The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-08-11

OVtU0s C5b VIM nuIuO yUu V0uTs
"Men call mo Adam Writ" replied the
old man half recoiling from the touch that
rested upon him.
"Great God, my father! broke from the
pirate captains lips, and he would have
fallen upon the old mans bosom had he
not put forth his hands as If to keep him of.
"IAy Father!" repeated old Writ, NOV.
ing back from where he stood. "No, no,
! am not thy father. o! God! once thou
mightest have been my boy; once gazed
with parents pride upon your features
and once called thee son! But-O heav.
ems! is this dreaml My boy pirate.
"Father." still urged the pirate, follow.
ing with slow step the old mans back.
ward movement, "own me as thy son, and
thou shall
"No! away thou blood thirsty man!
know thee not. o Godl and is it thus
find my boyl"
"Listen to me one moment, my father"
exclaimed the pirate chief, in tone and
manner little in keeping with his vocation.
"These hands are not stained with one drop
Of blood; and save where the flag Of proud
Englsnd has waved, | have not till the
present time in,ruded upon any other deck
than my own. But now. though have
gold in my lockers. | am in want Of bread;
yet will leave thee and 60 in peace.
You shall receive no further trouble from
me-"
The old man covered his face with his
hands. and the deepest agony dwelt in his
bosom; and while he thus stood, the pirate
captain ordered his men to return to their
own vessel. The gentle youth, who had
followed his chief on board the brig, at this
moment approached the spot where Adam
Writ stood, and clasping both the old
mans hands in his own he said:
30, kind sir, if you are that mans faith.
er, speak to him one kind word! Smile
upon him. and own him as your son.
One word from you may reclaim him from
all his errors"
"Boy," uttered the old man, as he gazed
upon the pure and heavenly features that
were turned so earnestly toward, him "you
know not what you ask. have left my
home in search for my son, but such as |
find him | will never own him. Back
again will 60. and alone will travel my
weary way through liie."
10, sir, think once morer' urged the
youth. seeming to hang his every hope
upon the result OF his plea. "One fond
greeting from his father may yet reclaim
him. Speak it; O speak it!''
"Never, never!'' uttered Adam Writ, as
he pushed the suppliant from him.
"Then the duty must still rest with me"
sadly murmured the youth as he turned
away from the spot. "The father may
cast him off. but cannot"
Frank" al this moment exclaimed the
pirate captain. "come here. The crap.
pings are already cast off. and we must
haste away. Not thing here have mo.
Tested and shall leave with lighter heart.
Come"
As the pirate chieAan spoke, the youth
followed him quickly on board the schoon.
or, and in few moments afterwards, the
brig was again on her way, unmolested.
Old Adam Writ returned to his home
in Boston, but that homo was darker and
more gloomy than ever He had left it in
search Of his son-he had found that son;
but he had left him the chief in command
beneath arover's flag. But gradually like
some dim spirit arising from the cloudy
mists of conscience, arose the earnest ap.
peals of that son, and also the prayers of
that gentle youth who had urged fathers
pardon for him. As these thoughts crowd.
ed themselves upon the old mans mind,
he could not but feel that he might have
saved his boy. The continued memory
Of the scene on the deck Of that brig soften.
ed his heart, but the feeling only made
him more miserable.
The morning Of the twenty eighth of
August, 1919, dawnsd upon the city OF
Boston. and ere the sun went down on that
day. ten thousand hearts were filed with
joy and national pride. On tha. msmora.
BILE day the United States irigate Constitu.
ton. under the command of the brave Hull,
entered the harbor Of Boston, after her
glorious victory over tho bullying frigate
Guerriere. The wharves and adjacent
streets were crowded with the enthusiastic
people, and as the battle SCARED heroes
walked up from tho landing. they were
everywhere hailed with the loudest accla.
nations Of thanks and joy.
Not far from the landing, to which the
first boat from the victorious frigate was
hauled up, stood old Adam Writ. He had
heard Of the ships arrival, and, with his
American heart overrunning with patriotic
impulses, he had dragged his feeble steps
down to the water to bestow his need Of
praise upon his country's heroes. One
after another Of the officers passed by; and
while old Adam was swinging his hat in
the air. he felt . light touch upon his arm;
and ~ he turned his eye rested upon the
form ofthe fair youth ofihs pirate schooner.
sHal what wouldst thou with met" ut.
tered the old man slightly trembling .. the
memory thus started up. l3 7lesA
q