A TALE OF A TAR. 



" AVAST there ! haul taut the slack of your jaws, you niggers !" 

 was the polite hint given by Jack Rattlin to two or three score of 

 brown and sable laundresses, who had set up their pipeato the annoy- 

 ance of the poor tar. He had been employed on-board a West India- 

 nian; but a few days previous to his ship's sailing, he was attacked 

 by that inflammatory disease known by the name of the " yellow 

 fever." Having been brought on shore for medical advice, and his 

 case appearing desperate, the ship sailed without him. The captain, 

 who was part-owner, little to his credit, left but a scanty supply of 

 money in the hands of a poor mustijf* woman, in whose house Jack 

 was lodged, declaring that, as small as the sum was, it exceeded his 

 wages ! This lasted but a few days, and when it was exhausted, his 

 kind landlady supplied him with most of the necessaries his forlorn 

 situation required, waiting upon him as nurse with as much care as 

 though he were her son. Nor did his physician neglect his patient 

 because he saw no prospect of being paid ; on the contrary, had he 

 been the governor of the island he could not have been better at- 

 tended by Dr. C., who not only made his visits gratuitous, but brought 

 him medicine, wine, and other things necessary for his sustenance. 

 This, most will think, was only performing an act of humanity ; but 

 of all men I ever had intercourse with, West India physicians, gene- 

 rally speaking, are the most charitable. The professors of the heal- 

 ing art of Europe, I doubt not, deserve as warm an eulogium ; those 

 of the Antilles, I know, merit it. But to mv story. 



Rattlin being of rather a spare habit recovered from his fever, and 

 as soon as he was strong enough, got employ in the coasting-trade. 

 The drogher on board which he sailed belonged to a negro slave, who, 

 like most persons in his situation, when " dressed in a little brief autho- 

 rity," tyrannize most cruelly over the unfortunate sailor. This he bore 

 patiently until he saved a few dollars to pay his benevolent hostess; 

 when he discharged himself, and went on-board to fetch his chest. 



" Wha' you want on-board my 'cooner, you dam white cockroach, 

 after you discharge me from your employer?" said the slave tyrant 

 who owned the vessel. Jack answered mildly, that he had come for 

 his chest. 



" An' wha' for you no pull off your hat to me, 'board my own 

 vessel ; tho' you been da sea all you life, you hab no more manners 

 dan quank f in a wood ; I hab mind for gie you one lick da shall 

 send you in a sea to mak' nyam (food} for shark," said the black 

 petty tyrant, putting himself in a threatening attitude. 



" Look you, shipmate," said Jack " I've borne your slack jaw all 

 this time because you were the skipper and owner of this here craft ; 

 but if you give me any more of your palaver, I'll soon have both your 



* The descendant of a mulatto by a white father, 

 f Quank, the musk-hog. 



