Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-10-01
From the New York Ledgcr.l
sP ECIAL PROvInENCE.
BY sYLyANus 0oRR, JR.

east hotels. when the conversation turned
upon the subject of special proVidences.-
SIme were for. and some against the doc
Grine. An old man named Abner Brit
nell. who had come in the stage with Us,
and who listened TO the conversation FOR
some time, seemed to be much interested
He remained silent until the subject had
been pretty thoroughly discussed, aud
the interest appeared to flag. and then he
spoke. He said he should like to relate
few facts in his own history. We were
all anxious to hear from him and res
pecttul silence followed.
II do not want to argue upon this sub
j=ct,' he resumed, but | have had some
experience which may be worth relating.
even though none of you are influenced
thereby in your ideas upon the subject
under discussion. When quite young |
lost my parents. and in few years |
went to sea. which occupation followed
until was two-and twenty. Then | got
married and settled down on shore.-
One child was born to me-a boy-and
when he was four years old his mother
died. broke up house keeping and
went 20 live with one of nv Cousins
NY child, whom called Rufus. was a
bright, intelligent little fellow. and loved
him with All my strength, ard as he grew
up he returned all my love. When my
boy was twelve years old failed in bus
mess and came out penniless A friend
offered me the birth OF mate on board a
good ship, AMI after some hesitation.
accepted it. II as hard work TO make
up my mind TO leave my child, but his
own good as well as mine seemed to de-
mand it. and finally concluded to GO
| left Rufus with my cousin. promising to
pay for his keeping on my return.
was gone one year, and when l re
turned found my buv grown cunsidera>
bly, larger, and very Intelligent, bus l
was told he was NOT treated we'll by my
cousin. However Ru us said he would
remain where he was until made an
other voyage. and then he hoped to go to
two months over pear. and wheh re-
turned | found my child missing. He
had run away. My cousin said he had
been able to do uothing with him but
the neighbors assured me he had been
abused and that he had fed from his
home from absolute necessity.
may simply say here that every feel
ing ol love my soul could experience was
fastened upon that boy. but cannot tell
you how heavily this blow ftll upon nv
heart Suffice it for me to say | never
forgot l.im-that never ceased to pray
Tor hrm and that my chiri hope WAS still
cenrered in him. searched for him
through every channel that was open tu
me without effect. and. sad. fearful.
again set forth upon the ocean.
| made one mure voyage and then
was offered the command of ship.
accepted The offer. and made arrange
menlS for taking possession Of my tie "
post Three days before the ship sailed
fell through the hoist wsv OF store
house and broke my leg, was carried
to the hospital. and new captain took
my place, o. course bem"aned nv i'll
late. and wondered why sxch III luck had
befallen me. In one week news came to
me that the ship had gone down. and
that all hands had persisted. She had
proved totally unfit for sea. else she would
not have sunk as she did. NV regrets
were nov changed TO thanks. and bore
my confinement without further murmur.
ing.
When was strong once more, my em
P'oyerS gave me a ship. and made two
successful voyages in her The third
voyage was TO the Pacific had new
crew. and VIII n we had doubled Cape
Horn began to fear there was mutlnJ
on board. 1t WAS not long befnre dis
covered that such was not only the fact
but that | hal some desperate MN on
board. could see the cloud, and hea,
the mutterings. but | could Mt faIhOu
the secret Of the storm. watched un
I'll became assured that the most diahol
ical plot was on foot. but knew no
where to pace my hand. One nigh
while we were off the Gillian coasl,
dreamed that | WAS keeping my mate
watch. and that had crawlsi nnder th,
long boat for shelter. While there
Ihought that three OF my men came An,
set down close 6v me. and cummedce,
talking upon the subject OF killing he OF
6cers and taking the ship The men
names were Grant. Cummings and Nc
Dermot They were ilI,Vi>aged fellow
and had suspected them from the first
could hear every word they said, AN,
my heart beat painfully as they laid bare
step bv s,eP. the plan they had concoc
ted. They were the Ieaiers, and wer
to have the offices when the ship wa
theirs. On the third nj HI fro n that tn
blow was to be struck We in the cabil
wer, to be cut down FIRST. and then fvu
Of the men. whom they dared not /
trust were to follow.
started up from my sleep. Ny hear
was beating quickly. aad cold swes
was upon ~ brow. The dream wa
still sounding in nv ears. and it was som
moments ere could reaIiz that was il
my Uwn bunk. When had fairly col
I