Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1837-11-24

are induced 20 rc.publish the following
short sketch Of the
LAST DAYS OF A PIRATE.
III the Caribbean sea, and not far from
the estuary of the river San Juan, are cit
uatcd number Of small keys, generally
denominated the Corn Islands" They
are inhabited by mixed race OF English,
Spanish, Indian, and Negro; and which
have from the ea:Iicst settlement Of the
West India Islands been the resort vt buc.
GAMERS, pirates. traders. and fishermen.
Living at suflicien, distance from the
main land to be excmp'c cd from the coniin
nal storms and rains for Which that coast
Is n ted open to the trade winds, which
by day meiiotate the heats of tropical
climate, and by night wai, from the ocean
an amply supply OF moisture for The pro,
aurIion aud preservation Of uninterrupted
and icdcless vegetation. they appear to
him whose eyes have long been unblcst by
"a view Of the green and smiling land, a.
M,lc -, cimr,.s o. p,radIse scattered on
the sea.
Thrown by fortune on one Of th'sc So,
cluded isles, aud after par,aklng largely ~
the cheerful but transformations hospitality
of the inhabitants, ! wandered forth along
the avenues of orange and lime trees,
whose clustering tl,wcrs loaded the air
with perfume, while the moon beams 9 an.
cling through the in'cr-,lces ut the in'iage
were brightly ref 'crrd from the pendant
drops which hung like diamonds from the
leafy spray.
was now rcahiug The ground Oft trod ,
den BY the fierce frcebUolers of by gone
days; here they rested from their murder
Gus ,o,l,: threw aside the blood stained
brand, and G,r a time ,uduged the gcnller
passions of their natures. Oten perhaps
have these woods echoed with The wild
sorg or mirlh, the bacchana Ian revcl, or
the softer whiSprrings Of love--for even
the Iemnrsclrss pirate loves and hrrce'y
too. Reflections like these brought IN
their tram The fanccd forms Of l. lonoIs,
Bra,Ileno, Bat, Morgan, and other r"vcrs
Of rcnown whose deeds Of daring III 1--we
IN a thousand radIlionaty tales. But my
r.vere was interrupted by sound Of DIS
,ant music softly and sweelIy stealing along
the winding alleys Of shrubbery AID losing
itself among the mutmuring Of the waves
Us ihey broke on tho rocky shore Curl.
Gus to knnw from whom the strain pro
ccehcd, followed it, and suddenly found
myself IN front OF a small. low but, built
Of reeds and Matched with branches ni The
palm ; the wlndward side was llrciy open
to the breeze. aud from Within small glass
lamp, filled with the OIL of cocoa nus, shed
faint and tiliul hight. In front of The
hut, reclining in a hammock winch was
suspended between tuu uiangn ices
bsGtvCd man apparently listening 10 the
song Of O female who sal beside him and
seemed endeavorng to soo'hc him 10 s'um
Der eS she gently swung the hammock 20
aud fro. His face was pale, Ia, -nnk"r
eyes were closed and partially covcrcd
with profuson Of auburn hair. which
fell in r!ugleiS over bis brow on Wh!ch the
burning sun had left It's swarthy impress
As | appronch"d he rOleed his head and
mot 0nGd his attendant to cease hor song,
while with voice feeble bu somrwhu,
stern, he babe me welcome and The lovely
songster, who was beautiful creole girl.
with the form of syph and the step Of a
fawn, brought me seat which she pru!ier
cd and retired within the hot. Some lri
fling conversal mn cnsned during which his
manner made an impression on my mind
which time has failed 70 erase. HIS per
son was small and lightly fnrmod, and
though now feeble and clnanci pa ed, still
betrayed the remains Of elegance ant
activity: his large blue eye, sunken ant
lustreless, darlcd from object to ohjcc
with restessncss that denoted hear, bu
i'll at case rs the fierce energies of his ma
turc seemed struggling with the langn"r u
disease. Interested by his appearance.
made some enquiries respecting his disor
der.
The physicians, replied he, "hink i,
pulmonary affection, and for aught know
j, may be so, but the root Of the matter j
here (lsying his hand upon his heart, ia
beyond the reach Of medicine
perhaps change OF climate
mo, no.! interrupted he; 'clmaics an
countries are alike to me; my glass is near
ly run, and it matters little how or when
desc but die
These words were spoken with Certain
peevishness of manner which preclude,
father conversation, and took my leave
resolved, however. soon TO rep al my visit
for had become too deeply interested il
his fate TO rest satisfied without obtanin.
farther knowledge of his character. =
Accordingly renewed my visits from da,
to day, until they became frequent; and b.
many little nameless attentions, ! at las
won upon his confidence, and he appeared
10 take pleasure in my society, and eve
expressed himself uneasy at my absence
In the meanwhile his health continued rap
idly to decline, and he was evidently jus
on the verge of mortal existence. hs
often in the course Of my conversation
with him endeavorcd to draw his attenlio
to the consultations Of religion; but tn
most indirect allusion to religion or immor
tally, would cloud his brow with frow
which told me they could minister n
comfort, peace, or hope To him. AT lh
close of an afternoon which we had pnsse