The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-01-15

Sound, Che had but one other, beside his Bible
and Almanac, the Account of Remarkable Ship
wrecks,) and refresh his memory with regard
to their peculiar habits.
can see him now, as he read the titlepage,
slowly pointing with has forefnger along the
lines, and the expression of honest confidence
and satisfaction that glanced upon his face, and
made itself felt in his tones, when he came to
the couplet which served for motto
Dire scenes of horror on savage shore,
OF which, a witness sad, part bore"
"That's truth, every word ont, for Pve been
there myself, an know all about it; an what's
more, I've seen the man myself, an bought the
book Of him. If you are goin' ter buy books,
brides, it is good plan to buy those as you
knows to be true" 4
And then, perchance, to our great delight, he
would finish, by giving us, in a voice as hoarse
as the winds Of that region, song, purporting
to be an authentic account of the dreadful mas
sacre perpetrated by those savages,
"on board the North America, at anchor as she lay
In Queen Charlotte 5 iarbor Nor west America"
have heard some famous voices since.
do not know why t,Is mind snoutu siti.lt. en-
any particular hours in the past, when all alike
were equally happy, but, in all the after years
this day always stood out brightest in my mem
ory-Uncle Steve and myself in front of the
open shed door, and little Ad'line upon the
bank above, her light locks floating in the
breeze, laughing so gleefuly whenever one O.
her light missiles rolled close to our feet Was
it because was to see her lie there one day SC
still, so very still, when even her light hair did
not stir to the breeze, and there was no laugh
ter-not even words -only low, hushed sob
blng, to mingle with the solemn murmur Of the
pines But | must not anticipate
Sn.fa e Dill .. r.
off to the reef with Uncle Steve, to look after
the lobster.pots, or to throw our lines among
the islands, for the white nosed rockfsh which
frequented those places. Ad'line and had
our hooks and lines all in scientific order. the
long ones for the deep water. the shorter ones
attached to poles, for fishing from the rocks
and no mother ever threaded needles for her
little daughters with more unwearied patience
than would Uncle Steve diSentangle our lines
from rock or seaweed, and put on the oft.miss.
ing bait. We had only one Injunction from
him-not to talk" Talkin' scarf the fish -
When we grew uneasy under this rule, he would
bid US run to the other end of the island, and
=" slacken our tongues Bit" or leave US rock
ing IN the boat awhile, after satisfying himself
that it was safely moored.
On one such occasion, bound his heart to
me forever, even if my friendliness had not
done that before. He was only few feet from
US, on the opposite side ofthe rocky point, where
we sat rocking in the boat as usual when little
Ad,line, reaching suddenly out to grasp a lock
OF floating seaweed, lost her balance. and went
over into the sea. | do not think she would
have drowned; the boat was so near, she must
have caught 1t as she came up; but |, who could
swim like duck, thanks to my experiments
in the pond, was over after her in a second.
and | had one arm abOut her and One on III q
edge of the boat, when Uncle Steve appeared
on the rocks above. He dropped his pole. and
the great, smooth, white-no fish. dangling
at the end of the line, in triumph slipped back
to It's native element, dragging the tackle after
it, while Uncle Steve sprang to nv aid.
He drew US into the boat, and, taking us both
IN his arms, carried US up the rocks, without a
word. Then, he held US close to his breast.
and laid his hands upon my head, while he
choked and choked, as if something stuck in
his throat and finally turned his head a%ay in
silence, but not before Fsaw two great tears
standing in his eyes.
vas never towr poor there; /. was .'sLlack.
hne herself, only, II cncTe 5retr ga ,Gttls Ad,:
kiss on going to bed, she would run back
for second; or if had two, she would claim
three and yet there was no selfshness about it,
only, as Uncle Steve whispered, in half way
apologize tone
" Shed alters been such little tender bird,
and needed broodin' so much +" and though,
by that very remark, he showed that he felt the
essential difference between us-that she was
to be petted and brooded, while must make
my own way in the world-he never allowed it
to influence him further and if we had been
birds, he could not have been tenderer with us,
or more thoughtful Of orr vents.