The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-04-23


The traveller, in making the tour Of
New England, as he journeys along
through that clustering range Of smiling
villages, which, like a starry belt Of the
heavens. stretches rom her rcoplcd
coasts, extending back many miles in.
land one way. and in an almost unbrok u
chain the other. from the Perobscot to
the Hudson, will often find his attention
attracted by some beautiful residence.
standing perhaps, aloof from all others.
on conspicuous elevation. or some eli
gible spot, and so far ou shining them in
the air of wealth, taste and comfort that
seems to surround it, as generally to OK.
cite the curious desire to know some.
thing Of the character ans fortune Of the
owner, at least. of so imposing an cstlb.
lishment Aud scarcely less often will
he find on inquiry, that it is, or has been
the residence of retired sea captain. who
Lavine made a fortune by professional
services and trade on the rorilous dccp.
Las como here TO spend ard cui.y it.
with the remainder of his days, in TIE
comparatively Tranquil scenes of village
life. Well, who is better entitled to en-
joy the fortune he has made, both on &C
count of the tolls, responsibilities aud
dangers he has passed through in accn.
mulatng it, and the bor deserts of his
character, than is generally tho sea cap.
tain For we do not bcliove.-and we
do not speak without son cvhat extend.
ed quaiutance,- we do not believe hat
a worthier class Of men can lie found IA
class of men who possess, as n body.
more of the substantial virtues } who are
more uuinfluenced in their acts BY the
sordid calculations of self, or who are
more alive to the calls Of humanity.
when they take their stand in society.
than that of the masters Of all tho high
er grades Of our mercantile vessels Nor
is it very strange that they are 50 they
have been schooled to life cf import
ant trusts and responsibilities in which
strict integrity and correct habits are
made tue test Of sueccss.-Nhile Tie
scenes of trial and danger they So fire..
quently experience have tended to teach
them their dependauco on Providence,
and make them feel for the wants and
suiferipgs of their follow men.
We once had the pleasure Of forming
an acquaintance with Gentleman of this
class whom we found in the cnviablc
situation above described, and whose 70.
mantle and singulary good fortune
seemingly the natural result, in his situ-
alton, Of n trustworthy and benevolent
chnracter,-would well variant an en-.
Iargcment into a volume. instead Of the
brief and simple narration in Which we
propose to give them.
Captain Lotion was cmphatcally the
architect Of his own fortune. Losing
his last remaining parcut at the age of
sixteen, and being thus thrown entirely
On his own respol sihiliti.s he left his
native place, one of the interior towns
OF Massachusetts,, and. without a friend
to recommend or introduce him, without
money, except few dollars earucd for
the premeditated journey, and with no
other than common school education,
confidently set out on foot and alone for
Boston, resolved on orgaging in sea.
farlng life, He was not long, on reach
ing that place, in finding a situation in a
merchant vessel, aud lie unhesiiatingly
entered as raw hand at the wages the
owner was pleased to offer him. His
first spare dollar was laid out for work
on navigation, and SO intcntly did he ap-
ply himself to study, while becoming ac,
quainted with the practical part of his
profession. aud so rapidly did he win the
confidence of all by whom he was known
that at eighteen he was mate, and at
nineteen the master Of vessel trading
between Boston and Havana. at which
last mentioned place his good conduct,
together with his prepos'essing exterior
and youthtulness, attracted much atten-
iion. and gained for him the appelation
of the " handsome and lrusiy Yaukeo
boy captain"
One day in the early part of his car
Ger as commander, as he was walking the
streets OF that great emporium OF the
Vest Indies, from which his vessel was