Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-01-09
ANyIETJES OF THE SAILORS
LIFE


n.a emotions with which he was over
whemed, when he babe adieu to his lami-
" on his last voyage. The ship in which
he was to sail was at Edgartown, on Mar
tha's VINEYARD The packet was at the
wharf which was to convey him from Nan
tucket TO the ship. He went down in the
morning and saw all his private sea stores
slowed away in the little sloop, and then
returned to his home 70 take leave of his
wife and children. His wife was sitting at
the freside, struggling in vain to restrain
her tears. She had an infant few months old
in her arms, and with her foot was rocking
the cradle in which lay another little daugh-
erabout three years Of age,with her cheeks
flushed witha burning fever. No pen can de-
scribe tie anguish Of such parting. Ii
is almost like the bitterness of death. The
departing father imprints kiss upon the
cheek of his child. Four years will pass
away ere he will again taks that child in
his arms. Leaving his wife sotbing in
anguish, he closes the door of his house
behind him. Four years must elapse be-
fore he can cross that Threshold again
One sea captain upon this island has pass
ed but seven years out o. forty one upon
the land.
A lady said to me few evenings ago.
have been married seven years; and coun-
ing all the days my husband has been at
some since our marriage, it amounts to but
three hundred and sixty DAYS. He is now
absent, having been gone fifteen months;
and two years more must undoubtedly
elapse ere his wife can see his face again.
And whom he shall. return, il Will be mere
ly to visit his family for few months,
when he will again bid them adieu for an
other four years absence.
asked the lady, the Other day, how ma
ny letters she wrote 10 her husband durin =
his last voyage. "Onc hundred" was the
answer. "And how many did he rcceivel''
SIX" The invariable rule is to write by
every ship that leaves this port. tina. may
be heard of, for the Pacific Ocean. And
vet the chances are very small, that any
two ships wi meet on that bounllcss ex-
panse. 1t sometimes happens that a ship
returns, when those on board have not
heard one word from their families during
the whole period OF their absence. lmag
inc, then, III, feelings Of a husband and
father, who returns to the harbor o
Nantucket, after a separation of forty
eight months, during which time he has
heard no tidings whatever from his home.
lie sees the b,at pushing off from the
wharyes, which is TO bring him the tidingS
nr we Il or wu. He stands pale and trem-
b ing pacing III deck, overwhelmed with
cno,iun' which he in vain cAdcavors 10
conceal. "A friend IN the boat geeeis him
win a smile. Md srys, Captain, your
family nrc all we'll" Or, perhaps. he
sIyS, 'Captain | have heavy news for
You; Your wife died two years and half
ng."
young MN left this island last cum
mer, leaving in his quiet home a young
and beautiful vile, AMI infant III. That
wife aud child are now both in the grave.
b II the husband knows not, and probably
will not know Of 1t, for months 10 come
He. perhaps. falls asleep, every night,
thinking of the loved ones h. left at h $
fre-sde, llilc imagi ;ng tn they are both
cold in death
On bright summer afternoon, The teie
graph announces that Cape Horn ship
has appeared in the horizon; and immedl-
ney the stars and stripes Of our national
banner are unfurled from our flag staff
sending wave Of emotion through the
town. Many families are hoping that il is
the ship IN which their friends are to re-
turn, and all hoping for tidings from the sb
sent Soon the name of the ship is an
nounced; and then there is an eager con-
tention with the boys to be the first bearer
of the jnyfu! news 10 the wife Of the cap
tain for VIII CHI service a silver dollar is
the established and invariable fec. And
who can describe the feelings which must
agitate the bosom Of the witet Perhaps
she has heard no tidings Of t he ship for
more than n year. Trembling with ex-
c tcment she dresses herself 10 meet her
hu bind. " Is he alive says she 10 her
self, "or am widow, and the poor chill
dlen orphans!" She walks about the
room, unable TO compose herself sufficient
ly TO sit down, eagerly looking out of the
window and down the street. She sees n
man, with hurried steps, turn the corner,
and little boy having hold of his hand
Yes, it is he; and her little son has gone
down to the boat, and found his father
Or. perhaps, instead of this, she secs two
Of her neighbors returning SLOWLY and sad
~, and directing :heir steps 10 her door
The blood flows back upon her heart. They
rap at the door, 1t is the AueIl OF hel
husbands death; and she falls senseless &c
the floor, as they teil ner maj heT huSoau'
has long been entombed in the faiho niles:
ocean.
This is not fiction. These are not ex'
trcme cases which the Imagination creates
They are facts of continual occurrence
facts which awaken emotions to which nc
zen can do justice.
few weeks ago ship returned to this
island, bringing the news of another ship.
that she was nearly filled with oil; that al
on board were well; and that she might be
expected in neighboring port in such o
month. The wife of the CAPTAIN resided
IN Nantucket, and early in the month, with
a heart Ihrobbing with affection and hope,
she went 10 greet her husband on his re-
urn. At length the ship appeared. drop
ped her anchor, in the harbor. and the
friends of the lady ,,or. ,o no shins,o &C