Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-11-04
DAILY EVENING STAR.
The MOONLIGHT VISION;
Or, Second Sight,

OrkneyS, and had made acquaintance
there with the captain of a small vessel
that traded constantly to a certain sea-
port town in Scotland. The mans name
was Campbell, tall; fine, stalwart fell
low. I seem to see him now, with his
Scotch bonnet, open face, and clear, in
telligcnt blue eyes. He, and indeed all
his family, were accounted Seers. This
is somewhat common in Scotland. 1t is
a gift that appears to be handed down
from father to son, and most reverently is
the power accorded to them held in esti-
nation. | used, sometimes, when gazing
on Campbells face, to fancy | could tell
when this spell of second sight was upon
him. He had eyes Of that deep and Pc
culiar blue which takes every shade from
the reflection of the moments feelings !;
and at times, when he was thoughtful,
could see a film steal across them, as
though their vision was directed inwards,
and for the time being all visible Sense
of the outward world lost to them.
never used to disturb him in these moods
In fact, had sort of reverence for
them-something of that hushed, still
feeling, which is, think, inspired by all
mysteries above our reach.
| knew, for he had told Inc so, that he
was engaged to merchants daughter in
the seaport town to which he was in the
habit of trading. 1t had been a long en-
gagemcnt; but now the period Of his pro-
baton was drawing to close, and after
his next cruise he was to return and mar
~ her. | knew from little things and
my own observation how much he was
attached to her-not from what he said, :,
for the Scotch are proud people, and not
fon,. of prOtestationS or outward demon
strations of affection, though you may
search wide in the world ere you find
truer lovers or more attached husbands
There was pride, however, in the whole
man when she was mentioned-a fearless
confidence, and an assured trust that
many noble lady might have been proud
of. have been told since that she was
very beautiful, and much devoted to him.
Certainly there must have been more than
a common attachment subsisting between
the two.
| have said that Campbell had to make
one more cruise before he returned to his
mistress. AS the voyage was longer than
usual, and over part of the seas | had
not before navigated, Twas not surprised at
his request that should accompany him.
We had beautiful weather for the Jour-
ncy-the whole crew appearing to rejoice
in their masters satisfaction, and - all
went merry as marriage bell" Still at
times there was namelcss depression
that appeared to sweep over Campbell; it
would come upon him in his brightest
moments, and check the light Jest just as
it tremhled on his tongue. Still [ saw
that he would not allow the feeling even
to himself, and that nothing annoyed him
more than to have it noticed by others,
and therefore my lips and those of the
crew were of course scaled on the subject.
[ was very fond at that time steering.
Under 'Cainpbell's experienced tuition, |
had become quite an adept in the science,
and now that we had studied charts and
consulted the compass till the whole
course of the vessel was clear to me as a
written book, he would sometimes put
her under my guidance for an indefinite
period. | used particularly to delight in
spending the night watches in this way.
The vessel having been put on her home
ward track, | used to try and surprise
Campbell by informing him what pro-
gross we had made during the night-not
but what lie always seemed to know it
by intuition. | used to wonder some
times if his second sight infested his
dreams, and if he really saw through
scaled eyellds the points we were passing.
Well, it was during one of those even
ings in which | had ttken my place at the
helm for the night, that was startled
about twelve o'clock by seeing Campbell
re-appear upon deck. We kept primitive
hours in the vessel, and all hands not
otherwise employed were in their bcrths
at ten, and all lights carefully extinguish-
ed; so that | had been for the last hour
or two left solelyto my own ruminations,
and had. | suppose, got quite lost in the
tide OF dreamy memories, for | remember
starting as though ghost fell across me
when this vision of my poor friend with
his white face and shaking frame thus
greeted me. He had come up without his
coat, and his whole appearance in the
moonlight was CHASTITY. 1t but needed a
glance to convince me that he was either
very ill or else sleep-walking-the mans
whole frame seemed to totter. Beckon-
ing hastily to one of the hands on deck
to take my place, | approached nearer to
him, and placing his arm within my own,
walked him up and down the deck. dis
coursing carelessly on things in general,
until | thus gave him time to recover
himself. | never saw person so agitated.
His lips moved convulsiyely, and his
limbs quiyered, whilst he gasped and
chokcd to giveutterance to the words that
yet failed him so completely.
BY degrees, however, he became more
composed, and so, leaning heavily on my
arm, | drew from him what had thus
disturbed him. 1t appears he had de-
scended to his berth at the usual time,
and had laid there day dreaming, as was
his custom, over his approaching happi-
ness. The moonlight had entered through
the berth, which was lighted from the
deck. and the waves just seemed to kiss
the sides of the vessel ; and altogether he
had fallen into one of these delicious
reveries that seem to give us foretaste
of paradise. Nothing, he said, of fear
had crossed his mind-only, as he mused,