The ladies' garland. [volume] (Harpers-Ferry, Va. [W. Va.]) 1824-1828, 1826-11-18


the basket and found il contained, not a dead
weight, but a living, healthy, and handsome
looking female infant No mother appeared to
claim offer it protection Capt 5. although
incenscd at the trick, and highly versed with
that credulous and horest simplicity IN himself
which had thus rendered him the dupe Of female
;rtlticc. was. notwithstanding, induced with too
much philanthropy, and too much humanity of
feeling. Ia suffer hi, charge to be neglected He
prncuIc,! nurse for the present and before he
left the island made ample provision for the
future support Of the child. He now returned
home anal did not visit the place till some years
after, when he found his hclplt>, ward had be
cone an Interesting little prattler lie soon
became much attached to her. and no longer
regretted the incident which gave hlm. as he
termed her, his adopted daughter. Daring the
following twelve wears, capt ), trequenll, visit
ed the island, and always provided literally for
the support and education Of the child that was
thro~n upun lis brnevolrnce, without any Of
hA' II srrt, that draw back Of feeling. which 50
often att od7 the ostrn~nc generosity IF the
prnul MS ;tn,| DESTROYS the merit of their cha ri
ties lli- I-ait WAS warmed by generous i'm
pulses, ,nd required rot the til IF arihnrtlral
c1I. son 81 Hrde'lrr the bounds OF It's muniti-
crnc He always manifested towards her the
tttrrii"n tri'i TENDERNESS Of parent, and took
parrEl'> lrtrfr>t in her welfare She bad now
arris - &, tn. age II tonr'c"a-'n age which,
il III, ST climate, cont;rs all the maturity of
womanh '"d. and NOR" perfectly, perhaps. than
amy other period, optn> the blossom of female
beauty Ste WAS esteemed possessing an
Uncommon >|lar" Of beauty and v,vacity. And
such vas capt. : att irhment that ii WAS gene
rally supposed that his was other than parent
al affection. and 1t soon became rumored IN
town thtt he was about to lead her to the hymc
neal altar. Capt : was AT this time making
preparations to ,rtnrn TO New England One
day. as he Il pod ON the wharf AT which bis YES
sci was moorrd, billet was put into his hands
by a person who Immediately disappeared. lie
pern>ed. and found il polite request of his
attendance to dine at 4 house in the city. which
was ,artcultriZrd IN the billet The house aud
family who occupied it were to him perfectly
unknown: and So singular all the cirrum
stances attcn'!in= the in,itaton, that he for
some time he~itatrh WI, ther it would be expe-
conquered hi, doubts and he >"l,cd to ,ttrud
At the appointed h'nr he arrived II the house,
sand was 'ls|.rrc'! int an r!r ant apartment nv
a lady. who call,A hlm ~ nr'u !. ,nd mir hucrd
herself hv the n;rnc Of Mis-, W asslrin. him.
at the same titnc. that the ransr of his ln>I
ton should be the subject # future cxIl ana
ton Capt : thought !" had seen the cnrntc-
nance Of hts fair entrrl i,.cr before but h" was
unable to recall to 'nnH when, or where. it
might have happeactl; iii tA,' hour which sue
ceedrd. spent II IvrlE SONY rTsatlon on tn" Lead
Ing topics OF the dav h~,'Itt rnfhing with il %
assist his memory SHAY III curiosity. and
yet II brought r';'n,e witt Il N increasing gait