274 THE. YOUTH’S CABINET.
that is, it is not certain that a person is | wept. a great deal, when he went away,
any more wicked than any body else, be- | So did his father and mother. He had
cause she has lost her reason. People | never been away from Home before for so
who are crazy may be very wicked or tony long a time as it took to make a voyage
may not. They can’t help being crazy.” | to the East Indies.

“Can't help it? Could not crazy Ann
help acting so like a witch ?”

“Did she act like a witch? How do
witches act? Did you ever see a witch ?”

“Tsn’t that something of a ‘catechism,’
father? No, sir; I never saw a witch,
and I don’t know exactly how they act.
But they act as bad as they can, I sup-
pose; and I am sure Ann acted as bad as
she could.”

“ Ann Bristel couldn’t help being crazy,
any more than you could help having the
scarlet fever last summer.”

“Why, what made her crazy, father ?”

“ When she was quite a young lady,
she loved a man who went to sea. This
man loved her, and they were engaged to
be married. John Layton, the young
sailor that Ann loved, was a very excellent
man. I knew him well, and I always
thought he would be a good husband for
Ann. He made two or three voyages,
and the captain of the'ship in which he
sailed said he was one of the best sailors
on board, always ready to do his duty,
and always foremost in danger. He
was a right merry fellow, too. Captain
Holton told me he had known John go
up aloft to take in the rigging when a
furious storm was raging, and after he had
done the work, while he was hanging to
the mast or the shrouds with one hand, |
he would take off his cap with the other,
and swing it round his head, and give
three cheers for his country.

John left home for'a long voyage to the
East. Indies, in. the same year, I believe,
that. your brother George was born. Ann

    

JOEN THE S#ILOR* BOY.

~