124 FISHERMEN'S MEMORIAL AND RECORD BOOK. 



All this did not take but a moment, so Harry said ; and he told 

 his mother, or what he solemnly declares was his mother's spirit, that 

 if he escaped that night, he would sign the pledge and keep it. 



The next thing he recollects, was the skipper, leaning over the 

 vessel's stern and asking who it was that hallooed ? Harry explained 

 the situation, and was drawn on board more dead than alive. He 

 went into his be^th and all night long dreamed of his mother. Up 

 before his vision there came the days of his happy childhood, and 

 then gradually came the changes, and the word LIQUOR seemed posted 

 up all about his berth, and then came the word RUIN. THE PLEDGE 

 is YOUR ONLY SAFETY then appeared in letters of gold. When he 

 awoke in the morning it all came back to him : the fearful position, 

 clinging to the rudder ; his mother's voice and presence. He dwelt 

 upon it all day long as he walked up and down the streets. His 

 companions often invited him to drink ; but he steadily refused, 

 although his appetite craved it in a most violent manner. He kept 

 his thoughts on his last night's peril, and did not enter a rum-shop 

 for the day. After supper he tidied himself up as well as he could 

 and called upon a good-hearted deacon, who had at one time talked 

 to him and entreated him to leave off drinking. He met with a most 

 cordial reception, the good old deacon at once giving the poor 

 fellow his sympathy and support. Ere Harry left the house he had 

 signed the pledge, and by the memory of his mother's words that 

 night he was enabled to keep it. They acted as a talisman when- 

 ever he was tempted. 



Life was far different to Harry after signing the pledge. In two 

 years' time he was skipper of a vessel ; then he became part owner ; 

 then he married a woman every way worthy of him. He is in the 

 better land now, and his last days were happy ones. A few hours 

 ere his spirit took its flight, he told a comrade who was watching by 

 his bedside, " that the happiest memory of his life was, that he had 

 never broken his pledge. Soon I shall be with my dear mother, and 

 as I grasp her hand in the other world, as I firmly believe that I 

 shall, how pleased I will be to tell her, ' Mother, dear mother ! your 

 boy Harry kept his pledge ! ' " His was a happy death ; and no 

 doubt he soon joined the mother he so dearly loved. 



