The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-01-21
An Ancient Mariners First Love

| Sir John Ross, the Well-known navigator, i
dead. He lived to be nearly eighty years O
age; and within the last FIVE months Iheard hin
tell the story of his first love- Thus it came
about. We were wont to meet him at the house
of a mutual friend, where he was always vel
come guest came and went as he listed, anc
had his hammock swung in a chamber where
the temperature suited him best; for he loved {
cold, clear atmosphere. In word, he was the
centre of as charming household group as shall
be seen any day yin the great metropolis. Bloom
ing faces shone upon him, merry songs greet
ed him as he took his place beside the CHEEKY
hearth in those cold evenings in spring One
bright-haired creature with rosy lips claimed
him ever as her own, seated him beside her on
the velvet couch, called him her ''dear boy"
which delighted the ancient mariner beyond all
things, and at last drew from him the tale re-
ferred to. g -,-..a..
had been reminding him of a very old friend
now dead. and of whom he heard nothing for
many years. AS [ spoke, tide of early re-
collections swept up and filed the old man S eyes
with tears. s'Ah!'' said he, she was very
kind friend to me; we had been schoolmates,
and then we wentto sea together; after while
we parted, and entered the royal navy; when
l next saw o., was commander on board
the -. He was on the quay at Greenock
when l sailed in, and little thought that the YES
sci carrying royal pennant was commanded
by Johnnie Ross. | landed and went up to him
with man who knew us both.
"O-,' said the latter, "do you remem-
Der little Johnny Ross?" aH'' .... NJ
81. WELL" answered o., ssand precious
little scamp he was ..
''On this observed sir John, "we shook
hands, and renewed our acquaintance, and had
reason to be glad of it; for,'' he repeated,
Co was very kind to me-. ~
,.= ''Now about Margaret" said the bonny crea
ture beside him. ...-.
'Ah! she was a bonny girl! When l first
knew hers was ten, and about twelve years
old We used to walk home together from the
school, and at first were very happy; but before
long the children began to watch us, and we
were obliged TO make signs to one another about
meeting. mind well how shamefaced we were
when the others caught us making signals be-
fore breaking up; and one day the master saw
US, and it was on that occasion Margaret show
ed such spirit and courage as made me never
forget her. -.u ~ -f-
Il had got out of school," he continued, after
a short pause, land was waiting for her, never
needing the children laughing at me, as stood
watching for the sight of her bonny face for she
was very fair | can by no means describe
the pathos of the old mans tone as he said this
'When | began to think she was in trouble,
and kept in,'' Ibid myself till the place was
clear of other folks, and then I crept around,
and locked in at the window of side room
where scholars in disgrace were put sometimes
Poor Margaret was indeed there, sitting upon
box, very forlorn, and crying bitterly. She
frightened up at seeing my face in the window
pane, agd smiled whensI told her had been
waiting torher. Then declared would be re-
venged on our hard master, and went at once
TO the school room to carry out my plan; this
was easy, for there was no one there.
Just over the masters desk was shelf on
which stood a large ink, bottle, and near to this
again was the hat with which the dominic al
ways crowned himself when he assumed the
seat of authority. | mounted the desk, took
piece of string from my pocket, tied the ink Jar
and hat together; then, descending from my
perch, left the room and ran around again to
the side window to prepare Margaret for the
result of my device. Then ran home to din
ner, and returned to school in the afternoon
Il was late. All the children were in the
room; and at the masters desk stood Marga-
ret, with scarlet checks and triumphant eyes,
just receiving the last blow of the leather strap
on heropen hand The punishment of my mis-
chievous revenge had been visited upon her.
Streams of ink discolored the masters face, and
books and desk, on which last lay the broken
ink jar, were saturated with it. The master
himself was furious, and the more SO that Mar
garet had borne the infcton like a heroine, in
perfect silence, resoIutely refusing to give up
the name of the delinquent, whose accomplice
she was accused of being. She looked at me as
she moved defantly away, and the expression
of her eye warned me not to speak. 1t was in
deed too late. | hurried from the room before
was observed; Margaret walked proudly after
me; and for the last time we took our way home
together from the SCHOOL,
| cannot do justice to the story as told by the
old navig gator. Nearly seventy years had pass
ed away, and yet the memory Of his child love
was still the green spot in his heart. The pa
thos, too. was enhanced by the Scottish accent,
which dignihed, so to speak, little history, that
finely illustrates the exquisite poem, JEANNE
Morrison:
I've wandered east, I've wandered west,
I've borne weary lot; y -'.
But in my wanderngs, far, near, a. .!.E
1e never Were forgot. 81, .---4 4 -. .- .,..
The fount that first burst from this heart .
Still travels on its way;
And channels deeper as if rims '- u '#'l~
- The love O. LIES young day 5+ q
He said allths, and more than can do JUS
tice to. The whole picture of the twa BARNS
''twa BARNS and but oe heart''- before me,
as, blushlng, frightened, and silent, they 'cleek-
ed thegither hano'' after school. 7 '"<
Twas then we luvit each ther WELL - --+'
Twas then we twa did part; "- "'.. S
Sweet times, sad times, twa BARNS at sehule 60
Twa BARNS and but ae heart F.. ,.-r....
: .. =
wonder Jeannie, afen yet
When sitting an that blink,
Cheek touching check, loof locked in loot,
What wee hearts could think
Oh, mind We how we hung our heads,
Our cheeks burnt red WI shame v>+''@ @t5
.Whcne'er the schule weans laughing said 7yIg
r. We clicked thegither hame! t H.. ,s n- ,.4 |
saw thir twa BARNS with their heads, bent
o'erae braid page, with one book between them,
;he girl intent upon the lesson, the boys lesson
n that fair chlld's eyes ..0'z shls@.. -a