Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-05-19

] ture-a smile, the lntueuce OF winch ls iell up
on the sea, as well as on land-giying new zesI
and beauty to things inanimate, as well as ami
mate. The ship in question was on her home
ward bound passage, from one Of the southern
/ pous Of Europe, and having been many days At
sea, her captain expected in the course Of a
week. to see her safely riding at anchor in Bes.
ton harbor. Leaning over the wheel and gaz-
ing isIlessly al the compass, as it dipped and
swung with every roll Of the vessel, stood a sea-
man, 10 whose deeply marked features might
have been traced the outlines Of graceful and
manly beauty, touched by The blghling dew Of
sorrow, and scared by long exposure. The
beam Of intellect, which fingered in his dark
and melancholy eye, together with his general
appearance, seemed TO indicate, that he had been
formed for far different station in life, from
the one Nhich he now occupied, and too plain.
, ly told, that the sun Of existence had lost for
him its charm.
Frank Stewart was an altered man! Six years
J had passed away since the transaction Of the a.
bove mentioned events; six weary years, over
which we must draw The veil Of obscurity-ur-
ming to our hero as we now beheld him, sailor
on the boundless ocean. Long had he been a
wanderer. He had despainngly left his native
land, and plunged into the wild vieissitudes ol
life, throwing himself upon the tickle current Of
destiny, and the swelling waves which now bore
him, could never have proved more fatal to their
trust. He had mixed with every changeIul
horde Of life; had joined in the ceaseless din OF
the crowded mart. and vainly sIrove TO crush
DEAR yet bitter memories in its phaanx; friend.
, less and alone, he had travelled mountains and
deserts, but the solitude OF unlrequented scenes
possessed no spell 10 quench the burning agony
Of the heart; he had sought the irenzied excite
ment of danger, and coured death on the field
of blood, but the frantic yells of conflict could
not drown the voice Of his own misery; he had
braved the ire of elements on The bosom Of the
mighty deep, but no change of cline or scene
overcome that love, which was like a gnawing
worm TO his bosom. Disappointment soul rea.
ching disappointment. had sealed its corroding
: stamp on his heart; and melancholy had left a
: pale signeI on the brow once bright and cloud.
less; Impressions, which time could never erad-
icate.
Stewart had loved, passionately, and devoted
y; and the object of his affections had vanished
from his presence at an hour when every i'm.
pulse Of his existence seemed called al once into
action-when by herside, that hour was worth an
, age Of worldly pleasure without her. Then it
was, that impelled by the impassoned ardor oi
\ the moment, he doshed aside every treasured
hope Of the worlds gifts; and forsook every
scene that youthful happiness had riviled to hi:
= heart, for the changeful realities of a wanderer
e life. He bid adieu to his country, and as he
d thought forever; but now he felt himself draw
: ing near those early scenes-and why, he knew
=, not but an irresistible hand seemed beckonine
b. him on; and the still, small voice of hope brea-
thed tale of silent soltness in his eur, and bore
q him on zephyr's wings through the ethereal
brightness of the future; and, at times, he bent
= to lis enhancing whisper, and seemed delighted;
( but the ominous clouds Of doubt were there
and ever and anon, rolling over the glowing ex-
panse, shrouded in gloom that prospect which
was the very feast of his soul.
] On the present evening, Frank was more than
+. usual ly sad and thoughtful. "But few hours
: thought he, sand shall stand upon The same
soil which received the first impressions Of my
I lnfantle footsteps, and over which roved in all
n the lhoughlless exstacy of childhood. And was
!, | happy then? where is the being who is con-
h tent with the cup, however replete with bliss
/! that fate has meted out to him? Reason and
}, experience have since taught me that ! was too
: lavish of my feelings, and too susceptible; fol
: my hean was happy, only when nesting in it;
own loves and frendships-but they have pro-
. we'd its banefuI destroyer, and their memory ha;
II begotten the worm that never dies"
e "Alasl for the days of my youth! They were
J, but tender flowers; sweelIy they budded and
IS bloomed awhile, but the chilling hand Of blight
y was upon them; they withered and their fra
n GRANGE was scattered by the wild blasts of ad
versity; years have dragged their weary course
and passed away-and the heterogeneous maj
l. which they have left for the gaze of retrospec
tion, is but tablet of unuterable thonght,' con
h hicting passions, and doubts and fears, withou
e one bright spot TO mark the gloomy calender"
Thus was his mind re.peopling the past will
A beings who had Witnessed his transition from in
ID fancy to youth, from happiness to misery; ant
as his eye was turned TO the setting sun, whOs'
a FURNISHED disc was yet visible, he felt an rress
it tible desire to know whether its parting beams
rested upon the smile-the tear-or the graz
/, of Henrietta. Long absence, he feared, haC
'f placed an eternal barrier between her existence
and his own; but, steeed as he was against eve
ry vcissitude of fate, he felt that whatever the
future might reveal TO him, he could meet i
:; calmly and unmoved.
st The retiring blush of twilight had faded en-
e tifeiy away, and night rested in folds upon tht
r; sea-but the tireless seamen slept not. Lei
u surely pacing the deck with thoughtful air
!, and an eye ever awake to discover any DANCE
9 to which his occupation exposed him, he des
q cribed glimmerng light, scarcely percePtbl'
f on the far dark horison. There being nothing
unusual in its appearance,it excited no immedi
II ate attention, it was supposed to proceed from
some passing merchantmen, and not until the
middle watch had taken their station was it per
ceved that the strange sail was steering the
N same course as themselves, and evidently near
t. ing them. They came rapidly with the fresh
IN ening breeze, and in another hour, the strange
u was not more than three or four miles to wind
II. ,un~h