Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-02-09

t'othcr william would mt givca cent. lie told
my villain, rs he called Captain, that he'd
take EN- off his hands and no more. And
then they threatened each other, and went
out O my hearin' And in the mornin' the
new villain came and took me and the child off
in shay and drove down a long way to the
beach, and hailed vessel on the river and took
us aboard and sold us to the captain right afore
my eyes, and then went ashore, and we was
carried off out to sea, though | cried, and
'splained and spostulated all the time.
"Now. sir, come Il strange providence,
which the very thoughts of it might convert
heather! We had been to sea about FIVE
days when dreadful storm riz tell you,
marster, that looked like the wrath of God.
| Rugged the baby to my breast-and went
to praying as hard as ever | could pray
presently | felt an awful shock, as if
Heaven and earth had come together, and
then everybody screaming, She's struck.
She's struck" felt the vessel trembling
like live crcetur, and the water pouring
in everywhere. l Rugged the babe and
scrambled up the companion way to the
deck. 1t was pitch dark, and heard every
man rushing toward one side of the vessel.
"A flash of lightning, that made everything
as as bright day again, showed me that they
were all taking to the boat. rushed after
calling to them to save Inc and the baby
But no one seemed to hear me! they were all
too busy trying TO save themselves and keep
others out ofthe boat, and cursing and swear
ing and following that there was no more
room--that the boat would be swamped, and
80 on. The end WAS, that all who could
crowd into the boat did so. And me and the
baby and poor sailor lad and the black cook
were left behind to perish.
But, marster, as it turned out, we az was
left to die were the only ones saved. We
watched after that boat with longing eyes
though we could only see it when the light
ming flashed. And every time we saw it it
was further off, At last marster, flash of
lightning showed us the boat as far off as
ever we could see her, capszed and beaten
hither and thither by the wild waves-its
crew had persisted.
'Marster, as soon az the sea had swallowed
up that wicked captain and crew, the wind
died away, the waves fell, and the storm lull-
ed-iust as lift had done what it was sent TO
do and was satisfied. The wreck--where we
poor forlorn ones stoOd-the wreck that had
shivered and tremblcd with every wave that
struck it-until we had feared it would
break up every minute, became still and firm
on its sandhar, Us house on dry land.
daylight came at last. And little al
ter sunrise We saw sail bearing down upon
us. We could not signal the sail, but by the
mercy of Providence she saw us and lay TO-,
and sent off boat, and picked us up and
took US on board-me and the baby, and the
cook and the sailor lad
ut was Il foreign vessel, and we could not
understand a word they said, nor they u.s.
All we could do was by signs. But they
were very good to US, dried our clothes and
gave us breakfast, and made us lie down and
rest. And then put about and continued
their course. The sailor lad-llerbert Grey
son-soon found out and told me they were
bound for New York. And, i'll fact, mars
ster in about ten days we made that port.
well, marster, amt a gwine to bother
you with telling You of how | toiled and
struggled along in that great city-tirst llv-
ing out az a servant, and afterwards renting
a room and taking in washing and ironing
aye. how toiled and struggled-for-ten-
long-years, hoping for the time to come
when | should be able TO return to this
neighborhood. where / was known. and ex-
pose the evil deeds of them villains, and for
this cause lived on toiling and struggling,
and laying up money penny by penny.
NO one ever helped me but the lad Her
bert Greyson Whenever he same from sea,
he sought me out and made Il little present. to
me or Cap.
cap. marster, was Capitola, the child
The reason gave her that name was because
on that ring | had drawn from the masked
mothers hand were the two names-Eugenc
-Capitola.
"Well, marstcr. the last time Herbert
Greyson came home, he gave me five dollars
and that, with what had saved was enough
to pay may passage to Norfolk.
IL left my little Cap in the care of the peo-
ple of the house-she was big enough to
pay for her keep in work and took passage
for Norfolk: When | got there ! fell ILL.,,
spent all my money, and was at last taken to
the Door house. Six months passed away
before was discharged, and then six more
before had earned and saved money enough
to pay my way on here.
II reached here three days ago, and found
wheat field growing where my cottage fire
used to burn, and all my old cronies dead,
all except old Hat, who has received and
given me shelter. Sir, my story is done
make what you can of it" said the invalid,
sinking down in her bed as if utterl Y exhaus-
ted
Old Hurricane, whose countenance had ex-
pressed emotions as powerful as they were
various while listening to this tale, now
arose, stepped cautiously to the door, drew
the bolt, and coming back, bent his head and
| asked
What more of the chld?"
cap. sir? have not heard a word of Cap
since left her to try and hunt out her friends
But any one interested in her might inquire
for her at Mrs Simmons, laundress, No. s
Rag Alley
You say the names upon that ring were
Capitola?'
Yes. sir, they were"
Have you that ring about you?'
mo. marster. thought it was best, in
case of accidents, to leave it with the child. y
"lIave you told her any part of this strange
history"
NO marster, nor limited it; she was too
Young for such confidence.
You were right. Had she any mark
about her person by which she could be iden-
tifed?'
Yes, marster, a very stranger one. In the
middle of her left PLAN was the perfect image
of a crimson hand, about half an inch in
length There was also another. Herbert
E.o,,,,, IN ,,lao 10 mo marked ,Ipou her fore