The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-12-27 00:00:00

BY MERE ACCIDENT

A Story of New Year's Day.
BY W. C. M.
In the year 1862 I was In the employMent of a mercantile
nem le Liverpool, doing busineza with the United State,.
..A,bout eighteen months had elapsed since the outbreak of
American Civil War, and the seceding states being,
4.llerntost all of them, purely agricultural, the want of medul-
la ared goods of every description had already begun to be
.tIY felt throughout the Confederacy. " tilockade
'Manors." as they were termed, carrying in some instances
_cit.ccillY assorted cargoes, had therefore been fitted out in
7tesrous porta of the United Kingdom, their destination
being one or other of the Southern cities on the Atlantic
seat) A
u-
otttiNtr The business, in fact, proved an enormously
the table One, for the shipments were usually paid for by
a ucull'gnees in cottons at the rate of from four to fivepence
ibr"cti, whilst in Liverpool that commodity commanded in
e raarket from twenty-five to thirty pence.
For some time the house in which I held an appoint.
men stood aloof from undertakings of this character; but,
thart'ls. at. e,
Who had for several years past been the
representative of the old established fire, of G-- ez Co.
cani.ht the contagion; and it soon became pretty generally
bn,nderstood in the office that our employer intended send-
• t a collalderable consignment to Wilmington, North
b4the Arrow, a steamer which was to leave Liver.
b • "ot, fetter part of September. Which of the staff would
cn
to take charge of the shipment we were making,
keel .
to
,sea
'eireo„, to the disposal of the goods on the arrival of the
at the port of destination, was debated amongst us,
.7• .4 Was the general impression that the choice of our
villiciPal had fallen on Mr. Willmott, a clerk, who ranked
cue Step above me in the establishment; but, as the gentle-
-4144 <million preserved a discreet silence on the subject,
:tblug was known with absolute certainty as regarded Mr.
x.1.1.0_,15
itarraangements.
week before the Arrow was to start on her
...°Tage, I casually observed, one day, that Mr. Wilimott
"a, not at his desk, but presuming that, owing to some
awccidental cause, he was a little late that morning and
at%Presently make his appearance, I hardly gave the
tterea second thought. A little after eleven, however.
tn,
the manager, when handing me the correspond.
t.ilue by that day's post which related to my department,
Itald
-hat Mr. G-- wished to see me in his private room.
t Was a little surprised at this, for although I had been
theaar Y all years in the service of the firm, I do not believe
v I had, during that period, interchanged half a dozen
aentences with my employer; all communications with the
ethrieroka in the outer office being almost invariably made
ugh the medium of the manager. I wondered, there-
:re, ix,lay own mind, what could be the nature of the
55 with respect to which my presence was required,
Zug I feltC little nervous, although conscious that no dere-
eiction
01 " '4llty on my part had rendered me liable to repri-
nt:ma.
When I entered Mr. G—'s room, he was sitting at his
"kl writing, Without raising his head he said
,„
teated, Mr. Merton ; I will attend to you directly."
h. took a chair; and in a couple of minutes, Mr. G---
finished his letter, put it aside, then throwing him-
▪ tiack ' in his seat, and fixing his keen grey eyes steadily
Pon me. he said
Merton, I have had a note from Mr. Wilmott this
-4Grclng He has met with an accident, and has so badly
Ittrained his ancie that the doctor In attendance upon him
a''"ukt that he will not be able to set foot to the ground for
(Mae weeks to come, at least."
Indeed, Sir! I am very sorry to hear it," was my reply,
alight
Pause on the part of Mr. G—, at this stage of his
F;i3lrornunication, seeming to render it necessary that I
ottid make some observation.
s,;' Yes, it is rather unfortunate for him," was the rejoinder,
th:r• as You are possibly aware, be was to have gone out iq
Arrow next Thursday."
b t,s` I heard it mentioned the other day, that he would pro-.
4,43140 Bo." I said.
tiWeil." continued Mr. "that is quite out of the
Pnestlon now ; and as Mr. Bell thinks favourably of your
a"---41catione for undertaking the business, I propose that
eou gh o.CIIIII Mr. Wilimott's place."
,dnot expected, and most certainly did not desire this
ele e; although I was well aware that there was not another
B„re in the office who would not have eagerly embraced it.
i„" Fedat the fact was, I entertained a feeling of sympathy with
