The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-12-13
THE LOST CHILD.
4 TALR or PACrs.


Iofly years ago, says writer IL "Hoggs In
strucior," We were under the necessity Of rcs
morning from tho north 70 max our re.idencA
10 London, We took our passage IN ono oT
the Scosch smacka from Leith, and, wishing
10 settle down Immediately ON our arrival la
tho great metropolis, We took our servants
and our furniture along with us. Contrary
winds detained uB long upon our passage.-
Although a nero child at the time well re-
member one eventful morning when, to our
horror and alarm, q French man-o(- war was
seen looming on the distant horizon, and eyi-
IDENTITY bohring down on us. A calm had set
tied on the sea, aud we made but little way,
aud nj last we saw two boats lowered from the
Frenchman's deck and speedily neariug rs.
This occurred shortly After the famous and
heroic resistance made successfully by tho
crow Of ono Of the vessels in the same trade
to French privateer With this glorioub
precedent before our minds both passengers
and crew were disposed to make no tame re-
sistance. Our guns were loaded 70 the muE-
sic, and every sailor was barred for action
Old cuilasscs aud rusty guns werc handed
round about, and piled upon deck Truly
We wcro n motley crew, moro like a savage
armament oflAwless Buccaneers than blood
less deniEens Of peace But, happily, these
warliko preparations were needless, for y
breeze sprung up, and, though we were prct-
~ nuartiy etNscd, thc fl4voring gAicsoon bore
ms far from danger, and eventually waited W
in safety to our destined port
My mother was somewhat struck, during
the period Of our short alarm, by the fearless
aud heroic bearing Of our servant Jane. A
deeper feeling seemed to pervNdo her mind
than eomaon Rntipathy 10 che common f6c.--
In fact, at various times during her previous
service, when any events connected with the
French war formed, as they ever did, the all
engrossing subject OF discourse, Jane cvincod
az interest in thc theme equaIlcd only by the
intense hatred towards that nation which she
now displhyeh On the present occasion, the
appearance of the foe awakened in her bosom
n -thouraud siumbyTiUg hut bitter reUUttUt'.
tons Of Geep domestic tragedy connected
with herself; and so far from showing the
natural timdity other sex, she even cndcav-
ored 60 assist ~ tlre Arrangements of our faaF-
dcrous preparations. Even shade Of regret
appeared upon her face, ms we bounded over
the sparkling waves, when our tardy foe
seemed but n speck upon the distant sea-
Daring the remainder Of our VOYAGE she sank
into dreamy melancholy With her head
almost continually resting on the hulwarks
Of the ship, she gnzcl upon the clear blue
depths below; and, had We watched hcr close
ly, we might, perhaps, have seen some Of the
ronnd tear-drops which gathered on her eve
hds, and fell, silently, TO minglc with the
waves. But we needed not.
She wns singular girl. and seemed evi-
IDENTIFY superior To her present station; vet
she toicd on with the. drudrcry Of the house
lEtcss and indifferent, but always usefully
engaged. My mother was not altogether sat
is6ed with hGr work, but still found difficulty
in blaming her. She seemed to dream through
her whole duty, as II her whole mind was
wrapt in some strange tsncics, while her hands
mechanically did her task. At last, after long
solicita,ion,she explained the mystery by tell
ing us her story. ..I1.
We must throw our story back some twcn.
ty years. Her family, at that time, occupied
a respectable, ifnot wealthy position in our
northern metropolis. Her father was en6ag-
ed in a lucrative business, had been married
about six years, and was the father Of four
children. His youngest daughter had bcen
born about three months previous to this Pc
riod Of our tale. She was n singularly lovely
child. A sister of his wife's, who had made
wealthy marriage with an oilicor in theFrench
army, was at this time on short visit to the
land Of her birth. Madame de BourblAnc
was childless, and her heart was yearning fcr
those blessings 6f maternal love Which Provi-
dcnce denied her. She was unhappy. No
wonder-for her home in sunny France was.
desoiate.
A little while soon passed away. Mrs viii
son and sister were seated at the parlor fire
one cold November hight--the one coutem-
plating the blessings she possessed, the other
brooding on her Car different lot. The chill
dpeh prattled merrily beside them, and wait.
ed only for their fathers evening kiss, before
they went TO childhood's innocent sleep. But
their father came not His usual time had
long since passed, and his wife betrayed some
symptoms of uncasiness Of the unwontcd do
lay. At last they heard hurried knock and
Mr. Wilson entered the apartment. There
weEe traces of anxiety and gr;ef UPON his
couutcuance, but, as no spoke not ofahe caus-
es his wife forborcl inquiries in the presence
other sisteF But Mr. Wilson was extremely
unsooial-Hay, even harsh aud, when his
wife held out her babe. and tho unconscious
iufaut svomod to put upits little lips for its
evening kiss, he pushed tho child aside, and
something AudibIy about the curyco
of married life. and tho inconvenience and |