FISHERMEN'S MEMORIAL AND RECORD BOOK. 123 



How Harry G, came to Sign the Pledge, 



Harry G., or " Jolly " Harry, as ho was sometimes called, was a 

 noble specimen of a fisherman, being active to duty when on board 

 the vessel, of good disposition, possessed of a fair education, and 

 had rery many noble traits in his character which endeared him to 

 his shipmates. 



He had one fault, and that was a bad one, he would drink liquor 

 and oftentimes get intoxicated ; and when in this state ho was 

 fleeced of his hard earnings. Consequently he was always poor and 

 behindhand. Rum so got the better of him at last that it was evi- 

 dent that he was fast going under. 



One night in February, Harry was ashore. He had come in that 

 day from Georges with a good trip, and having got a little money on 

 account, he drank it all up and was very nearly intoxicated, when 

 in the midst of a driving snow-storm he started from the old Fort 

 Wharf, to go on board the vessel which was lying in the stream. 

 The liquor had begun to work, and as Harry was sculling his boat, 

 he fell overboard. lie was a good swimmer, and the cold bath 

 sobered him. Now, thought Harry, as he told us afterwards, it's 

 life or death with me. If it had not been for rum, I should not have 

 been in such a predicament. 



The cold water struck to his very vitals, and with great difficulty 

 he kept afloat. Finally, by the merest chance in the world, he got 

 hold of the rudder of his vessel and held on for dear life. Then he 

 began to shout for help; but the wind drowned his voice and the 

 cold made him shiver. He heard the old town clock strike twelve, 

 and then he began to fully realize his situation and the danger he 

 was in. There came up before his vision the sainted face of his 

 mother, who had, years ago, gone on to the better land. She seemed 

 very near to him that night, and we may call it fancy or not, his 

 dear mother actually seemed to be with him, and called him her 

 darling Harry, as she was wont to when he was a lad. He saw that 

 dear face, which he remembered as last having gazed upon in the 

 coffin ; he saw the smile which was so dear to him all along his 

 youthful journey, and then he heard her speak. This was what she 

 said : 



"My darling Harry, your mother from her home on high comes to 

 you this night in your perilous position, and asks, if she will get you 

 safe from the danger which threatens, that you will quit drinking 

 liquor and never touch it again." 



