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TnE FIRST OATH on BOARD --"My lads"
said a captain when reading his orders to
the crew on the quarter deck, to take the
command of the ship "there is one law that
am determined to make, and ! shall insist
upon its being kept; indeed it is a favor
which ask of yeu, and which, as a British
officer, expect will be granted by crew
of British seamen; what say YOU, NY lads;
are you willing to grant your new captain,
who promises to treat you WELL one favor"
Gay, ay, SIR" cried all hands "Pleuse let
us know what it is, sir" said rough look
ing. hoarse-voiced hoatswain "N by, my
lads, y said the captain, 'it is this: that YOU
must allow NE to swear the first oath in this
ship; this is a law ! cannot dispense with;
must insist on it; ] cannot be denied. No
man on board must swear an oath before l
do; ] am determined to have the privilege
Of swearing the first oath on board Ii nj. S.
G.. What say you, my lads, will you
grant me the favor? Remember you will
come aft to ask tavors of me soon; come,
what do you say, am to have the privilege
of swearing the first oath on board the c."
The men stared, and stood for a moment
quite at a loss what to say. "They were
taken," says one, call aback." ''They
were brough ht up" says another, call stand
ing" They looked at each other for mo-
ment, as if they would say, why. there is to
be no swearing in the ship. The captain
reiterated his demand in firm but pleasant
voice; CHOW, my fine fellows, what do you
say; am ] to have the privilege Of swearing
the first oath on board"


The appeal seemed so reasonable, and the
manner of the captain so kind and prcpos-
scssng. that ii general burst from the ships
company announced, cay, ay, sir" with
their accustomed three cheefs, when they
left the quarterback.


81 say, jack" said one of the sailors to
the boa-wain 's-lnntc, as they went down the
main hatchway ladder. "my eyes, but what
skipper we've shipped now; and stand
clear jaw tackIing fore and aft now; look
out Tor squalls, every dog on board; mind
YOU don't rap ont. Jack as you generally
do; clap stopper on the red rope now;
keep your eye upon the corporal, all hands;
the captain is to swear the first oath; d, pend
upon it, he'll have the first fellow to the
gangway who swears an oath before he
begins


The effect was good, swearing was wholly
abolished in the ship.