The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-05-30
Vol. 9. No. As. Whole No. 46l

lf NJ r ~. EI I ..f . 4. II.
sued; safe, safe; and deicousy he slept that
night beneath a spreading wattle-tree, aiter
the first sweet meal of freedom.
! Next morning walked up like the starting
lIangaroos around him (for John Dllaway had
not bent the knee in prayer since childhood
off he sci triumphant and refreshed; his arm
was strong, and he trusted in ii; his axe was
sharp, and he looked to that for help; he knew
no other God. OFF he set for miles, miles,
miles; still that continuous high acacia wood,
though naturally pnrk-like oftentimes chok-
ed with briars, and here and there impervious
ahead. Was it all this same starving forest
10 the wide worlds end? He dug for roots,
and found some acrid bulbs and tubers, which
bstered up his mouth; but he was hungry,
and ate them; and dreaded as he ate. Were
they poisonous? Next TO it, Dillaway; so he
hurried eagerly TO dilute their gripping juices
with the mountain streams, near which he
slept; he drank huge droughts, and stayed his
stomach.
Next morning, off'again; why could he not
catch and eat some ofthose half tame antcl-
opes? Hal he lay in wait hours, hours, near
the torrent to which they came betmcs 10
Stake their thirst but their beautiful keen eyes
saw him askance--and when he rashly hoped
to hunt one down atoot, they went like the
wind for Il minute,- and then turned TO look
at him atar of, moclsingly;- painting,
baflled creeper.
No; give ii, up--this savory hope of veni-
son; lie must go despondently on and on; and
he filed his belly with grass. Must he really
starve in this interninable wood? He dreamt
! that night of luxurious city feasts, the turtle,
turbot venison and champagne; and then
how miserably weak he woke. But he must
on YEARLY and lamely, forever through this
wood,--oblectles except for life and liberty.
oh, that he could meet some savage, and do
him battle for the food he carried; or that II
dead bird or snake, or beast lay upon his path
or that one ofthose skipping kungaroos would
but come within the reach of his Obtained
hatchet No; for all the birds and flowers,
and free wild woods, and hill and dale, and
liberty he was starvjn g, Starving; so he brows-
ed the grass as ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS did in his lu-
macy. And the furnished wretch would glad
| ~ have been slave again.
| Next morning he must lie and perish where
he slept, or move on; he turned to the left not
to go on forever probably, aye, too probable;
he had been creeping round belt. Oh,
precious thought ofchnnge! for within three
hours there was light ahead, light beneath the
tangled underwood; he struggled through
the last cluster of thick bushes, longing for Il
|
knows? are there not men dwelling there
with ilocks and herds, and food and plenty?
yes, yes and Diliaway will do among them
yet You envious boughs, delay me not. He
tore aside the last that hid his view, and found
that he was standing on the edge ofau ocean
of sand--hot yellow sand 10 the horizon!
He fanfed-he had like to have died; but
as for prayer-be only muttered curses on
this bitter, furnishing disappointment. He
dared not strike into the wood again--he dar-
ed not advance upon that yellow sea exhaust
ed aud Impoverished; it was his wisdom to
skirt the wood; and so he trnmpcd along
weakly. This liberty TO staFve is horrible! :
| Is it, John Dillaway? What, have you no
computations at that word starve? no bitter,
dreadful recollections?
| Remember poor Maria, that own most low
| ing sister wanting bread through you. Re-
member Henry Clements, and their pning
| babe:-remember your own sensual teasttngs
and fraudulent ex,lation,and how,you would
have utterly starved the good, the kind, the
honest! This same bitter cup is filled foryour
own lips, and you must drink it TO the dregs.
Have you no compuncuons, man? Nothing
tapping at your heart? For you must sTARvE!
! No! not yet; not yet! for chance-what Dill
l0way lyingly called chance-in his moment
of remorse at these reflections,when God had
timed so might save him-sent help in the
DESERT For as he reelngly ramped along
on the rank heritage between this forest and
the sea ofsand; just as he was dying of eX-
| haustion; his faint foot trod upon store of
! life and health! 1t was an Emeu's ll-protect-
ed nest;& he crushed where he had trodden,
one ofthose invigorating eggs. Oh, Joy, Joy,
| no thanks,--hut sensual Joy! There were
three of them, and each one meat for day;
ash coored without, but the within, the with
i'll, full ofsweet and precious yolk! Oh, rich
feast, luscious and refreshing; cheer up,cheer
up; keep one to cross the desert with; aye,
aye luck will come at last to clever Jack!how
shrewd it was of me to find those eggs!
Thus do the wicked forget thee, blessed
Godl-thou hast watched this bad man, day
by day, and all the dark nights through in
tender expectation fsome good: Thou hast
been with him hourly in that furnishing for
est tempting him by starvation to-repen-
lance; and how gladly did Thine eager mercy
seize this first opportunity ofhalf-formed pen
itence to bless and help him, even him, liber-
allv and unasl1ed! Thanks TO Thee, thanks
to Theei Why did not that man thank Thee?
Who more grieved at his thanklessness than
Thou art? Who more sorry for the righte-
| Gus and necessary doom which the impeni-
tence of heartessness drags down upon l.
self? ta .lI U..s.t
| And Providence was yet more kind, and
man vet more ungrateful mercy Astounding
over the abundant sin. For the furnished va
grant diligently sought about for more rich
prizes; and, as the manner is otthose unnat-
ura birds to leave their eggs carelessly to the
matching of the sunshine, he soon stumbled
on another nest "lIa, hal" said he, "clever
Jack Dillaway of Brokers' Alley isn't done
with yet; up, no, trust him for taking care of
number one; now then for the desert; with
these four huge eggs and my tr,isty hatchet,.