The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-10-16

sickness is mortal-mortal indeed: but
let me put my trust in God and my Re-
deemer, and pray to him, my parents,
to forgive my impious words %
They supported her steps-and she
asked TO go to the window just to take
one look out into the calm and beautiful
afternoon; for not breath was stirring.
and the western sun ditTused over the
scene a bright but softened repose.-
"Oh! merciful God-there is Arthur's
| ghost-l saw it pass by-it waved its
hand-bright and smiling were its eyes.
Take me away-take me away, for
feel that visions beset my brainl'' They
half lifted her in their arms towards the
! door, while she continued to say faint
ly, "lt smiled-yes, it smiled-but Ar
thurs body is mangled, and bruised, and
crushed by timber, and stones, and rocks
lying on the sand somewhere, while
was singing or laughing in my misera-
bic delusion-his face gnawed by sea-
monsters ;"--and then her voice was
choked, and she could speak no more.
The door burst open; and there en-
tered, no ghost but the bold, glad, JOY
full living sailor himself, who cIasped
Jane TO his bosom. SO sudden was his
entrance, that he had not time to OBJ
serve the dlsmay and grief that had
been trampling on all now beside him
nor did he, during that blest embrace,
feel that his betroihed maiden was in.
sensible to hrs endearments. Joy had
taken possession of all his being-all his
perceptions; and he saw nothing
nothing-but his Jane and her bosom
prest closely to his own. "Haye brok-
en- in upon dish of gossip? Well, no ri
val in the room-so far good. What,
all silent-pale faces-tears-wh is
the matter? Is this welcome % But
so many death-like or agltated counte-
nances soon told him that some strong
passion perVaded the party-and he be-
gan TO have his own underlined fears
tor be had not yet visited his own fa-
theirs house. All was soon explained;
and Jane having been revived into tole-
rable composure, the servants retired,
but not before shaking hands one and all
with the Lieutenant; and the old School
master, too, who felt himself to blame,
although sent for on purpose 10 read a.
loud the news, and certainly not an
swerable for erroneous nautical intelli-
gence, feeling rather uneasy in the
room, promised to call next evening
took up bis old-fashioned chappeau, and
making bow worthy of a distinguished
pedagogue, made the best of his way
out and beyond the premises.
Arthur Crawford coming in upon
them in the transport of his joy, could
not easily bring home to his heart
perfect understanding of the scene that
had just preceded his arrival. He
never perhaps knew the full terror that
had nearly deprived his sweet Jane of
her life; but he knew enough to lay an
eternal obligation of tenderness towards
her upon his inmost soul. s'Instead of
laundering, the Amethyst is in as good
trim as any fiigate in the feet-bnt she
had to scud for some leagues under bare
poles-for the squall came upon us like
sheet of iron. A large ship, name I'M
kpown, went down near our stern.''-
And all on board perishedm exclainl-
ed Jane IN dewy voice of pity. "They
did indeed!' son! many eyes now are
weeping, or doomed to weep, for that
ship, while mine are dried. Her name
will be known soon enoughr' And as
she looked on her lover, once more did
the maiden give way to the strong inn
aglnatlon of the doom which she felt he
had narrowly escaped" Come, cheer
up, Jane--my life is in Gods hand, and
with him it rests whether die on my
bed In the cottage at last, or, like many
better man, in battle, or wreck. But
you are willing TO marry sailor; for
better or worse, longer or shorter date
and no doubt shall be as happy as
any of my messmates. Not one OF them
all has such sweetheart as thou art
a dutiful daughter makes loving wife"
After an hours tall; and silence, dur
ing which Jane Nasmyth had scarcely
recovered from a hysterick, her father
proposed returning thanks 10 God for
Arthur's return. The sailor was a man
OF gay and joyous character, but in re-
liglon he was not only 6rm but impas-
stoned believer He had not allowed
the temptations Of life, which with too
many is often wild and dissipated, to
shake bis faith in Christianity The
many hardships and dangers which he
hal 4 I