eral cause, and I felt a decided reluctance
rit'e:ngaging in any enterprise which should bear the con.
• ctlou of giving "aid and comfort" to the enemies of a
rtaltie who were fighting in a quarrel which I regarded as
aaa m.entlY a just one. I was therefore silent for a moment,
"
perceiving my hesitation, went on to Bay—
les., It-I the eoe I age be successful, your share will amount to at
"eree hundred pounds, and your salary will be con.
_ 0 tied to you, in addition, during your absence, which will
• all likelihood, exceed a couple of months. What say
ti
DO 'll
are very kind, sir," was the reply; "but your pro-
toelov ceearltiaotned a
has taken me altogether by surprise, and I should like
Short time to consider it."
e;, w
ty l„
was Mr. G—'e joinder, and I could per-
ish°, the coldnesa of his tone that he was offended. "But
hid have thought that you would heve had no heck,-
, I,vhatever in closing with so advantageous an offer.
11/1 You would run, you must be aware, is a very slight
Teta
Yea r aat statement was true enough. During the earlier
Dort: ci the war the blockade of many of tne southern
131141 was very inefficient, owing party to the peculiar fa-
h, ori of the coast: and, partly, to the fact that the small
Posseased by the Federal Government when first the
h°l-.
cbroke out, was altogether inadequate to the perfor-
"lc e of the task imposed upon IL
to-larcoloured
conveyed in Mr. G—' at the Implied imputation upon my personal
Droa,aft?, a concluding words, and
waa P4tY replied that the possible danger of the undertaking
WlLnanot consideration that would weigh with me for one
,aut ; but, I added, that I had a widowed mother,
e wishes in the matter I felt bound to consult.
of c4,-,ta„ was, indeed, the truth, but not the whole truth; for,
to the primary cause of my reluctance to close
It would never have done for me to allude, in
',titbit%
erow,aue offer which had been made me, since my doing so
treca,", ha“ve been a reflection upon Sir. 13--- which must,
41.."ahi7, have given him serious offence.
T 0.1,7! momentary pause, Mr. G-- replied, "Be it so 1
iheir`rcw, at thie hour, Mr. Merton I shall expect your
answer, for the business is One thiit admits of no delay.
argot,h,o Unwilling to undertake the duty, there are others
only be too glad to do so."
er,T,F•ceoting these last words as closing the interview,
071:14.1t silent bow I left the apartment, perceiving that not
dig,nad I air _
eady in some measure incurred my employer's
aturoLetuirtre, but, also, that should I, the following day,
ciato:n„..ce my resolution not to go out in the Arrow, my de-
w, "culd, in all probability, cost me my situation.
eaattrn I returned home that evening and broached the
Maki! t° nIY mother, I found that she entertained no in.
sar.
.eble objection to my embracing Mr. proposal,
thau Inor the simple reason that she did not clearly realize
▪ sirire of the risk attendant upon the enterpriee—
table /tot with respect to which I deemed it advt..
,ay not to enlighten her. There remained, therefore, only
hetf°n?,,t'ellnes in the matter to be consulted. After de.
tuctecteircteette,eelquestion with myself for some little time, self.
am ashamed to say, finally prevailed, and I
e,011,11 to close with my employer's offer, salving my
whichence with the reflection that, as the consignment in
Inedte2g,_r firm was interested consisted, exclusively, of
Very a— ab°res. my moral responsibility in the affair was
bat. iffereot to what it would have been had the shipment
„Thu War Materiel.
"nen
sam .at the appointed time, I informed Mr. G— that I
reaXadY to go out to Wilmington, he appeared to be
cale4 froin some anxiety, and his manner towards me at
'teeth,. u,a,,ne more cordial. The fact was, had I decided to
Proposal, he would have experienced, in the short
thne at hie disposal, no little difficuly in finding a
substitute. Several of the other clerks, it is true,
atte7tudnave been only too glad to have accepted the post
Ina:lrce but there was no one of them to whose
ament Mr.would have cared to entrust the
Mutant of the business.
Wit,Vutc ally on the day fixed for her departure, the Arrow,
aea. lull cargo, steamed down the Mersey and put out to
dro was about twelve hundred tons register, of light
t. and very fast, having been built expressly for the
~„7•
_ua which she was engaged. Her hull and spars were
eT,;;Ku a dull white, in order that she might not be easily
MIR at! a distance, and she burnt anthracite coal, so that no
_ ...aftallodortsnooke, when she neared the American coast,
any indication to the Federal cruisers of her

