The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1855-07-27

ing. I will not attempt to describe the
scene. The mother had mourned her child
as dead, and knew not till the day previous
that such was not the case. Now she be.
held her, and exclaimed: This nv child
was dead and is alive again p
A few evenings later and you might have
seen happy group in that parlor, where
sadness so long had reigned. / was apaiu
with them. Mr.. Metcalf sat in his easy
chair Mrs. Metcalf and Mary sat opposite
on a lounge and William at her side, eager.
to catch every sound of her voice. AT
length she turned suddenly to him, and ask
ed:
Will you not tell us now the story of
euiferlngs, when we thought you were sepa-
ted from us foreverq have long wished to
know, but till now have not dared trust my
self to ask
An unbidden tear moistened every eve
as William briefly told his story. 1t ran
thus:
Five years ago, as you well remembered,
our ship left its mooring bearing me on
proposed voyage to Europe, that might, if
possible, regain my health, which had be-
come somewhat impaired by too close appli-
cation to study. Itried to feel cheerful, but
dark cloud hung over me. / had not suf
tered, as many do, from that horrible sea-
sickness which so often DESTROYS the plea.
sure of sea voyage, and was hoping, in a
few days more, to welcome the shores of En-
gland,wh a cry was heard that sent panp
through every heart.
1t was at midnight, and the cry was loud
and shrill: Fire, fire, fire 7 In moment eve
ry man was reused, and all that human pow.
er could do was fruitless, towards saving the
ship. 10 save life was now the only thought.
The boats were lowered and filed as RAPIDLY
as possible, but some were burned, so as to
be unsafe all could not be saved, If saved.
indeed, any might be in that way, and l.
with many others, remained on deck, till the
last boat left the wreck, and then fastening
myself to spar, launched forth on the open
sea, trusting alone to the mercy of Him who
holdeth the waters in the hollow of his hand.
Ask me not to describe the awful horrors OF
that night; fain would blot them from the
tablet Of my memory, and the shrieks and
groans of those that were engufed, as that
burning wreck went down, still ring in my ears.
Q, ,merciful Heaven, spare me the rembrance
ofthe fate of many of my companions, / have
never learned; but with the dawn of the
morning beheld distant SAIL It was
outward bound ] was discovered by them, ia
ken on board, and treated with all the kind
ness could have asked, but must be borne
long way from home, unless We should
chance to meet some vessel homeward
bound.
Canton was the port for which they were
destined, and l must submit. After sailing
two months, we hailed merchant ship on
its return to Liverpool; they willingly received
me on beard, and, to my great joy, now
felt that my face was once more turned to-
wards home.
Our voyage was prosperous, and iii little
more than two months we landed safely in
Liverpool. / waited not for rest, but that
night mailed the first letter to my dear
Mary, since leaving the shores of Boston.
IL told all that aoords could tell, and the
| hope that the next steamer would bear me
again to my native shores. That letter
your parents received, When / returned
You were not here, and all was blank. felt,
for time, that life was wearisome to me,
and almost wished had never known your
parente' grief.
But noD, my own Mary, now that we are
ah hapPy together hBain, iet US sing one OF
our songs, as in days long past, before we
separat for the night
Reader ] will now tell you all that was
known Of Mary, after William sailed, until
the time our simple story commences.
An only child, tho idol Of her parents
she was the light and JOY of home, and their
fear Of the dangers of the voyage was the
only obstacle in the way of her being mar
Tied aid accompanying her husband 10 Eu-
rope. He left, and she thought of the long
months before he would return (; but one
year was the promised time. How little we
know or can dream Of the future!
The first tidings they received was of the
total loss Of the ship, as we have already
been told, and that many lives were lost A
list of the names of those saved, as far as
could be ascertained, was given, but the
name Of William Molly was not among
them. Mary had been unusually cheerful a
few days before the arrival of this sad intel
ligence, as was almost honrly expecting the
promised and much wished for letter. y
The steamer came, but the letter came
not. What could it mean And when by
the early dispatches in the papers, she read
the awful tidmgs, sank into an insensible
state, in which she remained for several