Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-03-08

them from the rays of tropical sun, they
were happy; and when they were seated
at the sumptuous feasting table of the rich
man they remembered the old rat infested
hut in R-x, its rags its filth and its
drunken inmates, tears filled their eyes and
they wept with grateful hearts that their
lot in life was changed.
The foster children were put under the
tuition of an accomplished English scholar
and here they made rapid progress in the
science of letters. Their young minds de-
veloped-expanded and thus we record
them an episode at the fifteenth year of
their age =
Louis was dark haired, dark complex
ion, heavy built, athletic, impetuous fell
low--nobleminded and generous to his
friends and quick to resent an injury. His
features were of peculiar French caste, rath-
er too coarse and rigid to be conceded
strlkingly handsome, yet his smile when it
played on his face was such as one must
fall IN love with when he sees its like. It
was not often that he spoke of his parents
either to his brother or to Mr. Grandon, but
when he did tear would dim the bright
ness of his eye and steal its way over his
cheek. He seemed to live in constant
dread that his father would learn of his re-
treat in the Isles of the South and seek him
out again. He manifested desire to learn
the condition of his parents but he would
not consent that Mr. Grandon should in
stltute any enquiries for the qualification of
his wish. He was abundantly gifted in the
use OF language, and it was thrilling to hear
the lnvective he sometimes hurled against
the sin of drunkenness, as, in burning words.
he expressed his horror of the vice and the
calamities it had visited upon his parents.
There was one trait in the character of
this boy that gave Mr. Grandon some fears.
as from day to day it became more and an
parent. This he strove to change and to
divert from its original channel; otherwise
he was exceptional. His affections were
linked to the good, his principles aspiring
--clinging to the lofty, his morals without
blemlsh, his heart abounding with gen
erosity, and an active desire to re lieve
the wants of the destitute and friendless
but one principle there was that seemed
entwined in every lineament of his being
an enerqised attar.hsnAnt---- l------f The av
ftp hg 81 aRa 5Sm5R ha5ara}R a}Rg g9a add hs hba0K 81 the
spirit it-stirring-almost the marvelous.-
While he was child he enjoyed a ride on
wild and reckless mule or a charger, to
climb branchless palm tree to a dizzy
height was a triumph when mere lad,
and when he had reached the year of which
we now write one all absorbing idea filed
his mind. and that was to ride on the same
sea over whose bosom he had sailed to Ha-
vana, and be sailor like the brave lads he
saw perched in the rigging singing Of the
winds and the waves.
Mr.. Grandon labored against this incli-
nation Of his foster-son with all the persua-
sive powers he possessed. He drew graph
ic delineations Of the unutterable horrors
of sealife of the storms, the gales, the
lightnings, the thunders, the sailors oozy
grave, the winds and the waves. He gave
him books to read depicting the hardships
and privations to which the sea faring man
was subjected, the chilling blasts of on,
zone and the torrid heat of another, tn
severing of home ties and home .endear
ments, the dangers and terror of human
beings in the hour Of peril, and the slowl
consuming death of the starving ship
wrecked amid the watery waste; but tn
more arguments he used with the boy, tn
more glowing his pictures of the danger
the more confirmed was Louis that sue
was the choice life for him and the mor
determined was he to ride on the waves {
the deep blue sea.
Louis was not censurable in his cour'
though; he never few into passion and d
clared he would go in spite of Mr.. Gra
dons remonstrance, but he begged him
earnestly to give his consent and send hi
to the sea, that his wishes to the contra
were overcome and at last he gave his CO
sent to the qualification Of the boy.
He was now barely sixteen and n
Grandon tried to prevail upon him to
: main in Havana until he was at least nil
e teen before entering the service, but Lol
e was boy and looked upon time as do
/ the young; three years seemed to hin
life long age and weary In its measureme
/ while to Mr.. Grandon, whose locks W
IS white and who had seen days enough
al know that years fly on the swiftest Wi
and are gone ere you can realize their fie
to the idea of the brave boy leaving his
even in three years was mingled with n
IT Of anguish than pleasure or hope.
ne In a twelve month favorable oppo
as nity presented itself and at the restless
ire iety of Louis he was permitted to leave
Sc home with the blessing of the old man
- he commenced his career on his fave
'ur element, singing the songs of the sea a
= clambered among the rigging of a neatc
re, skimming the bosom Of the Southern DC
His twin brother must not be forgot
hut so. reader, make the acquaintance of
loS- JEROME.
He was not so stout and strong as
out is. His features partook more of the
IN enine caste than the heavy outlines Of
brother. His hair too was fairer an,
skin smoother. And then bis mind
different in an hundred ways; he wa
so impetuous, SO full of the wild, rec
on self Will that characterised Louis. II
pea pended more upon the advice of Mr..
ture don and looked to him to shape on
,ney course for future life. He vas even
ares oned handsome by the bellies of II;
d 10 and vas quite popular in the gay lev
this Southern City. He made raPi'