Blackbeard's Cabin Boy

By E. K. Paul

Daniel Melvin sailed from Scotland as a cabin boy and was captured by the pirate Blackbeard. Daniel escaped to the Colony of Carolina. This story of Daniel Melvin’s early life seeks to provide an accurate account of his time-from spelling of names, education standards, to the relationships of nations and cultures he may have encountered. The intent is for the reader understanding factors that may have influenced his life, inasmuch as they are relevant to understand the lives of immigrants in our time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: E. K. Paul
• Release date: Feb 18, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370676750

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Blackbeard’s Cabin Boy

E. K. Paul

Copyright 2017 E. K. Paul

All rights reserved.

Dedication:

To my mother.

Acknowledgement:

With gratitude to Lionel Melvin. His genealogical publication, Lest We Forget-Our Melvins and Kin, provided inspiration for this work. The want of details on Daniel Melvin’s early life and his encounter with Blackbeard dictated the historical fiction format for his story.

Preface:

This story of Daniel Melvin’s early life seeks to provide an accurate account of his time-from spelling of names, education standards, to the relationships of nations and culture he knew and could have encountered. The intent is for the reader understanding factors that may have influenced his life, inasmuch as they are relevant to understand the lives of immigrants in our time.

Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1 Bearings

It was the year 1717 at a village kirk school on the coast of Scotland.

Now boys, said Pastor Tailyeour, our reading today is the first verse of Psalm fifty-one. I shall not have any of you leave here this day until the last one of you can read it to me. Now then, let’s hear your reading, he said as he leaned on the lectern beside the Bible. The communion table and chalice stood before him and a roughhewn wooden cross was affixed to the stone wall behind the lectern. Who’ll be first to read?

Some of the boys fidgeted nervously as they sat together in silence.

Very well then, I’ll decide-you first, Johnne, he said.

Johnne stood at the lectern and read the verse.

Good, God be with you, he said.

As was their custom, they would all recite the reading so that soon they would have the scripture memorized.

Who’s next? said the Pastor.

Again no one replied. Johnne was the best reader and everyone feared they’d make a mistake.

Daniel, you’re next, said the Pastor. Come up here.

Daniel felt nervous at first, but then became relaxed and confident as he read.

Andro read after him.

The Pastor listened attentively as he called each of them to read.

Yes, yes, he would say in affirmation as each boy read.

"Well then, this ends our lesson for the day. Remember your assignment-bring me words that are new to you. You know your letters now and how to write. Now you need to practice.

Where shall we practice? asked Alester.

When you walk out the door write it on the sky, when you look into the well, write it on the waters below, when you walk to the market carry a stick and write it on your path. When called to make your mark, always write you name. Now, for our benediction let’s stand.

Daniel, he said as they were dismissed.

Sir? said Daniel.

How’s your father? said the Pastor.

No better, I fear, said Daniel.

Be strong as your namesake was in the den of lions, said the Pastor. My prayers are with you.

Thank you, sir, said Daniel.

The students burst from the sanctuary door with the ferocity of the wind. The wind entered the chapel and caused the candles to flicker.

Daniel tightened his rauchan, a wool cloak, about his neck to hide the cold. He followed the trails that led to his family’s cabin. Pushing open the door, he saw his father resting silently in bed.

Is that you, Daniel? he said.

Yes father, said Daniel.

Come here and tell me about school, he said. His breathing was labored broken with bouts of coughing.

Daniel pulled up a stool next to his bed. The embers in the fire were glowing, casting a faint orange hue to the room. A yellow tallow candle on a night stand provided a dim light on his father’s tired face.

We learned about the neck verse today, said Daniel.

Then you can read it? he said.

Yes, said Daniel.

Good, good, said his father.

Daniel was discomforted by the ensuing silence. He wanted to know how he felt; moreover, he wanted to know that he was feeling better. He was reluctant to ask for fear of what he might hear.

Daniel?

Yes, father, he said softly.

Daniel, I’m beginning to doubt if I’ll be able to recover this time, he said.

Don’t say that, father, Daniel said.

It may be so, said his father. And I need to speak to you while I’m still able.

He paused as he coughed. His coughing caused his body to writhe in agony.

If I should die, promise me that you’ll continue your studies, he said, gasping for his breath.

Yes, father, I promise, said Daniel.

I expect that you mother will seek a new husband, and it’s well for her that she should, he said. You should seek to get along with him for your mother’s sake."

But I could work and care for her, said Daniel.

I know in my heart this is true, he said. You are a blessing to the eye and the soul. But you couldn’t earn enough to take care of her and continue your studies.

I could shepherd more, he said.

No, Daniel, he said. She has her life, and you’ve yours.

Daniel listened in silence as tears welled in his eyes then streamed down his cheeks.

But you’re going to get better, father, you must, said Daniel.

That’s not ours to decide, he said. I pray to God that he’ll love and care for you as he has let me care for you.

Daniel heard the creaking of the door.

Don’t tell your mother I said this to you, he said.

Yes, father, said Daniel.

Taste them, said his father, as he put his finger to the tears on his cheeks.

Daniel took a finger and placed it on his cheek then touched it to his tongue.

It’s salty, he said.

And you are the salt of the earth, said his father.

They both turned as they heard the door opening. Daniel’s mother was standing there.

Daniel, I need for you to herd the sheep to the other field, she said.

Yes, I’ll do it just now, he said as he glanced at his father who struggle to grin at him amid his anguish.

I’ll be back soon, said Daniel.

I look forward seeing you, he said.

Daniel busied himself in the field tending to the sheep. It was getting dark when he finished and returned home. The dim candlelight was all he could see. He heard his mother weeping.

He’s gone, she said softly as he stepped through the door.

No! said Daniel as he ran over to his father’s side. I spoke with him just a short time ago.

His father’s eyes were closed. Daniel touched his cold hand.

Father! he said, distraught by the silence.

Daniel, I need you to go tell the Pastor, she said. He’ll know what we should do.

Daniel ran through the cold tempest of the night wind to the kirk.

He knocked on the door of the rectory where the Pastor lived.

Daniel? What brings you here at this hour? the Pastor said holding a candle lantern at the door.

It’s my father, he said. He died.

I’m sorry for you Daniel, he said. Come in, it’s time for the work of the spirit, let us pray.

After their prayer, he followed Daniel home to solace his mother. They arranged the funeral then sent Daniel to inform those who lived nearby.

Daniel sat next to his mother in the sanctuary as his father rested in a coffin next to