The weekly ledger., 1857-09-19


Are you sure | can get oue!"
eyes"
"And the salary?n
1.-TWO thousand dollarsn
Doctor Allyne, l will gol"
George Ballerton walked one evening to
the house of the wealthy merchant, Andrew
Wilton. 1t was palatial dwelling, and ma
ny hopeful, happy hour he had spent be-
meath its roof. He rang the bell, and was
admitted to the parlor In a few minutes
Mary Wilton entered. She was only TWEEN
ty. She had been waiting until that age to
be George Balertons wife.
Some words were spoken-many moments
of painful silence ensued.
"Mary-you know all am going upon
the sea. | am going to work for my living
| am going forth from my native land beg
gar. | cannot stay long now. Mary, did |
know you less than | door, knowing you
well, did ! know you as | know many-I
should give you back your vows, and free you
from all bondage. But | believe / should
trample upon your heart did do that thing
now. know your love is too pure and deep
to be torn from your bosom at will. So
say-wat! wait!"
"But why wait? Have | not enough?"
"-sh! You know not, again, what you
say There are other feelings in the human
heart besides love- That love is poor profit
less passion which puts aside all other consid-
erations. We must love for eternity; and so
our love must be free. Vat. | am going
at work. Aye, upon the sea--at workw
"But why upon the sea? Why away
where my poor heart must ever beat in anx-
ious hope and doubt as it follows thee"
Because cannot remain here. Hun
dreds of poor fools have imagined that |
Stunned them because they thought | was
proud They knew not that twas the tainted
atmosphere Of their moral life that ! Stunned
Now they gloat over my misfortune. Men
may call me foolish; but it would kill me to
stay here"
"Alas! must is be?"
at must. You will waltz"
81 will wait, even to the gates of the
tomb"
"'rhen Heaven bless and preserve youp
The ruined youth was upon the ocean
his voyage commenced-his duties as aborer
for his own daily bread all fairly assumed
All, it was a strange life for him to enter up
on From the ownership of immense wealth
to the tradebooks of merchant-shp was
transition indeed! But ere he went on deck
again he had resolved to do his duty, come
what would, short of DEATH He would for
get that he ever did else but work for his
livelihood. With these resolves clearly de-
fined in his mind, our young hero already felt
better.
Al first our supercargo was too weak TO do
much. He was very sea-sick, and it lasted
nearly two weeks; but when that passed off,
and he could pace the vibrating deck with a
stout stomach, his appetite grew sharp, and
his muscles began to grow strong. At first
his appetite crayed some of the many deliea-
ces he had been so long used to; but they
were not to be had, and he very soon learned
to do without them. The result was that his
appetite became natural in its wants; and his
system began to find itself nourishcd by sim
pie food, and in proper quantities.
For years he had looked upon breakfast as
a meal which must be set out and partaken
of from mere fashion. A cup of coffee and
perhaps piece of dry toast, or some season.
ed and highly spiced tidbit, had constituted
the morning meal. But now when the break
fast hour came he approached it with keen
appetite and felt as strong and hearty as at
any time of day.
BY degrees the hollow cheeks became full !;
the dark eye assumed new lustre; the color,
rich and healthful, came to the face; the
breast sweled with increasing power; the
lungs expanded and grew strong; the muscles
grew firm and true; the nerves grew calm
and steady; and the garments which he had
worn when he came on board had to be let
out some inches, in order to make them en-
compass his person.
His disposition became cheerful and bright;
aud by the time the ship had reached the
southern capes of Africa the crew had all
learned to love him.
Through storm and sunshine; through tenn
pest and calm; through dark hours and
bright, the young supereargo made his voy-
age. In one year from the day on which he
left his native land he placed his foot 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 he
meant to go in her. He saw Mary Wilton,
and she would ioait lie saw Dr. Alyne,
and the kind old gentleman praised him for
his manly independence.
Again George Balerton was upon the
sea; and again he assumed the duties of his
office, and even more. He 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
o:s.L. onl t,.anty ond fau, utho Lnn,,, hin, ,,,.