Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 June 1886 — A Wise Captain. [ARTICLE]

A Wise Captain.

A Nantucket steamboat captain was once asked by a passenger on his boat how much ardent spirits he used. He replied, “I never drank a teaspoonful of rum, brandy, gin, cider, wine or beer; I never smoked or snuffed, and never drank tea or coffee.” “But,” said the passenger, “what do you drink with your breakfast?” “Cold water," was the answer. “And what with your dinner?” “Cold water.” “Well,” said the passenger, “but what do you take when you are sick?” “I never was sick in my life,” was the ready and glad reply. He was a wise captain. He was accustomed to exposure in all sorts of bad weather, wind and storm, and never believed in the foolish notion that he must take a drop of spirits to “keep out the cold.” Cold water was the drink of Adam in Paradise. Cold water was the drink of the children of Israel in the wilderness. It was also the drink of Samson, and of Daniel, and of John the Baptist. It is the beet drink for jou.—L%UU Sowtr.