--
ar te-"e uaYe after we left Liverpool we sighted land not
Cape Pear, and preparations were at once made for
th
irr tall rough the blockading fleet, which we were aware
hi"erto
tt stationed a few miles further up. This had, indeed,
iterall. been no very difficult feat to perform, for the con-
tion ot this part of the coast of North Carolina is such
hi ~,t°, render it utterly impracticable to enforce a close
lat,;"4le. I may observe, en passant, that even two years
When all the other Confederete ports on the Atlantic
been effectually closed, Wilmington still remained
°Den.
The c
has , ape Pear River, on which Wilmington is situated,
e "wo mouths—the old inlet, on which stands Fort
r,t_s_Nrell, and the new inlet the entrance to which is com•
t7en.ded by Fort Fisher—the Frying Pan Shoals lying between
not ro• Several Federal cruisers were usually stationed
. ar frorn each inlet • but owing to the numerous shoals
difficulty of iinditig safe anchorage, these vessels
ii:really 11 there were a strong easterly wind blowing—
obliged to keep well off the shore. The plan, therefore,
1.4,14(41117 adopted by blockade-runners was, after striking
iirdebuve, or below, Cape Fear, to steal alon the coast
the
the Y got close to one or other of the two inlets, and
ne4 endeavour at night to slip unperceived through the
his course Captain S—, who commanded the
adopted, but not with the success that had pre-
izaattended similar enterprises. When within a few
ot Fort Fisher, we were discovered by a United States
the P'"war, which promptly gave chase, sending up, at
eek,:attne time, a shower of rockets to warn the rest of the
to be on the alert to intercept us.
ft:is? der these eircumstances there remained no alternative
ee',. the Arrow but to run, under a press of steam, right
4-3:eugh the fleet -a perilous feat, but still one that had on
were Poroevieus occasions, been safely accomplished. But we
'feted. it equally fortnnate. The superior speed of our
her t is true, enabled her easily to distance every one of
'
, _ Porsuers with the exception of the sloop, which, being
44%.Th faster steamer than aey of the others, pressed
taa, (1. ehell after shell, too, flew over us as a mild t..
n 1
toveeleot tezo'n that we had better surrender, and some of the more
the
passenvrs and crew, believing that escape was
captai,a, were urgent that we should strike our colours.
.
'e
ract,r 4 ,_ll----. however, who was a man of resolute cn.a
wee ' trilly retuned to comply with this request, for De
iZiare, on the one hand, that his doing so wou„ld. not
rl,ivolve heavy lout to his owners, but, probablY, a long
a Ver °Lucent tor himself, whilst, on the other, thore was
(inert!. lair chance that the Arrow unless crippled by the
tile Y 4 gliti tires would, in a brief space of time, be sate under
e of Fort Fisher.
Perceivi
attetn . nl? that we were determined to persevere in our
X
~,,,fto escape, regardless of the warning given us,
fire
the
der of the sloop at once (as was his duty) opened
Cl'nutz't eb 1 " k at
'la ' and with such effect, that in less than five
ereter a a round shot hulled the Arrow just below the
keePtsi lis'le, and, being in imminent danger of sinking,
neaele her--- was under the necessity of giving order, to
bow, immediately. This was done, and every one on
elle 't
owrith the exception of myself, succeeded in reaching
:!, 1
-_ e in safety. I was one of the last to leave the
!°, and was in the act of doing so when a splinter from a
neliestruck
ru
, e, and I fell to the deck with a broken leg. I
lanyaereertrtitteldy handed into a boat and conveyed to land, and
the rivcit my
"4")
. still insensible (for I had fainted from the
to a c mutry house a little higher up
zeree. er, the ininates of which readily undertook the charge
aregards the Arrow, What subsequently occurred, I
nOrrards learnt was this :—The commander of the sloop
ahel: hitaselt compelled to abandon all hope of effecting
No ,Plire of the vessel—for the had been stranded tooi
atie„, rgf ort Fisher to admit of this bang done- ouutinued
kecri her with a view to rendering her a complete wrec.k ,
the ic: Preventing the verlouA se or, s she carried falling into
F :Lad* of the enemy. e , ffi,xr In eominabd of the
"it 7
,e Th
tteilY determined, if possible, to save the cargo of
few ,10,Tr0to, at once opened lire upon the sloop, and for a
betw-rtutes a very pretty little artillery duel took place
eteern't there. But the light armament of the Federal
Which no match for the long range Whitworth guns
efil
h___ e Fort m,unted, and before much damage had
Wo_ none to the A)roco the sloop was compelled to retire
'J,ae tu she Unequal encounter.
ot the strandth .- culluquences frequently atteniant upon the
ehe yes & os a blockade-runner was that the ca,go as well all
Certlecl. "I was a total loss so far as the owners were con-
caDt.,_ FortUnatel th
y, however, for e owners of the Arrow
trron7t u 8--- knowing what was likely to happen, took
, e ro, easures for the preservation of the cargo. As soon
With e "Aded, he despatched a mounted messenger
a tote for tile officer then in command of Ito

