The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-02-06

IA
brightly did fancy paint for him freside shared
with her, that he resolved to change bis calling,
and try what sailors stout arm could win on
terra frma. But not there; every inch Of island
soil was too precious for his slender wallet to lean
towards.
{" must take one more voyage, Christine" said
he, after some consultation with neighbors and
friends, "to the Lakes of America; and if | like
the country, our home shall be there. But must
marry you now, my Christine. cannot leave
you so uncared for; and then will come back
for youw
Christine had few objections to make, her en-
ployers had none; and as for her parents, their
indignation had quite calmed into composure, and
even into compacency, since her resolute deter
mination in favor of the young seaman. They
even went so far as to bestow upon his upright
ness and energy little of the admiration due it.
Christine stood up at the side of Jacques in
their parish church. on a calm Sabbath evening,
and another ring besides the ring Of betrothal
was put upon her finger. 1t was thick, heavy,
orange-hued circlet, such as our great-grand-
mothers show as none of the pale, delicate,
lemon-tinged, acknowledged jewels of modern
make, but substantial golden hoop, stout enough
to keep company with the hand of its mistress,
through all sorts of work and weather. for there
is sort of superstitious regard attached to the
wedding-ring among the peasantry of Europe.
have known sensible young FrenchwOman
thrown into fever of foreboding at losing this
ring sure that the tie of her life and love was to
be broken by the loss of its seal. And when.
after the lapse of three years or more, it was
found imbedded in the bank of the spring where
she had dropped it, her gratitude and joy swelled
almost to intoxication.
jacques leroy left his Christine in the same
humble vocation where he had welded her. and
set sail for the New World. do not know that
any wild emotions of rapture swelled his breast,
when he first caught sight Of the continent, to
look on which Columbus risked his life and won
an immortality of fame. strongly suspect that
honest Jacques eye was more intent upon the
shoals and eddes of the harbor than upon the blue
mountains and green swells that bound it Yet
know the image of Christine rose there in his
heart, to throw the reflection Of beauty and love
over its rudest associations.
Jacques went his cheerful way to the wilds of
the West via river, canal, and lake. The tide
of circumstances and of immigration lat that
date bore him into the mining region of Illinois
Here his ready will and strong right arm found
patronage and payment Immediately,
Ere five months had passed, one of the few
short letters that spoke from his heart to his far
away bride, flor ocean postage was heavy bur-
den to poor emigrant's purse, then; would that
it were less now told her briefly Of his success,
and Of his intention Of fixing his residence st
that spot. Yet his engagements would not per-
NIT him to leave, for a time. If you can make
up your mind to come on without me- it added,
ave could meet much sooner. You had better
come with -, and - naming some
neighbors who were about to leave the green isle
for the same region. "But wait till you hear
from me again.
Christmas pulse bounded with impotence and
delight, when she had spelled out this dear little
missive. To meet her Jacques again-to find the
| neat little home she had 30 often dreamed of, in
49, r~~9n vide r~-h of whose beauty and plen-
teousness the emigrants y,re a,,yav.
telling-this was lot worth crossing the ocean
| to gain.
Unluckily, as it proved, the families with whom
her voyage had been purposed put of their plans
| of sailing TO another season. Christine had just
written to this effect and asked further advice
about the matter, when she heard of the sudden
determination of some other friends to sail and
she took rash resolution.
al will surprise him p she thought, gleefully.
could not wish better protectors than these;
and he will be so astonished, 80 delighted to see
mem
The good ship was winged by favorng gales
over the restless Atlantic Christine, buoyant-
hearted girl that she was, could have kissed for
very Joy the first sandy soil of America that her
foot pressed In her fond delusion as to the mag
ntude of our United States, she felt that her end
| was really gained-that she was already in the
neighborhood of the husband who had preceded
her Her isle-contracted eyes had to look upon
the journey of many day, before they could
realize that the New World was SO tiresomely
large.
Up the magnificent diorams of the Hudson the
party slowly moved, in tow Of strong river
steamer. Christne's girlsh curiosity was ami
mated and delighted and her lively French
calculations were a fund of amusement to her
fellow -emigrants from other chimes than her own.
At Albany she foated into the great artificial
vein Of New York-the Erie canal-at that day
the thoroughfare Of rich and poor to the West.
The terrors of a voyage on the dragging canap
must, of course, be few but Christine was start
led from her shelf, the first night, by a rumbling
that she could by no means understand, while
the water without was dashing with formidable
sound
@QTest &c que e'ea ?n she called, from her cur
| tanned corner But as she could comprehend
little of the answers which various English and
Irish tongues sent her, and her French fellow
voyagers were sound asleep, she wrapped herself
in a warm shawl, and made her way to the cabin
door, Just as the narrow coffn-shaped boat was
floating even with the upper sluice Of the lock
"Ohp' she breathed in q tone of relieved sat
isfaction, as she looked on the smoothly ripping
water around and glancipg back to the level
from which they had assembled recalled the ex-
PLANTATION that had been given her; " Je Renteuds"
and she CROPPED along back to her nook, to dream
Of home past and home future.
Slowly as the canal boat crept along, Chris
tines patience did not outstrip it-for she amused
herself in sunshiny hours, by long wake on the
level tow-path, far in advance Of the snail-paced
bark, gathering strange berries and flowers, and
framing all sorts Of wondering dreams about her
home in the wilderness-what flowers would
bloom around il, and what comforts would blossom
within IT, Then in the stinted cabin she would
sit with her knitting or her needle, chatting when
she could, and making the most Of her active eyes
where her ears could give her no information
for she understood and spoke few phrases Of An
glo-SaxoB.
At Buffalo, the party took ship again for
three weeks trip up the Lakes; few steamboats,
then assembled above g. the Flats" and the Michi-
gan railroad was not. At Chicago they chartered
an emigrants' wagon, with all appurtensnces, even
to the WATERFALL swinging like pendulum from
the hindmost axle, and went on their way, re-
joicing that II was now SO short Christmas
heart took happier thrill each night Of that
journey, in the joyful consciousness that it brought
her nearer the haven Of her happiness. When
the low roofs and smoke-halocd chimneys Of the
village Of L. first doomed up to view from
distant bluff on which the wagon halted, she was
no longer the first to calculate her heart was too
full for speech, and her eyes were full Of tears.