The Litchfield County post., 1827-03-22

with the little captain, VINO would storm like
a Hector at the sailors, and expatiate ON the
blessings of fOrbearance in the same breath.
Among the passengers there were two par
ticularly calculated to produce an impression
on the mind of the spectator. The one was
young man apparently about twenty five
years of age, tall of stature, and handsomely
formed. His cOuntenance was pale, impress
sive, and full of manly vigor; his forehead
high and polished but his deep-set hazel
eyes, were overshaded by bushy brows, which
gave forbidden expression to hiscounten-
ance. He kept aIoof from the passengers.-
The other was a female about the same age,
lovely in her appearance, and fascinating IN
her manners. They were accompanied by a
little girl, scarcely five years old, whose stri-
king resemblance to the lady was sufficient to
satisfy the most careless observer that they
were parent and child. .-. r..
On board ship our social feelings are nat
urally called into action, and even the most
distant and reserved will at times relax from
their austerity; for when thus shut out from
the world, it is then we feel how essential we
| are to the happiness of each other. But the
deep melancholy that hung upon the brow of
Campbell which was the name of the young
man alluded to, pro; eCted him from intrusion
on his privacy: he seldom spoke to any, one
but his wife; to his child his lips were never
opened.
By the time we had been week at sea, the
business of each passenger was known to the
others; and for want Of more interesting sub
jjects of conversation, the circumstances of our
Sc, eral lives were related from our childhood
to the hour of speaking. Campbell not only
refused to take part in our conversation, but
seldom attended to what was going forward.
He would frequently quit his meals abruptly,
and pace the deck In evident agitation, which
he in vain labored to conceal Mrs. Campbell
like faithful mirror, invariably reflected the
gloom of her husbands countenance still she
conversed freely and with animation; and
occasionally melancholy smile would play
around her lips, which was as evanescent as
the electric fluid that for moment CLEANS
through the clouds which obscure the face of
the heavens, passes away, and leaves all dark
again.
The mysterious conduct Of Campbell gave
rise to numberess conjectures, none of which,
however, accounted for it satisfactorily My
curiosity was wrought up to the highest
pitch, and applied to the little Gascon, who
boasted much of his knowledge of mankind,
for some information on the subject.
HE is melancholque," said the captain, at
the same time placing the fove-finger of his
right hand with much precision along the side
of his thin proboscis -" He is melancho-
ligue."
THAT is evident, captain, but what does his
melancholy arise from! 7"
"Ah, ha datsis the question for one phi
losophe to resolve.''
"Then, sir. it is worthy of your invcstiga-
tion," Il replied. .
have investigate, monsieur, and parbleu,
have dive at de bottom. He goes to France,
pour as sante, mais, he is consumptif, and he
may go AL diabie to de bottom, before he get
to France. He is no philosophe, and this
makes him melancholique.''
Every satisfactory and nationally account
ed for,'' exclaimed.
"Ah ha monsieur, have study the op-
Grafton of the human mind"
He concluded with an emphatic rap on the
top Of huge snuff box, ornamented with a
picture of Napoleon, and Struggling his mar
row shoulders, strutted away with an air
which he designed should add not little to
the dignity ofhis appearance. m
Campbell was in the constant habit of leav-
ing his birth early and retiring to it late. Ev-
cry morning he was seen leaning ON the side
of the vessel gazing on the san bursting from
his watery bed. and in the evening he was in
the same position, with his wife beside him,
contemplating the glorious orb sinking beneath
the surfacesof the deep. | frequently watch
ed him while at his evening meditations, I'M
til his cheeks were believed with tears, and
on stating the fact to the captain, he called
it womanish weakness, and ascribed it to his
not being philosopher. 4 single page of
Boetheus, he said, would. prove radical
cure IN the present case. ~
Campbell had favorlte dog that never left
the side of his master, for the faithful animal
appeared to be conscious of the detected state
of his mind, and of the necessity of affection
to sOothe his feelings. We had been about
two weeks at sea, and yet there was no visible
change in the appearance or health Of the in
valid. He still continued his meditations night
and morning by the vessels side. One moon
light night, after all the passengers had reti-
red to their births, he still remained in his usu-
alplace, with his dog lying at his feet. The
pOrpoise showed his black back above the
waves, in the moon beams, and the voracious
shark swiftly followed in the wake of the
ship. Mrs. Campbell, with her child, approach
ed the spot where he stood, wrapped in add
miration of the beauty of the scene. There
was not cloud to obscure the heavens, and
the sea was but slightly ruffied by the breeze
which impeIled the vessel rapidly onward
She stood beside him, resting on his arm, and
looking anxiously on his cOuntenance, which
was raised upward. and glowing with unusual