Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-01-31
VOL. 3.----NO. 15.

cl. hCCOTuiugty NC was SlOWIl ltllO tie
apartment where sat Mr.. Nj. and Mrs.
p. and her daughter. .. ... .
From whence are your asked Mrs.
Potter. lsa .#.. ..Mt .... ..
From the vile shores of Barbara
Doubtless you have suffered much,
cruel people inhabit those regions
'MucE have SUFFERED was once in
easy circumstances,bu but also! the elements
have sported with this vaclllating frame.
Yes, deep are the lines of hardship
which are marked in thy furrowed
cheeks .... -.
The wonderer gazed at Mrs. Potter
and wept. ........ ... ... ...
why those tears inquired Mrs. Pot
ter. -.-.. ........ .e.#.r .1....s-E ....-.
'Ahn rejoined the tremulous voice of
the of the beggar, Il once han a daugh-
ter who might have become what she is
now, but since the third birth day dawn
ed on her cler,i5 form these eyes have
never beheld her. .. .a.s. n...
Come, come calculated Moran, who
was anxious that the intruder should de-
part. 'let us have your tale of secrecy
'ltshall be given to Mrs. Potter alone.'
THAT cannot be, muttereG Morane.
But have made PROMISE ..
'What of your PROMISE .-. ..s
1T is sacred as my life.' .....
SWELL speak and DEPART said Morane.
The beggar, who, until now, had boen
a supplicant, assumed an attitude of au-
;hority--his eye which thus far had
been beam less, kindled into an express
sion of the most benign determination.
Il have said he, "a revelation entrus-
ted me by Capt. Potter himself. -
At the mention of this name, all was
anxiety and a,tention---in her perturba-
lion the mother let fall volume of po-
ems which she held in her hand; the
daughter grew pale with solici,ude, On
hearing the name of her father. ... .
sAnd sooner than betray my trust.
continued he, this right arm shall perish.
The pathos with which he uttered
this, caused the blood to chill through
their veins, and rush like cataract upon
their hearts. .--. ..s-
Morane, finding remonstrance was
vain, consented for them to retire. o..
The man of want having quieted their
fears, said no harm should befall the
lady. fiji. ....... as.... .....
| .There, said he, as he closed the
door, have you any knowledge of this,
presenting gold ring. .... s..
Yes answered Mrs. Potter, sit is the
one my husband wore away, and would
have given thousands to see il return on
the same hand-but now am convinced
that he is among the uncounted victims
that feed the monsters of the deep.
How long since his departure
Fourteen years. a SO nv
Gould you recognise him after so
long an absence' a# a..... ......
Most certainly / could. IL his fea-
lures are SO changed, just behind the
thumb on the left wrist, his name is in
scribed ina unfading characters---in that
| cannot be deceived a# @ .a-a ..
'Read..lha,,' as he gave her his callous
hand. The lady was just able to read
David Potter and sank exhausted by
her agita,ed feelings. The noise of her
fall brought Morane into the apartment,
with several of the wedding guests who
had now arrived, and beheld Mrs. Potter
senseless upon the foor-supposing some
violence had been done to her person,
they ordered the supposed ruffian 10
leave the house Immediately. In vain
did he protest his innocence. He was
forcibly dragged out. As soon as Mrs.
Potter had recovered sufficiently to speak
-'merciful heaven exclaimed the lady,
where is my husband-where is Cap.
tain Potter? Do l dream or is il reali-
tyF .The woman is mad,' said one
Her brain is crazed,' cried another.-
1T is the wild impulse Of a Dream con-
tinued third. ts
Captain Potter, who had been drag
ged from his own house, was called back
to the scene from which he had been
compelled. though reluctantly, to retire.
The priest, who by this time had arrl
we'd, was overjoyed to see his old friend,
the Captain. Rejoice, said he 10 Mrs.
Potter, thy husband was dead and is
aliye-was lost and is found
Capt. Potter now requested all to be
seated, that he might make known 10
them The story of his absence. .Yon
behold in me the same Capt. Potter,
who has been in an unwilling exile from
his home for ID years. Irwas captured
by an algerine pirate ship near Malta,
and compelled to serve those vile hordes.
Oh how hard is serviude among peo.
pie whose tenderest mercies are cruel.-
was forced to labor at the oar, and
when from fatigue | could no longer
grasp it, the muscles of my wrists were
scared with hot brick until my hands
were immovably clinched. / sighed for
death to come and remove my insuppor-
table load. A year seemed an age, so
tardy did the wheels of time move along.
AT length by treaty with the United
States, the Dey of Algiers was required
to release all American slaves. Being
set at liberty, | embarked for this coun-
try; we encountered a furious gale, which
drove the vessel on a desert Island.-
Here all the crew perished cxcep. four,
who were taken in by a merchant ship
in a state of insensibility. The vessel