The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-09-24
From The Portland Transcript.
THE WRECKER'S DAUGHTER,
FART FIRST: CHAPTER ".
By CHARLES =. LESLEY.


And tears, and fortunes, and the touch oGjoy.'
There is fair behavior in thee, cnpiain;-
And though that nature with bcnntcous wall
Doth of close in pollution, vet nj thee
will bclicyc, thou hast mind that suits
Win ihis Thy fair ana outward character
WARM and unboundcd vas The hospitality
which awaited the stranger at the wreckcr's dwell
ing. A glowing fire lent its cheering influence TO
bcslow nm air of comfort to the strengthening
apartment, which contrasled strongly win the for
bidding aspect Of the exterior of the hut. The
constant We, pnoblrusvc uttGnons Of the wrccker $
family were as grateful to the heart Of the new
conner as they were conducive TO his bodily COM
fort. After slight repast, worn and wcared with
the scenes ne had passed through, he gladly sought
his couch Fatigue soon Induced slcep--but II
was restless one. There was no rest to his mind,
though slumber pressed heavily on his eyelids.--
The poet Mnturn describes his state:
lie sleeps. lit be sleeps this startling trance,
Whose i,versh tosSnas and deep mutcrel gronns
DO prove the soul shares not the bod! : rest.'
His excited fancy had placed him again in the
stranded wreck, and the rocking and grinding of
the vessel and the incessant beating of the spray
was again felt. The waves again boiled in fury
around him. and their deafrnlng roar was in his
ear. lie felt the broad pillows lifting the huge
hulk upon their backs--then came the dreadful
shock as it settled down on the sharp rocks--lhe
dark wave bursting in n delugc Of foam around
him.
Yet ever amid the gloom and terror Of that dread
ful scene, there lowered over and about him one
radian,ly beautiful; whose countenunte beamcd
angel-like upon him, and whose tones stole like
soothing music 10 his ear. The last waking tho 7
of the young man, as his cheek pressed the snow
white pillow, was Of the fair hand tina, slnoolhed
it--and the lovely spirit of his dreams and the
Wrccker's daughter were wonderfully like!
After the others had retired the wrccker and his
wife sat before the cracking fire engaged in con-
vcrsafion, the former ndulgng the luxury oft pipe,
the blue smoke from which, after floating in wrla
curls around his head, rushed in broad ribbon up
the rudc-bulIt chimney.
so you saved nothing from the wreck ? said
the wife.
Not single article was the reply. 'The surf
run so high ii was dangerous boarding her, and it
was al The risk Of my life that got the youngster
off,
We should be thankful for that, husband
One life is of more value than thousand cargoes
yes replied the old man with great sincerity
<weath may be replaced, but life once gone is
gone forever. The ship thrown on her bealI.-cnds
may be righlcd hut the craft that goes TO the bot
tom, good bye TO her she will never rise again.
The old man knocked the ashes from his pipe
and continued
The crew tried TO persuade me from making
the attempt, but | could not leave human being
TO perish without trial TO save hiIn--though for
the matter Of that, bis troubles were nearly over
when got to him. Precious little life was there
left in him when took him on board
1T was a mercy you fell in with him, John,
reioiued the woman in compassionate tone.
You may well say that, wife, 1t was mercy,