garrison of Wilmington, informing him what had occurred;
and as the bulk of the freight of the steamer consisted of
stores most essential to the Confederacy, the General lost
no time in sending a body of picked men to the spot where '
the Arrow was lying, with strict orders to prevent any
Attempt at plundering the vessel. Thus, although the
steamer herself was a total loss, the owners did not, on the
whole, do badly by the voyage, owing to the very large
profit subsequently realized on the cargo, the greater part
of which belonged to them. The consignment in which our
house was interested, I may add, was also disposed of at
highly remunerative prices.
To return to my own immediate affairs. When my
wound was examined by the surgeon, whom the officer in
command of Fort Fisher had instructed to take charge of
the case, it was found that I had sustained a compound
fracture of the right leg, just below the knee. The broken
limb was skilfully set, anti being naturally of a strong con-
stitution, my recovery was a tolerably rapid one. Still it
was upwards of two months before I had 83 far regained my
strength as to be able to leave my room. During this period
I experienced every care and attention at toe hands of the
family upon whose hospitality my accident had thrown me.
My hostess was a widow, with two children—a sun then
fighthig in the Confederate rants, and a daughter, about
twenty years of age, woo resided with her. Madellue
Warnurton was a lovely girl, and her personal charms
were enhanced, in my eyes, by her possessing a
singularly amiable disposition, It is, therefore, not to be
wonutred at that, ttirowu constantly as I was into her
Bootee), during my convalescence, a warmtr sentiment than
gra.itude was awakened in my oreast. In brier, I. soon dis-
covered that I was vety mueh in love with Madeline, and as
time went on, various tittle circumstances led me to believe
that my affections were reciprocated. I entertained, how-
ever an impression that it was more than possible that
Mrs. Warburton might regard me as a by no means desirable
suitor, since not only was I a foreigner, but my home was
in another land; so that it Madeline accepted mu for a
husband, that circumstance must necessarily involve an
almost total separation from tier =titer, an event which
could not but be painful to any parent,—and more especially
to a woman like my hostess, who appeared devotedly
attached to her de,aghter. I felt, indeed, under the circum-
stances, bound n honour to
.ascertain in what light Mrs.
Warburton would regard my suit, before I ventured to plead
my cause with Madeline, since it would, I reflected, be a most
ungenerous return far the hospitality and kindness of which
I had been the recipient, for me to endeavour to engage her
affections without the entire approval of her mother. I
availed myself therefore of the opportunity, which my being
alone one day with Mrs. Warburton afforded me, of broach-
ing the subject that occupied my thoughts. After stating
how strong was the affection that I entertained for her
daughter, I went on to speak of my position and prospects.
I said that although it was true I then only held a subor-
dinate appointment in the service of a mercantile firm, yet
that I was entitled to the absolute reversion of some pro-
perty on the death of an uncle, from whom besides (he
being a wealtiarman) I hail expectations. I concluded by
expressing a hope that the circumstance of my being a
foreigner would not be an insuperable objection to my suit.

Mrs. Warburton heard me in silence, and a silence which
I felt was ominous. When I hwd coemod :speaking 'au*
said :

