Part 25 (1/2)
My father has wine on his table, and I always was allowed to drink one gla.s.s.”
”Can it be!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the chaplain. ”A youth of seventeen----”
”I'm eighteen now, sir.”
”A youth of eighteen in the habit of taking wine!” groaned Mr. Agneau.
”I drank a great deal more than my father knew of while I was at home.”
”I am amazed!”
”I knew you would be, sir; but I have told you the truth now.”
”But where did you get your liquor to-day?”
”It was wine, sir.”
”Where did you get it?”
”I brought two bottles on board with me when I reported for duty yesterday.”
”This is terrible, Shuffles! Do you know what an awful habit you are contracting, my dear young friend?”
”I never thought much about it till to-night. It has got me into such a sc.r.a.pe this time, that I don't believe I shall ever drink any more.”
”As you respect yourself, as you hope for peace in this world, and peace in the next, never put the cup to your lips again. 'Wine is a mocker; strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.'
Did you drink the two bottles?”
”No, sir; only part of one bottle,” replied Shuffles, with commendable promptness.
”Where is the rest of it?”
”Under my berth-sack.”
”Are you willing I should take possession of it, and hand it to Mr.
Lowington?”
”I will agree to anything which you think is right.”
”Then I will take the wine and throw it overboard.”
”Just as you think best, sir. You will find the two bottles in my berth, No. 43, Gangway D,--the forward one on the starboard side.”
”I hope you will never touch the wine-cup again.”
”I will not--till next time,” added Shuffles, as the chaplain moved towards the door of the brig.
”'Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, at the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder,'” continued the chaplain, as he pa.s.sed out of the lock-up.
Mr. Agneau went to the prisoner's berth, and found the two bottles of wine. They were a sufficient explanation of the remarkable conduct of Shuffles. The youth had ”drank wine, and was drunken,” otherwise he would not have been guilty of such flagrant disobedience. Though in his own estimation the excuse was worse than the original fault, yet it was an explanation; and if the root of the evil could be removed, the evil itself would cease to exist. The wine could be thrown overboard, and as no more could be obtained during the voyage, the good conduct of the young tippler would be insured, at least till the s.h.i.+p reached Queenstown, which was the port to which she was bound.