Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-03-08
0rfginaI stOrg.
N~0-Nooo~o-0-o~o-o~o-o0o oOouo-oOo-o-ouo-00.o.o.~
Write" for the Spirit Of the Age.
j ACQUE ES ST. CLAIR:
A TALE OF LAND AND SEA.
IcoPY-RIGHT SECURED
BY WILL: WILLoWILL.
CHAPTER XXI.
lcoPY-RIGHT SECURED. I

CHAPTER XXI.
me Fort OF R--r--abductton Of the tacins-
Don Martin VegGl cursed by the drunken
father.
About year after the events recorded
IN our last chapter, stranger In R-x
stood on the crowded wharf ready to en-
bark in vessel bound for Havana. He
was an elderly gentleman with frank, open
countenance, and his department and hi gh-
bred bearing commanded the respect and
admiration of those around him.
The harbor was crowded with the vessels
ofall nations and the tall mast and rigging
looked, in the distance, like an old forest on
which the breath of a long winter had been
fercely breathed. Noise and confusion
reigned on the wharf and busy hands
on the moored vessels. Drays and carts
were crowded together on the wharf, busy
in the receiptand delivery of parcels Grown
men, trading women and little children were
mingled together in that confused mass of
human beings, and the stranger stood upo-
the wharf contemplating the scene before
him.
That stranger was the wealthy Mr.. Gran
don of Havana. As he stood there two lit
tie boys, apparently about five years of age,
on whose young faces were written in un-
mistakable characters the evidences ofyouth-
full depravity, approached him and begged
the gift of a penny. Turning to the cap
tain of the vessel in which he was to sail in
a few minutes, he asked him if he knew any
thing of the little boys before him. He was
answered in the negative by the master of
the vessel.
Whose children are you?' said Mr..
Grandon to them
Nobody's,' was the abrupt reply.
Who is your father then p
We have no daddy; he is drunkard.'
Don't you love your mother 2
No; nam is a drunkard too and beats
US with big sticks
What is your fathers name, my lads
Jacky St. Clair, if you must know
And your mothers name?'
/ Don't know dad calls her Ag some
\ :; ;.aAAF "a; ve;AfAl II
YOU like to 90 home with me and have
plenty to eat and to wear 2
you wouldn't burn up our little sister
if we had one would you, Sir?
mo indeed that would be cruel Would
you like to 60 and ride with me over the
great sea in that big ship to my home where
the palm tree shades the grass and where
the orange blossoms make nice ripe oran-
ges?'
90! yes, if you would give us some clothes
and take u.s.
'What would your father say, my lads 2
COT he's a drunkard and don't know
anything.
Your mother would be very sorry
mo, Sir; she is drunkard too, and VIZ
- are afraid of her.
well, you SHALL 60, my boys
Bless you, good Sir, md won't you b
. a father to us; we never had one yet
sO!yes. What are your names?
He is Louis, and I'm Jerome, an
er they scampered around the feet of the gen
le, tleman.
Mr.. Grandon engaged passage for tn
IN two boys and went and bought clothes fc
- them, and after he had them washed the
= looked really decent.
ell Before leaving the Port he addressed a
le. ANONYMOUS letter to St. Clair in the folloy
ing words:
100 Mr.. JACQUES ST. CLAIR Sir, yol
ish boys are safe; they have been taken fro
YOU by one more capable of rearing the
wn for lives of usefulness than he who bea
nc the name of father to them. Pray gi
n, ma yourself no uneasiness Of mind respectil
= 'tb them; for they shall be well cared for al
= prepared for life. You will probably u
. it see them again until they have reached t
wears of manhood-probably never.
Respectfully, Don MARTIN VEGAL.
.old This note came to St. Clair's hands f
and days after it was written, when he and 4
not mes had began to feel uneasiness at
i as nonappearance of their boys, and to ma
you you some enquiry for them among their nei
,oot bors.
J6ov -hev Curses on Don Martin Vegal excla
ess- ed Jacques after reading the note, 'wh
have this Don Martin Vegal that he should 81
,har- off my boysT
IS in He swore it was larceny and turning
plan, his wife he said:
ooen @ You see Aggy we are ruined now ::
~ neSs. tie Ada is gone the Superintendent at
rs Cotton Mill won't let us have Mart
ess is wages any more; and now the boys
t, be- stolen, who were just beglnnlng 10 De
with. full. Who will beg for us now, Aggy
It not The pennies they got that way bought
gin. Curses on this Don Martin Veg
.r;can [ could rip him Bring the gin-bottle
lpico, Aggy.'
'P,I, Pu;th And they sat over it in their lonely
;nac;. and drank gin to forget their life ant
is for ses.
|, I Ion. on They slept, and Jacques muttered 9
! 10 the loss of his little beggar boys, an
raise Sc his sleep cursed Don Martin Vegal.
- CHAPTER XXXIL.
= horo The Uoyage Out-an Episode.
!, ~ "S 10 The boys were pleased with their ri
n0 0' the sea. The Southern ocean deve
beauties and novelties their young I
...o.o had never fancied, and day after day
1ao" ase' oe became more joyous at the glowing pi
iaoI - rolling before them and more attacl