Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-10

CHAPTER 1.
"I'd like to know your history, Captain Sea
waif-I'd like very much to know your history,
sir! think I've right to, sir-a right, you
understand. And if there is any one thing
which l stick out for more peremptorily than
another, it is right, sir-rigd! That is why |,
Phineas Cringle, merchant et-cet-erd et-cet-e-Tu,
am an open and avowed patriot, sir. Old Eng
land is wrong, and Young America is right.
Therefore Pm with her. You are a young
man, yet you come so well recommended to me
as skillful seaman, "a fearless man and an
honest one withal, that l like you, though
you're not so rough in the figure head as good
sea-dogs generally are. l have given you
command of the 'Tyrannicide,' as good craft
as floats on salt water-well manned, well Off
cered, well armed et-cet-e-ru, et-ca-e-rd; and |
know that she'll be well commanded. But
your history, sir, your history"
"At present, have no history worth listen
ing to- Mr. Cringle; but | will try to write one
with my sword, which all the world can read y
This conversation occurred at the commence
ment of that revolution which gave freedom to
the United Colonies of America, in the store
of the first speaker, Mr.. Phineas Cringle, "mer-
chant et-cet-e-ru," as he always called himself
He was a curious, but good old man-very
eccentric in his ways, but as sound at heart as
a young, mistaken oak. His age was full
sixty, and his long, natural hair was white as
snow, and hung in masses down about his neck
but his close-shayen face was as smooth and as
ROSY almost as that of Kate Cringle, his bloom
ing daughter, who was just eighteen.
Mr.. Cringles short, thick-set figure was
dressed in claret, shad-bellied coat buff waist
coat. knee-breeches, (claret like his coat white
cotton long hose with immense silver buckles
In his shoes. Upon his head he wore the tri-
cornered continental hat of the day, with a red
white and blue cockade placed SO conspicuous
ly on it. that all who looked might see that he
did not fear to wear the sign of patriot Amer
lean.
The person whom he spoke to was a young
man. probably twenty-five years of age. His
ewes were large, dark blue, and shaded by long,
brown ashes his flowing hair and soft, glossy
beard was of a rich, dark brown; his figure
was slight, yet very graceful; his entire APP
pearance quiet, and exceedingly genteel. But
when his eye looked upon you, there was
something in its cold clear depth-a something
in the expression of his curved lip, that told
you, that when manhood was needed, he was
there, in spite of the delicacy of his appear
ance. His dress was naval frock-coat, with
epaulet straps upon the shoulders, plain pant
aloons and boots, and blue naval cap. He
wore no weapons there-yet he looked like one
who could wear sword gracefully, and use it
skillfully
"You can at least tell me where you was
born, sir!' said Mr.. Cringle, pursuing his OBJ
ject
~ cannot tell where was born, or even
who my father or mother was" replied the
young captain. Gas my name indicates, am
literally ,oaif of the sea. Drifted ashore from
a wreck upon little island at the Southwest
corner of Nantucket Shoal, was taken from
a chest into which / had been laid, by the
hands of a noble and good old man, who had
left the world to live hermit life there He
named me Edward Seawaif; the first name his
own-the latter, in remembrance of the man
ner in which came to him. No living thing
but myself reached the land. That old man,
Edward Zane was more than father or mother
to me-he hated world which had wronged
him much; but he loved me all the more that
had seen nothing of it, To him owe every
thing"
"You had no history you said, sir No his
tory, indeed 90 cried Mr.. Cringle. "Why, sir
already you are hero of romance. | mus
find out how your father and mother were, ct
cet-e-rd, et-cet-e-ra! Was there nothing besid
you in the chest when the good old man foun
you 2"
eyes, sir-a Bible, a quantity of clothn
and jewels-some of it evidently belonging t
a lady of rank and fashion; for it was yer,
rich"
"Any name in the Bible, on the jewelry o
clothing, et-cet-e-rd ="
'No, sir, none-except crest and coat OF
arms that were on a seal ring, and also engrav
ed on various articles of jewelry which pos
sess; for when the good old hermit died, hi
begged me to keep, them-in hopes that they
might lead to the discovery of my family"
eyes, he was right-rery right. What wa,
this crest and coat-ofarms 2" asked the mer
chant.
STwo arms and hands grasping crossed
swords over a coronet, for the crest; shield
with diamonds and ,fe,u de lis for the coat-of
arms"
"Umph--noble blood the feur de Us i,
French, or was once p said the old merchant
writing in his memorandum-book. '1've go
something to do I'll find out who your pa
rents were or are flor they may yet be living,
if / have to hunt over the heraldry of all TIN
world. But, come up stairs, captain, wei
take glass of punch of daughter Hates brew
ing; and then wen go aboard of the 'Tyran
nicide,' and see how matters go there. Isup
pose you'll go to sea in the morning p
eyes, sir, said Seawaif following the mer
chant to the dwelling part of his house, whicl
was i'll the upper part of his store and ware
house-a thing very common in those days.
CHAPTER II.
'1sn't she beauty Taut and neat aloft
trim and saucy below, et-cet-e1ap said Mr.
Cringle, as he and the young captain stood
upon the wharf, and looked at a craft which
lay at anchor in the little harbor.
She was, for that era, astonishingly clipper
ISL, raking in spars, sharp in hull, and calcu
lated to carry an astonishing quantity of can
vas Her rig was that Of a two-topsal schoon
er-her lower masts being very long and
heavy, so as to carry large fore-and aft sails He
tonnage appeared to be about three hundred
tons. She was pierced for eight twenty -fou
pound carronades on side; and long bras
thirty-two FOUNDER, working on pivot shon,
bright as gold between her masts, mounted
high enough to work above her hammock net
tings. Around her masts could be seen the
CLEAN of boarding pixies and batte-axes. A
her main-mast head blood red flag hoateC
out, bearing the motto "Dedh to IyrdntS dnC
their Tools :" AT the tore-truck, another rec
flag bore the name of the schooner-"THE
TYRANNIcIDE." Her fgure-head was a ser
pent striking its fangs into the heart of mar
who wore a crown. Taking her altogether
she was indeed a saucy and dangerous-lookinp
craft, calculated to both sail and fight well
Upon her deck many men could be seen, show
ing that, if she had "teetli," she had also
strength TO use them.
The young captain did not reply to the
proud owners remarks, but, with an equally
exulting eye, looked at the handsome vessel
while boat which he had signaled, rapidly
approached the shore. asatoa
1t was surfbuilt, pulled by eight sturdy
young men, and an officer, also young but
bold and handsome boy, steered her In few
moments, she was at the pier. The young Off
Ger touched his hat and said