Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1849-02-03
A Sailors story.

Four years ago left the port of Boston,
the master of fine ship bound for China.
was worth ten thousand dollars, and was
the husband of a young and handsome wife
whom had marred six months before -
When left her, promised to return in less
than twelve month. took all my mon
ey along with me, save enough to support
my wife in my absence, for the purpose of
trading when in China on my own account
For long time we were favored with pros
porous wind but when in China sea ter
rible storm came upon us, so in short time
] saw the vessel must be lost, for we were
d. fling on the rocks of an unknown shore.
ordered the men 10 provide each for him
self, in the best possible manner and forget
the ship, as il was an impossiblity to save
her. We struck-a sea threw me upon the
rock senseless, and the next would have car
ried me back into watery grave had not
one of the soldiers dragged me farther up
the rocks.
There were only four of of us alive, and
when morning came, we found we were
on u small uninhabited island, with nothing
TO eat but the wild fruit common to that por-
ten of the earth. | will nor distress you
by an account of our sufierings there suf-
flee ii to say that we remained sixty days
before we could make ourselves known to
any ship. We were taken to Canton, and
there | had to beg for my money was at
the bottom of the sea, and had not taken
the precaution TO have it insured.
1t was nearly year before found a
chance To come home, and then |, Cap
tam, was obliged To ship as a common sailor
Ii was two years from the time that | left
America that landed in Boston. was wal
king in hurried manner up one of its streets
when | met my broiher-in-aw. He could
not speak, nor move but he grasped my hand
and the tears gushed from his eyes.
SIS my wife alive?" asked
He said nothing.
Then wished had persisted.
ship for | thought my wife was dead bnt
he very soon said:
:" She is alive
Then it was my turn to cry for joy. He
CLING 10 me aud said:
Your funeral sermon has been preached,
for we have thought you were dead for u
long time.'
He said my wife was living in our cottage
in the interior of the State. IL was then
three O'Clock in the afternoon, and took II
train of cars that would carry me within
twenty five miles of my wife. Leaving the
cars, hired boy, though it was night, 10
drive me home. IL was about two O'Clock
in the morning when that sweet liule cot
tage Of mine appeared in sight. 1t was n
warm, moonlight night, and | remember
how like heaven it looked TO me. | got
out of the carriage, and went to the win
dow of the room where the servant girl
slept and gently knocked. She opened the
window and asked, d" who was there'"
6 Sarah, do you know me!"
She screamed. with fright, for she tho't
me a ghost, but told her to unlasten the
door aud let me in, for wished to see my
wife. She let me in and gave me light
and went up stairs 10 my wIfe's ROOM
She lay sleeping quietly. Upon her bosom
lay our child, whom had never seen. She
was as beautiful as when left her but
could see a mournful expression upon her
face. Perhaps she was dreaming of me.
gazed for long tiine-i did not make any
noise, for dared not wake her. At length
imprinted soft kiss upon the cheek of
my child. While doing it, a tear dropped
from my eye, and fell upon her check
Her eyes opened as though she had not been
sleeping. ! saw that she began to be lrIgth
ened, aud said;
{" Mary it is your husbandp
And she clasped me about my neck, and
tainted. But | cannot describe to you that
scene. She is now the happy wife OF a
poor man. am endeavoriug 20 accumu-
late little property, and then | will leave
the sea forever.