"I will be candid with you, Mr. Merton. Your com-
munication was not altogether unexpected by me. During
the last few days various little incidents have led me to
tear that you entertainel a warmer regard than friendship
for Madeline, and it is with pain that I now find my appre-
hension realised; for, unless I am very much mistaken,
there does exist an 'insuperable oblection (to use your
own warns) to giving my consent to your marrying my
daughter. Understand me," continued Mrs. Warburton,
perceiving the sudden palor that had overspread my counten-
ance at this confirmation of my worst fears, "the objection
of which I speak does not rest on any of the grounds upon
which parents usually base their rejection of a suitor.
Neither your position nor your prospecta are in any way an
obstacle to my favouring your pretensions. Nor would the
fact of your being a foreigner weigh with me in the slightest
degree against you, Indeed, it would be most unreasonable
in me were it to do so, since my late husband was himself an
Englishman."
Mrs. Warburton here pained for a moment, and I said,
with some surprise, "To what circumstance, then, do your
objections point?"
"To none," was the reply, "that can be regarded as con-
veying any reflection upon you. But, to be frank with you,
Mr. Merton, I have a strong impression—l may almost say
conviction—that your sympathies are not with us in the
contest in which we are engaged. I have observed that when-
ever 1, or any of my friencts, have expressed in your presence
a hope that the war would result in favour of the Confederacy,
you have preserved an absolute silence; and I can scarcely
doubt that you wish success to the cause of our enemies.
Can you assure me, on your honour, that I am mistaken? "
I was silent for a moment; but, not even to obtain the
hand of the woman I loved, could I so far stultify my convic-
tions and my cooscience as to assert that I desired the
triumph of the South.

"I cannot deny," I replied, "that you have correctly
interpreted my sentiments. But surely, I added, "you will
not be so cruel as to permit my opinion as to toe abstract
merits of the quarrel in which your countrymen are engaged
to Influ-nce your decision in a matter so vitally affecting my
future happiness."
"It must, nevertheless," replied Mrs. Warburton, warmly.
"I feel, indeed, so strongly on this subject, that, whilst I
live, with my consent, Madeline shall never become the wife
of any man who even for one moment doubts the justice of
our cause. You can," she continued, "of course urge your
suit with my daughter in defiance of my wishes; but I think,
in consideration of the circumstances under which you
became an inmate of my house, you are bound in honour not
to disregard the fact that I am entirely opposed to her
marl yli,g you. I rely, therefore, up ,n your silence."
"It is a hard condition that you exact from me," I re-
joined, "but, as•you justly say, I have, in honour, no option
in the matter. The obligations I am under to you necessarily
seal my lips, tend you need have no fear that I shall seek to
engage Miss Warburton's affections without your consent.
I am," I added, after a slight pause, "most grateful for the
hospitality you have extended to me, but I will trespass upon
it no longer. Iu an hour I depart for Wilmington, and in a
few days I shall have quitted this country for ever."
At this moment Madeline entered the apartnaeut, and her
mother said to her :

"Mr. Merton has just informed me that he is under the
necessity of leaving us, as business requires his presence in
Wilmington during the short time that now Intervenes pre-
vious to his departure for England."

Whilst Mn. Warburton was speaking, Madeline changed
colour and became visibly agitated, so that had I previously
entertained any doubts that she returned my affection, the
emotion she displayed would have dispelled them. I, too,
was almost unmanned at the parting from one to whom I
was so deeply attached, and it must have been obvious to
Madeline that my feelings were strougiy stirred. She managed
to stammer out a few words of polite regret at my leaving,
but my conduct was evidently utterly inexplicable to her.
"lie loves me yet he leaves me. Why, oh why, does he not
speak "so her reflections must have run. This was the
ardest trial of all; to love, and dount not that my love
was returned ; and yet to feel myself constrained in honour
to preseive silence. Summoning up all my resolution, how-
ever I went through the trying ordeal of bidding adieu to
Madeline as though no warmer sentiment than triendship
animated my breast for her. Then, hastening from the room,
I made the necessary preparations for my ddparture, and, at
once, left the house in conformity vvith my pledge to. Mrs.
Warburton.

I had only been in Wilmington a few days, when an op-
portunity was afforded me of returning to England in a
cotton•laden blockade-runner. I availed m)self of it and
after a safe and speedy passage of a little over a fortnight I
arrived at Liverpool. I then learnt that, during my absence, a
very decided change had taken place iss my fortunes. My
uncle was dead, and not only had I come into possession of
the property to tne reversion of which I was entitled at his
death, but I found that he had bequeathed to me a legacy of
live thousand pounds. Master of this sum, I resigned my situa-
tion, and engaged in business on my own account. By a success-
ful speculation in cotton, at the end of a few months I had
about doubled my capital, and affairs continued to prosper
with me. Nevertneless, I was far from being a happy, or
even a contented man. No worldly prosperity could com-
pensate me for the loss of the woman I loved. The dis-
appointment I had experienced had, indeed, given a sombre
hue to my life, and my success in business afforded me but
little satisfaction, since Madeline would be no sharer in my
prosperity. built I plodded OH, for it was only when ab-
sorbed in the cares of business that I found a temporary
oblivion from the sad memories that haunted me. So time
went on, until a little over two years had elapsed since my
return to my native country. "Nothing." says the proverb,
"is certain but the unforeseen," and at last a change in my
course of life occurred.

