oh, this is the cabin of the Tippoo Saib, boys; it shows the officers at their mess."

"We hope that you are in a good humour, Captain, for we are come to make war upon you all at once." "Oh ho! then I must clear the deck, up all hammocks, and prepare for action. I suppose you'll be

throwing your grapplings, boarding me to windward and leeward, larboard and starboard, at the same time." "What is the meaning of 'up all hammocks?'"

"There's little time to be lost in explanations when a battle is going to begin, so that I must tell you at a word that hammocks are the sailor's hanging-beds. These must be removed before an engagement, to make more room, and stowed so as to defend the ship. A grappling is a small anchor, used to lay hold of a ship that is intended to be boarded. But come! what tack are you upon, my boys; for I have no notion of striking my colours for a trifle ?"

Well, then, we are come to talk with you about sailors being such sad swearers and drunkards. Every body tells us so. They are bold and brave fellows; but still, Captain, they are sad swearers and drinkers."

"You're bringing your heavy carronades to bear upon me now, however; and I must either sheer off to prevent mischief, or return the compliment with a broadside. To own the truth, boys, it is as you say, and I am very sorry for it. The commandment says, 'Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain,' Exod. xx. 7. And in the New Testament it says, 'Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: nor by the earth; for it is his footstool,' Matt. v. 34, 35. Sailors are sadly neglectful of God's commands; but let me speak one word here for poor Jack. You must remember, boys, that sailors have not been brought up as you have been. Many of them are