Master Tom--grog and mischief; but,
however, you shall have one more _dose_."

"It hath, then, medicinal virtues?" inquired the Dominie.

"Ay, that it has, master--more than all the quacking medicines in the
world. It cures grief and melancholy, and prevents spirits from getting
low."

"I doubt that, father," cried Tom, holding up the bottle "for the more
grog we drink, the more the _spirits become low_."

_Cluck, cluck_, came from the thorax of the Dominie. "Verily, friend
Tom, it appeareth, among other virtues, to sharpen the wits. Proceed,
friend Dux, in the medicinal virtues of grog."

"Well, master, it cures love when it's not returned, and adds to it when
it is. I've heard say it will cure jealousy; but that I've my doubts
of. Now I think on it, I will tell you a yarn about a jealous match
between a couple of fools. Jacob, aren't your pannikin empty, my boy?"

"Yes," replied I, handing it up to be filled. It was empty, for, not
being very fond of it myself, Tom, with my permission, had drunk it as
well as his own.

"There, Jacob, is a good dose for you; you aren't always craving after
it, like Tom."

"He isn't troubled with low spirits, as I am, father."

"How long has that been your complaint, Tom?" inquired I.

"Ever since I heard how to cure it. Come, father, give us the yarn."

"Well, then, you must mind that an old shipmate o' mine, Ben Leader, had
a wife named Poll, a pretty sort of craft in her way--neat in her
rigging, swelling-bows, taking sort of figure-head, and devilish well
rounded in the counter; altogether, she was a very fancy girl, and all
the men were after her. She'd a roguish eye, and liked to be stared at,
as most pretty women do, because it flatters their vanities. Now,
although she liked to be noticed so far by the other chaps, yet Ben was
the only one she ever wished to be handled by; it was `Paws off,
Pompey!' with all the rest. Ben Leader was a good-looking, active,
smart chap, and could foot it in a reel, or take a bout at single-stick
with the very best o' them; and she was mortal fond of him, and mortal
jealous if he talked to any other woman, for the women liked Ben as much
as the men liked she. Well, as they returned love for love, so did they
return jealousy for jealousy; and the lads and lasses, seeing that, had
a pleasure in making them come to a misunderstanding. So every day it
became worse and worse between them. Now, I always says that it's a
stupid