Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1851-11-04
A Story Of Ia Sailor.

Boston, Inen master VI D. 1uo ohiP
bound for China. ! was worth ten
thousand dollars, and the husband OF
young and handsome wife, whom |
! had married SIX months before.
Whep.II left her I pr pmised to return
to her in less than a twelve. month.
l took all my money along with me,
save enough to support my wife in
my absence, for the purpose OF ira
ding while in China, on my own ac-
count. For a long time we were
favored with prosperous winds; but
when in the Chinese Sea terrible
storms came upon US, So that in a
short time l saw that the vessel
must be lost, for we were drifting on
the rocks Of an unknown shore. |
ordered the men each to provide for
himself in the best possible manner,
and forget the ship, as it was an I'M
possibility to save her. We struck
"a sea threw me upon a rock sense
less, and the next. would have car
ried me back into a watery grave;
had not one of the-sailors dragged me
further upon the rocks.
There was only. four of US alive,
and when morning came we were on
a small uninhabited island, with moth
ing to eat but tie wild fruit common
to that part of the earth ] will not
distress IS you by an account of my
suferings here; suffice ii to say, that
we remained sixty days here, before
we could make ourselves known to
any ship. We were taken to Can
ton, and there l had to beg, for my
money was at the bottom Of the sea-,
and / had not taken the precaution
to have it insured.
t 1t was nearly a year before ] found
| a chance to come home, and then, |
a ctaptmn, was obliged to ship as a
common sailor. 1t was two years
from the time that left America,
that | landed in Boston. ] was walk
ing in a hurried manner up one of
the streets, when l metImy brother
in-law. He could not speak nor
move, but grasped my hand and the
tears gushed from bis eyes.
'Ts my wife alive? ? ! as ked,
He said nothing.
Then | wished h lad persisted with
my ship, for l thought my wife was
dead; but he very SC ION said:
"She is aliyel'
Then it was my turn to cry for JOY.
lie clung to me, and saidi
"Ybur funeral sermon has been
preached, for we thought you dead
for a long time. {
He said my wife was living In ouFr
cottage in the interior of the State
1t was then three o'clock in the al
ternoon. and [ took a train Of cars
that would carry me within twenty
FIVE miles of my wife, Leaving the
cars. | hired a boy, though it was
night. to drive me home. 1t was
about two o'clock in the, morning
when the sweet little cottage OF mine
appeared in sight. II was q warm
| moonlight night, and | remember
| how like a Heaven it appeared to me.
| / rot out of the carriage, and went
to the window of the room where
the servant girl slept and gently
knocked. She opened the window
and asked, 'Who is there?'
aSarah, do you know me?'' said !
| She screamed wi th fright, for she
thought me ghost, but | told her
to unfasten the door and let me in
for wished to see my wife. She
llet me in, and gave ME o light, and
went up staIrS TO my Wlie Iophi
She lay sleeping quietly Upon hel
bosom lay our child, whom | had
never seen. She was as beautiful as
when left her, but IcQuld see Z
lmournful expression upon her face
Perhaps She was dreaming OF me.
oazed for a long tilhe--I did no.
/ make ann noise. for | dared not wake
her. At length / imprinted sofl
Hiss upen the cheek of my child
while doing it, a tear dropping from
my eye, fell upon her efeek, &c ne He1i
eyes opened as clearly as Il sne nae "a
not long been sleeping. l saw sh'
1 began to be frightened, and | 81 said;
+ ~Mary, it is your husband! :,
And she clasped me about my necl
and tainted. /,
But I cannot descfloe 10 you ! h''
4 scene. She is now the happy wife o
moor man. / am endeavoriDg t