On New Year's day, 1864, I was on my way to a broker's
to encash the January coupons of some United States
Bonds I held, when I met in one of the streets an acquaint-
ance, who detained we for several minutes in conversation.
Upon what apparent trifles sometimes do our future destinies
depend? But for the mere accident of meeting the friend of
whom I have spoken, I khould have arrived at the offices of
the brokers at least a quarter of an hoar earlier, should have
transacted my business and taken my departure, little im-
agining how narrowly I had missed seeing the being of all
others I held most dear. When I entered the establishment
of Messrs. --, I perceived a lady, in deep mourning,
speaking to one of the clerks. Her face, however, was par-
tially averted from me, so that it was not possible to distin-
guish her features. She had a small bag in her hand, the
contents of which, when opened, proved to be American
gold, in one and five-dollar pieces. These she was exch3nge.
lug for English money. "Some Southern refugee," I sur-
mised, and the thought gave me a pang, for memory carried
M 9 back to the time, two years ago, when I had parted with
Madeline. Who could say to what straits the war might
have reduced her mother and herself? Even as the woman
before me, they might now be wanderers in a foreign land.
At this moment, the young lady turned from the counter
and turned towards the door. In so doing, she faced me,
and the recognition was instantaneous and mutual.
" Madeline—Miss Warburton l" i exclaimed, in the
utmost surprise, almost doubting the evidence of my senses,
"How is it that I see you here, and in this dress ? "
For a moment she made no reply, the emotions awakened
by our unexpected meeting being too powerful to be imme-
diately controlled. Then she said quietly—
"My mother is dead; and I came over to this country a
few weeks ago, to reside with my uncle."
As these words were uttered, I recalled the fact to my
mind that Mrs. Warburton bad, on one occasiun, informed
me that her husband had been an Englishman, and I guessed
at once that the uncle of whom Madeline had spoken was
her father's brother.

With a slight bow, Madeline was about to pass me
when I eagerly followed her, and solicited permission
to escort her home. This was accorded me, and
daring our walk I learnt the various changes that had
occurred n her family since I had last seen her. Her
brother had fallen in battle, and her mother utterly pros-
trated by the loss of her only son, had, after a brief illness
followed him to the grave. Left thus alone in the world,
Madeline had accepted the offer of a home, which her
uncle who was a widower and childless, had made her,
When we reached her residence, Madeline introduced me
to the old gentleman, who invited me to repeat my visit. I
did so, and relieved by Mrs. Warburton's death from my
promise not to seek her daughter's haul, it was not long
before I asked Madeline to be my wife. She consented ;
and, when the usual period of mourning for her mother had
expired, we were married. During our engagement I re-
ferred, one day, to the pledge Mrs. Warburton had exacted
from me that I would preserve silence as to the sentiments
she (Madeline) had inspired in me, and how cruelly I had
suffered in consequence.
"I know all," was the reply, My poor dear mother
during her last illness told me everything that had
passed between her and you; and she expressed the
deepest regret that she had allowed her political preju-
dices to interpose a barrier between our mutual affec-
tion; for she well knew that even then I loved you, Harry.
Rest assnrred that, were she now living she would offer no
opposition to our union."
It afforded me sincere gratification to learn this, and to
feel that in espousing Madeline, I was, neither in the letter
nor the spirit, disregarding her mother's wishes in the
matter.

I have now been married some years, and, happy in the
possession of an affectionate and devoted wife, I have cause
to bless the day, when, by mere accident, I once again met
i,er from whom I had believed that fate had for ever
separated me.

The Armenian journal Mahak, received from Tiflis,
says ;--,, Extreme scarcity of corn exists in Persia, and in
places the people aredyiug of hunger, The provincial au-
thorities are not taking any measures to alleviate the dis-
tress, but, on the contrary, are :iodating the corn merchants
in their exaction& The people are reduced to such straits
that they are pillaging the granaries. In the town of Urma
they tore open, the week before last, the store of an Armenian
landowner, and, after seizing his corn, knocked him down
Mid stoned him $0 death."