Literary cadet, and Saturday evening bulletin. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1826-1827, 1826-05-13

wards the place Of our destination, ] endsavoured,
but -~inly, to draw my companions into converse.
ton. To my questions they gave civil and ready
answers, but they spoke not further than to reply to
my frequent interrogatories. We had not proceed
ed far, when the wished for fortress broke upon our
eyes, and the .hrill sound Of the fife, and the vibra-
tons Of the hollow drum, assured me that ] was at
last, beyond the reach Of Angelic and his associates;
and where a gallant soldiery who had barred their
bosoms to defend the soil Of their country, would
grant me that protection which my lonely condition
required. As we entered the portals of the fortress,
an officer whose furrowed brow bore witness to the
whitening hand of time, received me with the cha
ractcristic poli,eness and courtesy Of a soldier, and
handing me to an apartment, where were assembled
his wife and family, listened to my tale of suffering,
and administered the consultations of sympathy and
kindness to my wounded spirits. The aged soldier,
assuring me Of my hearty welcome, lost no time and
spared no efforts to make my situation pleasant and
happy, (f indeed | could be happy after having
lost at the hands Of murderers, all that my heart
held dear) and kindly volunteered his services to
conduct me to the city, where, said he, you can find
friends to restore you once more to your home and
family.
But, feeling but little disposed to recommence
the life Of a wanderer, till had at least recovered
from the fatigues and suferinss I had so long en-
dured, | declined his kind offer for the moment, and
at his suggestion consented to remain at the fortress
until the ensuing autumn. Time passed quickly
mn a., =. .atra.t ~ .aoura .n1 m hn.p,tub1n ond
ere I was aware oft, the hour ofmy departure drew
near, and once more | was left upon the wide and
cherries world, as | thought, without a friend or
protector. From the day | entered the fortress, the
young soldier who rescued me from the horrors Of
the morass had been absent on an excursion to
Barrataria and Texas, but returned the very hour |
was about departing for the adjacent city. A sue
cessful exploit had crowned his excursion, and he
returned with a chivalrous heart swelling high with
martial pride, and palpitating with the joy a con-
ciousness Of having performed his duty to his coun-
try and his God, had awakened. The same mark
ed reserve, which distinguished his conduct, whilst
with me in the moorlands, was still observable in
his conduct; and he seemed disposed to shun the
glances OF my eye, which ever and anon, would in
defiance of my wishes, inquire Of him the reason of
a reserve so ~palpable towards one whose life he
had rescued, and who owed him a deep debt of graf
itude. | would have inquired into the strangeness
of his actions, but delicacy forbade it, and I con-
tented myself with being a stranger to the deep
mystery which yelled the character of my unknown
preserver.
On inquiring Of my worthy host, the name and
history Of the young officer, he informed me, that it
was but a few months since he had been attached
to the garrison, but during that little period he had
succeeded in gaining the esteem and undivided re-
spect Of the superiors and subalterns, and evinced
on many occasions an intrepidity Of spirit, which
promised to gain for him at an early age a rank in
arms, and the honors Of his country. His name
said the General is Roderique Fernandez, but to
what nation he belongs | know not, and am equally
ignorant Of his history, since, he has always evinced
u disposition to evade any interrogatories have put
to him on the subject. But, continued the old
General, as you are perhaps interested in hi, history,
and might be pleased to learn something of his life,
he shall accompany you to the city, and possibly
you may elicit from him facts, which to me he has
always refused to disclose.
Our mules were now ready, and bidding adieu to
the inmates of the fortress, accompanied by the
young officer. and a son of the commander of the
garrison, we took our departure for the place fmy
destination. As we travelled along, ! endeavoured
to arrest the attention of Mr.. Fernandez, but he
carefully avoided being awakened from his affected
lethargy, until we had proceeded some miles on our
journey, when turning to me, with a countenance
impressed with mingled ~gladness and sorrow, he
remarked, that hislife had been full Of painful Incl
dents; that early in life he was torn from the bosom
of his parents, by %rufians, who if they had possess
ed a particle Of mercy would have cut him off from
existence, and relieved him of a life Of sadness and
misery. But my dear sir, said I, you who have
the honor of defending the soil of your country
should rather wish to live. to consummate future
acts Of greatness and of glory, and entertain a fond
hope Of arising to the highest pinnacle Of Fame. |
"Talk not to ME of Fame,'' said he sternly, I" rather
talk Of the grave that resting place for the perse-
cuted and inJured-tell me not of glory and renown,
for know ye gentle lady, that this earth hath no
joys or charms for him, who has been deserted by
his God, and abandoned to all the horrors of the
damned" There was a wildness in bis manner,