The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-09-24
But why wait? uave not enough 2"

profitlcss passion which puts aside all other
considerations. We must love for eternity,
and SO our love must he free. Wait. l
am going 10 work. Aye-upon the sea TO
work."
"But why upon the sea? Why away
where my poor heart must beat in anxious
hope and doubt as it follows thee?"
"Because l cannot remain here. Hum
dreds Of poor fools have imagined that
Stunned them because was proud. They
knew not that it was the tainted atmos-
phcre of their moral life that I shunncd.-
They gloat over my misfortune. Men may
call me foolish ;Lut it would kill me to stay
here"
"Alas must it bc? g.
i" 1t must. You will wait 2"
81 will wait even to the gates of tie
tomb !"
"Then Heaven bless and preserve you ~
The ruined youth was upon the ocean-
his voyage commenced-his duties as la
borer for his own daily bread all fairly as
sumcd. Ah! it was a strange life for him
to enter upon. From the ownership of i'm
mersc wealth to the trade books of = mer-
| chant ship, was a transition indeed But,
ere he went OH deck again, lie had fairly
resolved that he would dn his duty, come
what would, short of death. lie would
forget that lie ever did else but work for
his livelihood. With these resolves, clear
ly defined in his mind, lie already felt bet.
ter.
AT iirst our sapcrcargo was too weak to
do much. lie was very sea-sick, and it
lasted nearly two weeks; but when that
passed off, and he could pace the vibrating
deck with stout stomach, lis appetite
grew sharp, and his muscles began to grow
strong. At first his appetite eraved some
of the many dclicacies he had, and lie very
soon learned to do without them. The re
suit was, that his appetite became natural
i'll its wants; and his system began to find
itself nourished by simple food, and in
proper quantities.
For years he had looked upon breakfast
rs meal Which must be set out and par
taken of from mere fashion. A cup of
coffee, and perhaps piece Of dry toast, or
some seasoned and higl,y-spiccd ,idbit, had
constituted the morning meal. But now,
when the breakfast hour came, he approach
ed it with keen appetite, and felt as
strong and as hearty as at any time of the
day.
BY degrees the hollow cheeks became
full; the dark eyes assumed new lus,re: the
color rich and hcalthful came to the face
the breast swcllcd with increasing power;
the lungs expanded and grew strong the
muscles became more firm and true the
nerves grew calm and steady and the gar.
ments which he had worn when lie came
on board lad to be let out some inches in
order to make them encompass lis person.
His disposition became cheerful and bright,
and by the time the ship had reached the
southern cape of Africa the crew had all
learned to love him.
Through storm and sunshine; through
tempest and calm; through dark hours and
bright, the young supercargo made his voy-
age. In one year from the day on whicl,
he left his native land lie placed his foot
again upon the soil of his home. But he
did not stop. The same ship, with the
same officers, was going upon the same
cruise again; and lie meant to 60 in her.
He saw Mary Wilton, and she would wait.
Lie saw DIR. Allyne, and the kind old gen.
tleman praised him for his manly indepcn.
dcnce.
Again George Ballerton was upon tho
sea; and again he assumed the duties of
his office, and even more. lie stood watch
when there was no need Of it, and during
seasons Of storm he claimed post on
deck
At the end Of another year the young man
returned to his home again. lie was now
eight and twenty, and few who knew him
two years before, could recognize him now.
His face was bronzed by exposure, his
cheeks full and plump, lis frame stout and
strong, and erect like forest Chief. His
muscular system was nobly developed, and
the men were few who could stand before
him i'll trials Of physical strength. When
he first left the city, two years before, he
had weighed just one hundred and thirty
pounds averdupois. lie now brought up
the beam fairly at one hundred and seven
ty-six! Surely lie was new man in every
respect.
On the afternoon of tue third day, as he
entered his hotel, one Of the walters handed
him a letter. He opened it, and found i. to
be from Mr.. Wilton. It WAS request that
lie would be at the merchants house at nine
o'clock that evening.