THE YOUNG SAILOR;
OR HOW A TRUE SERVANT
BECAME A BRAVE MASTER.
[Translated from the German.]
THE following, from the independent, is an interesting incident, and true as well as interesting. It tells about a noble Holland lad, who, although in the midst of rough associates, by his adherence to principle, rose from cabin boy to naval commander, and in various ways rendered important service to his country. ' On one occasion he terribly chastised the Algerine Pirates, who plundered merchant ships on their voyages. He finally lost his life in an ocean battle off the Island of Sicily, in 1676. But here is the story itself:—
"In Holland, where the Rhine flows into the sea, there lived, in 1666, an admiral, who understood the sea as well as a general does the land. His name was Michael Adriaenszoon de Ruyter—a name honored by every true Hollander. He was born at Vliessinger, Zealand, in 1607. His parents were poor people, and wished to train their son to a trade; but he longed to venture upon the sea and to become a sailor.
"Accordingly, he sailed on a ship which traded with Morocco. The merchant, who followed the good maxim, 'Your own eyes are better than another's glasses,' himself sailed with the ship, and soon found that the sailor, Ruyter, was very useful, and, what was more important, a true man.
He, therefore, trusted him in many ways in which it is not usual to trust a ship-boy.
"Once, when the annual fair at Morocco was near, the merchant became so sick that he could not make the voyage to Africa. He resolved: 'I will trust to no one but Ruyter the ship's cargo, which I will send to the market of Morocco.'
"Then he summoned him to his presence, and said: 'Michael, you see how I am situated. I cannot go to Morocco. My bookkeeper is an old man.
What, think you, should I do?'
"'Send another trusty man, Mynheer,' said Ruyter.
"'Right!' cried the merchant. 'But whom shall I send?'
"'That you must know better than I, Mynheer,' was Ruyter's reply.
"'It is an important business,' said the merchant.
"'I know it is,' said Ruyter.
"'Hear!' continued the merchant. 'You must undertake the business. You shall be my super-cargo.' (Thus he is called, who, has charge of merchandise sent by the sea.)
"So it was arranged. Ruyter received clothing and pay suited to his rank. The sailors looked surprised when their young comrade came on board as supercargo; but they thought: 'The merchant is no fool, and he has chosen the right man.' This was soon very evident. The ship sailed away, landed at Morocco, and Ruyter arranged in the marketplace his goods, which consisted of fine woolen cloths.
"There ruled in Morocco at that time a Bey, or prince, with despotic power. The property and lives of all the subjects were at his disposal, and also of all who came into the country for the purposes of trade. There was neither right nor justice. No man's head rested very firmly between his shoulders.
"One beautiful morning the Bey himself, with a long retinue of courtiers, came and stood before Ruyter's booth. He examined the cloth, and a piece of superior quality pleased him greatly.
"'What is the cost?' asked he.
"Ruyter named the price his master had fixed.
"The Bey offers half of it:
"'I am not a cheat,' said Ruyter, 'who asks half more than the thing is worth, that he can, at last, take the half of what he has asked. The price is fixed. Besides, it is not my property. I am only my master's servant.'
"All that was lawful; but in Morocco there was no law. Everybody looked alarmed, except Ruyter, as they saw the angry face of the Bey.
"'Do you not know,' says the Bey, 'that I am the master of your life?'
"know that well, Herr Bey,' said Ruyter;
'but I know also that I have not asked over much, and that I have a duty, as servant of my master, to care for his interest, and not to think of myself.
That I will do until death, and you shall have the cloth not a penny cheaper. Do what you are willing to answer for before God.'
"The merchants, when they heard these words, were full of fear. 'Good-bye, Ruyter,' thought they, 'you will never see another sunrise.'
"They were mistaken. The Bey looked upon the handsome young man with angry eyes. All waited for the brief command, 'Off with his head!' but he said: give you until tomorrow for reflection.
If you do not change your mind, make your will.'
"Then he went away. Ruyter calmly put the cloth in its place and began to wait upon his other customers.
"Now arose an uproar among the merchants.
'For Heaven's sake give him the cloth,' cried they. 'If he cuts off your head,—and he will do it, as sure as you live,—then your life and all your master's goods, and the ship besides, are lost. And what will become of us? Give it—'tis but a trifle and save the rest and yourself.'
"'I am in God's hand,' said Ruyter. 'He who is not true in small things, how shall he be true in great things? If my master loses through me a penny, I am not a faithful servant. I shall not yield a hair.'
"On the following morning Ruyter stood in his booth. The Bey approaches and looks grimly at Ruyter. Behind him walked one who was clothed in garments red as blood, and had a broadsword in his hand. The people of Morocco knew him and shunned him as fire. He was the public executioner. The Bey paused before Ruyter's booth, and, looking sternly at him, cries out: 'Have you as yet come to a conclusion?'
"'Yes,' said Ruyter, shall give the cloth not a penny less than I asked yesterday. If you wish my life, take it; but I will die with a clear conscience and as a true servant of my master.'
"All the people held their breath, for the one clad in the red garment examined the edge of his sword, and smiled like a demon in his bloody work.
"Then the face of the Bey changes and suddenly becomes clear and bright. 'By the beard of the prophet,' cries he (and that is the highest oath of a Turk), 'thou art a noble soul. A truer servant I have never met, and would to God I had such an one.' Then he turned to his attendants and said:
'Take this Christian for a model.' To Ruyter he said: 'Give me thy hand, Christian. Thou shalt be my friend.' He threw a purse of gold upon the table and said: 'It is, thou may'st believe, as much as thou hast asked. I will make of the cloth a robe of honor, as a memorial of thy fidelity.'
"Ruyter returned to Holland with large profits; but he said nothing of this occurrence to his master, who learned it first from others.
"This was the beginning of Ruyter's great fortune. He soon became the captain of his master's ship, and, after his master's death, he entered into the naval service of Holland. He rose rapidly and finally attained the highest rank, that of an admiral, and won many victories over the enemies of his country.
"Thus one may learn that out of the lowest place there is a path to the highest honor, by knowledge, fidelity, honesty, and the fear of God. The way is closed to none. It stands evermore wide open.
Onward! Whoever will, whoever has a true heart in his breast. From on high God reached an unseen hand to help."