Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-03-26


farewell to his beautiful wife. He en-
deavored to console her with the reflec-
ton that only few shGt months would
pass away, ere he shmld return and
again clasp her to lis losom. He had
parted from his mother .nly few mo-
ments before-but muchas he loved his
mother, and Jack was adutiful and af-
fectionate son, he found i was harder to
part with his wife-andS something SEEM
ed to whisper to him thA' he snO0'~ :. -
-. -. &c suffering end perm oe-
fore they should meet again. She placed |
in his hand her parting gift, silk parse
which she had netted in her happiest
hours, when seated by the side of her
husband. He imprinted long, linger-
ing kiss upon her ruby ips-dahed
tear from his eye, and with a convulsive
effort, sprang into the carriage. As the
coach slowly proceeded up steep hill,
which would soon interpose its summit
between our hero and the home of his
Katharine, he summoned courage TO take
a last look at the spot where all his hopes
and joys were centered. He saw her
standing on the door stone, in the precise
attitude which he left her. She waved
her kerchief in token of recognition-the
driver cracked his whip-the stage whirl-
ed rapidly down the hill, and Jack Wilson
began to think, with one of the preur che
ratiers of olden times, that the world was
divided into two parts-where she was
not
Jack Wilson reached Boston in due
season. and joined his ship. He was
not man to lounge idly about boarding
houses, spending his money i'll dissipa-
ton. He looked for preferment in his
business, and was aware that sobriety,
industry and integrity, were passports to
responsibility in every employment. In
a few days the Rabican cleared at the
custom house, and sailed for the Brazils.
As the ship passed the high lands of Cape
/ Cod, about four O'Clock in the afternoon,
Jack leaned over the gunwale to take a
last look at the sterile coast, and sighed
{ 10, l..
heart smote him as he thought of his fol-
ly in persisting in his resolution to follow
a nautical lite, full of hardships and
dangers, far away from the society OF
those whom he esteemed and respected.
He was by no means naturally of a des-
bonding character, yet he could hardly
help regretting that he had left home,
which Kate Clifford had invested with
all the charms of domestic happiness
He was pursuing these pensive refec-
tions, and alternately induldging in vain
regrets and pleasing "reminiscences, wher
the order was given to set the studdine
sails on the larboard side, the wind having
veered to the North West-and tht
hustle incident to the occasion soon drove
from his head all thoughts of home.
The Rabican pursued her way to th'
eastward-it being necessary, as our rea
ders are probably aware, for vessels II
get well to the eastward before they Fro
ceed so far south as to fall in with tht
trade winds-otherwise they will be il
danger of getting to leeward Of cape ST
Roque,-and to weather the cape b,
beating against the trade wind and tn
current, is a hopeless case. 4 vessel il
such dilemma is therefore compelled t
return TO the northward, until she get
into the latitude of the variable winds
;. and then try again. Nothing remarka
Die happened in the early part Of the pas
= sage the ship bounded merrily on, til
wind being generally fair, and Jack la
recovered his spirits, and was the life {
the crew When Saturday night cam
round, and the crew were collected aroun
/ the can of grog on the forecastle, no on
: pledged the old fashioned toasts of Sscee
q hearts and WiUes, with more earnestnes
ard warmth of feeling than Jack Wi
son.
5 One morning, ere the Rabican ha
: been month at sea, the cry of " Ian
e ho - resounded through the ship, befor
: the sun had risen above the horizon-an
: far in the east could be seen the dim an
g irregular outline Of tie lofty St.Anthon,
= one of the Cape de Verd Islands. 500
d after. the words Sail ho J" were hear
i from aIoft-and directly in The wake {
= the Rabican. a lofty looking ship was see
/ evidently steering in the same direction
e The Rabican was good sailer, but th
a stranger oyerhauled her iast-from whie
c circumstance. a. well as from her tanI
rig. there could be little doubt that ii
e vessel astern was man-of-war. In
e couple of hours, however, the doubt,
5 there were any, were changed into ee
IF tainity. As soon as the ship came With